The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-15
able that not many years hence dynamite
shells will b habituslly used in war. and
perhaps especially In siege operations.
The Question OF a Student.


Here is a question which has puzzled gen.
erations Of students and teachers, and Just
now Ii under especial discussion:
us II necessary for . young man. who has TO make
his way In the world. to study Groek. Latin. and
Frsnch or can he get along without them aud put his
time At school TO more useful studiosi
No, 1t lie not necessary to study those
languages. Most Of the materially sue
cessful mon In this country have never ac-
Quired any knowledge Of Latin and Greek,
and few OF them are able to read or speak
any modern language besides their own.
They have made their own way In the
world" without Thorn, and worry likely would
now DO no richer II they had devoted thoir
youth to such studies. Even the English
education OF large part Of these men was
worry deficient, md somc OF them can now
neither speak nor write their own language
correctly, for they have seiscd no time amid
their practical activities, or have had no In
ciination, to mako up for the defects OF their
carly training.
But that is no argument against tho study
OF ancient and modern languages Latin and
Greek may not DO OF dlroct practical nd
vantage to man: that is. they may not
furnish him with tools which arc absolutely
success. Yot we do not hesitate to assert
that he cannot DO IL woll-cducatod man with
cut thorough study of them, and cannot
otherwise have mind fully and symmet-
REALLY trained and developed.
The time for the study is 10 youth, when the
faculty for linguistic acquiroment can DO best
and most easily cultivated. Therefore, knOwl-
edge OF Latin and Greek, in our opinion,
nj k~f. IN R,In a
mission into college. even IL those languages
arc not to be afterward pursued as main or
leading study by tho candidate. He should
be ablo to read thom at sight, to understand
them when they are spoken. to translate Eng
lish into them. and to pass an examination
In their grammar. All that knowledge a
boy can acquire without undue difficulty In
a preparatory school before no reaches the
age Of eighteen. for instance. and without
prejudice to his progress In other studios
During the same period Of preparation, too.
no ought to become sufficiently acquainted
with French and German to read them with
ease. Then no enters college provided with
the tools which are necessary to his further
explorations. and Is ready TO pursue his study
to any specific end he may have in view. or
to follow any course which may be elected
LOT MIN Dy tuOSC WHO are peJLcT uuhptcu Iuau
himself to direct his path OF work.
AS to French, man cannot be called edu-
Gated who lacks knowledge OF it, 1t is, be-
sides. language which will be OF great
practical service to him In almost any calling
in which lie may be. German Is also neces-
sary. Indispensable TO any one who wishes to
keep UP with progress OF thought and in
quiry. and practically useful to everybody.
Still, rs We said a man may dispense with
all this knowledge and yet make his way In
the world. The majority of people are forced
by necessity to get along without 1t. to live
shut out from tho multitude OF pleasures
which are open to tho mind so trained and
enlightened. man may become rich with
out knowing more than to read and write his
own language, and to cipher a little, and
millions Of people oven mako their way after
q fashion though thcya are altogether Tilt
crate and can calculate only by rule Of thumb.
Yet whoever has tho opportunity to better
develope his mind and extend the range of
his knowledge. and fails to improve 1t. plays
foolish part, and neglccts the best gifts
which good fortune can offer. " For a mans
life consistent not in tho abundance of things
which no posscsseth. The life Is more than
meat. and the body is moro than raiment"