The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-04

t8nt0, men, women, ouO CnllOTeu. 1Dut 10 10
say, there IL In Maine at the present time
one rumseller to every $50 male citizens Of
the voting age.
The American School at Athens.
It is noteworthy that while an attempt has
recently been made In certain quarters to
depreciate the value Of the study Of Greek,
the leading colleges Of the United States have
followed the example OF France and Ger
many In founding at Athens school Of clas-
steal studies for the ampler and more fruit
full development Of Hellenic scholarship and
archaeological research. This institution,
which, while experimenting Is intended to
enlighten and stimulate academical instruc-
ton, IL supported by the contributions OF four
teen American universities, among which
Harvard. Yale. Columbia, Princeton, Michi-
gan, Johns Hopkins, and Brown may be par
ticularly mentioned. At present tho school
Is under tho management Of Prof LEWIS r.
PACKARD Of Yale. but the work Of organizing
and launching 1t was performed by that emil
nent Greek scholar, Prof. W. w. GOODWIN Of
Harvard College. In the latter's official re-
port We find nm interesting summary Of the
first years proceedings.
Prof. GOODWIN reminds US that a school Of
classical studies at Athens IL by no means a
new idea. For thirty-seven years the French
Government has supported an establishment
Of this kind for the purpose Of completing
and invlgoratin2 Its system Of university
education. Tho German Government, also,
during the last nine years, has maintained
like institution, which may be regarded
as nm outgrowth Of the well-known academy
for German students planted by Bun
SEN aud NrRBUHR at Rome. The importance
Of such on adjunct to the normal appliances
OF instruction Is beginning to be recognized
In Great Britain. and at meeting held last
June ut Marlborough House, under the Presi-
dency Of the Prince OF WALES, some thirty Of
the best-known scholars and statesmen ear
Mostly recommended the immediate creation
Of an English school upon Greek soil. Inas-
much a. large subscriptions have since been
made. there is no doubt that the project will
% speedily carried out. But the third place
In the list OF national schools at Athens has
been already taken, thanks to the concerted
action Of American universities.
As we have said, the end contemplated
by such institutions Ia twofold. Primarily,
they aim to heighten the usefulness Of those
who purpose to act as teachers OF Greek -
ters and art In the moro distinguished s<.ts
OF learning at home. 1t IL undeniable that
for such persons, upon whom the breadth
and efficiency Of classical education must
mainly depend, there Is no better prepara-
ton than. after acquiring the book knowl-
edge needed for their profession, to spend
some time In the study OF Greece itself
There, under the guidance Of accomplished
scholars like Prof. KoHLER. NJ. FoUcARr. OF
Prof. GOODWIN they learn that the student
lives not by books alone; and they grow alive
to the mu'tiform and Incompatible express
sions Of the Greek intellect In architecture
and plastic art. Even upon history and geog-
raphya new and searching light Is thrown
by the scientific exploration Of mountain
passes on which the fate OF nations hung, of
memorable battleflelds, and the sites OF re-
nowned cities. It would, indeed, be strange II
the eye OF a modern scholar, roaming over the
Attic plain, could not drink insight and In
struction from scene which, reproduced IN
fancy by the blind author Of Paradise Re
gained" proved rich In inspiration:
Where by the .Egsan sea city stands
Built nobiy. pure the air and light the soil.
Athens the eye Of Greece and mother Of arts
And eoluence. native to famous wits
Or hospi,sbe. In her sweet recsss
City or suburban. studious walks and shades.
Another end kept In view by the American
school at Athens, ~ by Its companion semi
nRries Of French and German origin, IL the
direction and furtherance OF archaeological
research. The monuments and Inscriptions
to be found In Attica alono would useiully
employ tho labOrs OF many years, but none
can fail to nee how greatly the prospect of
historical illumination Is enlarged through
the work done by the German school In con-
ncction with the unearthing Of Olympia,
by the French school In the analogous
excavations at Delos. and by the brisfer yet
valuable services rendered by the American
school to the explorers OF Assos The diff
ferentiation, appreciation, and interpreta-
tion OF the precious spoils obtained at the
places named, including statues, friezes, in
scribed monuments, and architectural chefs
Gguure, were si9nally promoted by the
presence on the spot Of experts trained in
artistic Intuition and the perfected processes
Of scientific scrutiny by the nurseries Of ripe
scholarship which now exist ut Athens.
1t 10 pointed out by Prof. GOODWIN In this
report that the school at Athens represents
the last and bOldest step toward the improve
ment Of American methods OF classical edu-
cation. There Is no moro fragrant error than
the assumption that In this department the
processes OF instruction are antiquat6d and
Interchangeable, whereas all other fields
OF study have been fructiHed by the
modern spirit Of renovation and ex-
psnsion. There Is, In point Of fact,
no province Of academical tuition In which
more trenchant changes have been effected
within quarter Of century than In the
aims, range. aud methods OF classical studies.
A merely grammatical knowledge OF the
Greek and Latin tongues, involving only
such cursory reference to literary master
works as would suffice to illustrate imperfect
rules. has for some time ceased in this
country, ~ 1t ceased long ago In Germany,
to sum up the credentials Of . veritabe
aCh0lap Nnwharo 4. 80