The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-11-17
Culture and science,

IN returned homo empty-haNded.
-----------o---
Culture and science.
l think protest Is needed st tho
present day against an exclusive de-
votioa to tho scientific side OF litera-
ture, and especially of classic lltera-
ture. The lava and history of the
classical languages are the main OBJ
jects ofwork in our classical schools
aud universities; grammar teuds TO re-
place literature, prosody is smb.ti-
tuted for poetry, and little room ia let.
for the play OF contemplated imagIns-
ton. This, perhaps, can not bs other
wise SO long as we live under tho
whips and scorpions OF an exigent
examination system; for the sol-
entliic eide oFliterature presents obvi-
GUS advantages, in tho examination
room, both 10 examiners aud exam
ined, Literary culture, like astrol-
omy, does not pay. SO our
students learn 10 translate
and compose, bns not 10
read or appreciate, and tho literary
artists are approached tsrough the
medium of what the scientific scholars
nave said about them. tits commonly
believed abroad that tho Englishman
OF bnsineasi or country squire, ra-
freshes his sonl during the long winter
evenings by reading mis- Virgil or
Horace. This IL, am told, an exag-
gerstion, and likely TO be- less truo
since II has ceased to be the fashion for
members OF Parliament tn quote
Horscs In the House--or, ~ any rate,
10 suotB him correctly. However, In
the treatment OF tho classics as litera.
pure, We might perhaps do we'll to re-
mompsi tho bast traditions OF Epgliah
scholarship, and emulate the wider
and moro iibesii reaatng OF the age OF
Bentley.
Agsin in history we have the same
Two elements-the scientific and the
purely literary. l have no wish 10 de-.
preciate the great achievements OF
scientific history-a science which has
resulted in discoveries as instrnotiys
IS those OF pale0rtology or geology
IL lsan admirable thing to weigh evil
donce, and TO correct hasty judgements
by fuller research; but history, writ.
ten III this spirit only, loses.its power
OF irspirstion,of kindlins the iinsgina.
ton 40 tho thought OF great deeds and
greet mon, and OF carrying the reader
on the wiugs OF rympathy into re-
mote past. Aud thls-iss dramatic ol
lplettc funoti0us--is surely one az least
of tho functions OF history.
Here, then, you have my conception
ot the primo essentials OF culture i,
ths Two attitudes of mind-tho scion
titic and tho poetic. Intellectual man
hood Is not reachsd TIL concentration
exact inquiry begins; boz tho min,
grows poor without tho poetioal spirit
There Is one truth of science and au
other OF poetry, ana both arc indis
p0nsable. But it Is not many subject
that are needed for culture; rather 1t |
. many.Sidedpes OF mind by whicl
20 conceive things both scientifically
aud imnginaiiyely. TO maintain thl
iwo-iold attitude II, know, not easy
Mon inepir0d with tho ardor OF pun
sui and conscious of tho limitles
held OF research right ahead, may So
wlta Luther, "God help me, can NJ
oth9r;" aud he would DO bold ma
who Venturod TO cast q stone at them
"The Ink OF science" says n ,Moham
medan prOverb, "iB more precious tina
, blood Of martyrs" But the vlctorie
. OF science, too, have baon achieved no
without sweat and blood. Let us no
, fail IN remember the cost 10 tho in
tellec.ual martyrs themselves. The
. have nobly served humanity; but thsl
, have sacrificed their own development,
The Nemesis IL inevitable, we cannot
Tor our own sskos, afford to DO les
than cultured. Nay, we cannot amor
30 be less than Cultured for othort
( aakes. Culture 2H we'll as science In
its altruistic hide. Society Ia To
gamer by every complete unit that
added TO it, aud enriched by over
ideal human creature.
o. do not moan 10 say that no VIII
commands both attitudes OF min
Possesses sll knowledge, Mems min
| have compared TO house with man
0 windows; some OF them, let us "a,
+ look ont upon the troes and flywors
, tho gprdeB; others are turned toward
The street, crowded with human lie
nkylishts look upon the heaven,
D Doubtless IL we're u grand thing I
:, nave knowledge of all the great oil
q ieots OF human contemplation; hit W
{ must recognize the limitations OF on
A nature, ana renouncs tho Impossible
On tho other hand we may oonsol
! ourselves with tho reflection that on
/ subj sct deoply etudisd involve, exau
Z ination OF others. No man can tho,
oughly probe n difficult question otlg,
4 without coming upon problems {
: morals, politics and religion; no OF,
b. cnu carry his researches into languag
\ Tar without solving on tho way man
q question NJ logic nud oven molt
: physics. In this way on
(, science leads over to another
! and the specialist 10 not p
D. Incomplete as no is sometlmes sur
pose1 70 DO. His knowledge street.-the
7 tself out in mary directions, like tn
branches at tree, which spriag fron
! single trunk ana afro conferred IN 4
. SUI, no man can b. master Of "
0 iclonces.-l Aacniiilau's Magazine.