New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-19
guE AMERICAN scRooL At 4rHEYs

III r. HHEHitbN NtHOOL = Il = I nENc.
few earnest students Of classical culture
succeeded two years ago, IN establishing the
beginnings of an American School Of Classical
Studies at Athens. st first twelve, and now
fifteen, American colleges united to furnish the
small fund available Tho movement was
really an attempt to bring the United states
into limo with Franco and Germany which
had previously recognized the value
of such schools In Greece aud through their
respective Governments had supplied thcmcans
and enabled the work to be undertaken ity.
The French were the pioneers i'm this important
line of study. having supported q school in
Athens for thirty-scycn years. Tho Germans
have only been there for nine years, but they
have accomplished much Both tho Govern
mcuts named hayo shown their sense Of the
consequence of the enterprise by sending thor
ipcst scholars ~ tlko chlrge of the Athens
school4 Franco soudng VI. FOuclrt, and Ger
many Professor k0hlrr. The German Gov
eminent not only supports the school, but pro-
,idcs several scholarships of about 500 u
year to enable students 10 study at Athens
England has recently followed suit. or IA about
TO do so. and it il clear that tho oxpoucnts of
tho highcN civilization of tho ago ARE thus
franlly recognizing the necessity not of n ban-
doning the study Of the classics aud classical
antiquity, but of extending and sysLcmatzing
research In that direction, and especially of
seeking fuller and more yitaizcd knOwl-
edge by studies carried on in the scenes
of classical history, and amid associations hal
lowed to every scholar by the ennobing and
inspiring "reminiscences which they awaken.
I'm this work, however American educational
enthusiasm has made only "A beginning. Ii is
already evident that fund amounting to from
$500. 600 to $25O,O0O should be provided for
the endowment Of the American school at
Athens. The income Of such fund would en-
able the directors of the school TO undertake
such archaeological enterprises as the Germans
have prosecuted so successfully at Olympia; and
it would relieve these scholars of vexatiOus and
hindering questions of ways and means. The
pr0per patron of the school undoubtedly is the
United States. The undertaking is of kind
which enlightened Governments have always
supported. The objects aimed at are such as
every intelligent American must appreciate and
approve. Whctherin art, language,p philosophy or
pohtical science. the modern world must still sit
at the feet of antiquity. To talk of cutting loose
from Greece and Rome is to talk of abandoning
the very well-sprngs of our civilizations; the
sources whence our literature, philosophy, art
and general modes of thinking and living de-
rive so large a part of their refinement,
delicacy, grace, beauty and depth. But the
study of antiquity from books alone cannot inn
part that oneness of feeling necessary to
thorough comprehension and assimilation. 1t
is on the soil of Greece, and among the monu-
ments of her glory and the landmarks of her
literature and history that her career can beside
understood, and that the charm of scenery and
climate can alone be realized.
And here, in Athens, under the shadow OF the
AcrOpOis, mast the work of viyitylng anclent
history be carried on. Here must the men who
are To pass on the sacred fire hlndle 1t for
themselves from the ever burningaltars. Here
doubtless also, for generations to come, the
labors of the archHologist will be rewarded by
splendid discoveries of long-buIicd ant treas
ures. In all this the American may well claim
his part, for hr too is heir of all the ages, III
the foremost files Of time and his destiny is to
bear onward in unprecedented majesty and de-
yclopmcnt that democratic spirit whose
youthful yieor give undying splcndor to Gre
elan civilization. But at present the United
States are perhaps too absorbed in nearer sub
iccts, aud soliciting Congress is wcarying work.
Ultimately itmay be- hoped that Governmental
will be- giventuthe schOOlat Athens. At present
private help must probably be depended ON for
the needed expansion of the project and with
the many examples Of wise muniilcence In the
support of educational institutions before them
our rich men cannot fail of stimulus and u