Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30
a GREEK PLAY.
A Professor or Mathematics Does NOT
Think 80 Practicable.
USlykRsITy OF VrRGTNIA. Nav 90. 1856,

A Professor OF Nastsom atics Does moi
Think 80 Practicable.
UNIyhRsITY OF VIRGINIA, May 20, 1855.
To The Editor Of the dispatch:
Your editorial remarks Gpropos Of the
Greek comedy nj Philadelphia are doubtless
likely TO attract wide attention in the State,
and It has seemed 10 me and 10 one or two
% my colleagues whom have consulted,
worth the while to ak you 20 give me space
enough in your columns for a siatemen OF
the reasons which render II unwise and
impracticable, so far at least as the Uni
vtrsiiy Of Virginia Is concerned, TO carry
out the suggestion which you have made
q a southern performance Of a Greek play
In emulation Of the success won at Phila-
delphia.
More than forty years ago the first con-
spicuous example was get by the perform
ance at Berlin Of the AntieOne OF Sophie
cles--a performance made possible by the
prlnccly generosity Of the King OF Prussia.
aided by the genius Of Mendelssohn aud
the learning Of the Royal Academy. TIE
German universities. so far as we are
aware, have never attempted TO initiate this
example: but the English universities once
and again. aud in this country-m0st nOts-
bly, Harvard and now the University OF
Pennsylyania--have drawn upon a sple1 J.
did abundance Of resources and worthi'y
emuhied the muni6cence OF the Prussian
King.
Probably no person without experience
in such matters would Imagine how much
il costs in time and skill and money to pro
ducc a Greek play worthily. 4 colleague
who witnessed not only the performance al
Harvard five years ago, but also the whole
long and laborious course Of PREPARATION,
estimates the most important items Of such
expense then incurred Approximately as
follows:
"a Half the time for something over
three months OF three highly educated
Greek scholars working cordially together
ia daily consultation, one OF them at least
ol remarkable executive ability. With
these q number OF Others were IN constant
sympathy, and were often called on for al
yisOry and Other services.
(2.) More than bali tie time for four or
fVe months OF the distinguished professor
~ music. Here II should be remarked that
10 challenge public attention for a Greek
play with inferior music would now be
ridiculous and most unwisc.
81 More than hall the time for more than
three months of one of the instructors in
olocutioD, working with great enthusiasm
to give The actors The requisite training in
The hi>triouic art.
a. The time and skill Of q distinguished
aTtist among the alumni in designing cos
u'mcs and scenery.
81 Above hall the time for three months
OF some forty students. In addition 90
these expenditures Of time and skill there
were, Of course, heavy expenditures Of
money. II may have been a hudabic
thug In Tie min To make these cXpe0di-
lures tbtn and there, but | avn firmly con-
WINGED that il would not be laUdibic FOR Us
now IN Virginia 10 attempt them; nor %
!. ! am free 10 confess. think there is rc1-
son for any very profound sort Of regret
IN ihc incXpcdioncY OF such expenditures.
We have no professor OF music--no trainer
in the AT ~ tlOCutiOn adapted b the stare;
but We leieNc that 1t is possible 10 give
or young men a sound and liberal cduca-
ton without ciiher-an education adapted
10 the work which lies before them an
education worthy Of the commonwealth
and worth its cost 10 all concerned. We
have no lon. list Of classical professors and
ASSISTANTS. The ruling policy hc,e has al
ways been 10 employ few men and to con-
fine them rigidly 20 the most vital and cS-
aud q good argument might be Constructed
tending to show that such economy is wise.
FINALLY. students who could afford the
great expenditure Of time ncedIui fUI ,lU
performance OF Greek play are rare with
Us. Most Of our students desire and strive
10 get all they con OF the education we offer
In moderate time. They are not able to
make up next wear for The time given this
wear TO any sort Of diversion. In some eases
and TO some extent this may be a misior-
tune: but in many ways ii is highly fOrtu-
nate that they are so eager about their stu
dies that lciSurely notions Of education
have so little standing among them. surely
II never occurs 10 us TO be ashamed OF them,
little a. we might think il the part Of good
conscience 10 advise them or their parents
To spend time and money on = Greek play.
We understand very well here that such
performances give evidence OF literary
cultivation; that they are intellectual dt-
versions OF a hisbly-olcgant ORDER but for
my part believe we cannot too distinctly
recognize tie fact that the true ideals OF
southern education lie in different d.
rcction: IN tie direction Of that opium
living and high thinking" which has so
long been the great glory and the vital
principle Of those great schools Of The
people TIE Sttttu ana htIUiAu uulNtINt-
ilcs. We need to provide for our youth
the greatest amount OF intellectual eXer-
else and quckenjng which we can make
compatible with the leIst expenditure Of
time and money. We must give our en-
orgies 70 the getting OF the bread
ard meat of learning rather than the
sweets. And while the educational value
~ such q performance n The recent one st
Philadelphia is not at all to De denied.
neither ought il 70 De exaggerated; and
that such things do not belong TO the regu-
lar staple Of sound education is made mani
fest by the fact that they form no feature OF
the greatest universities Of the Old World
which have the largest numbers OF profess
sor> most learned IN the classics, where
the opportunities for securing I'm.
posing scenic effects and grand accom-
panymg music at moderate cost, for
obtaining The highest training ~ the
hisliionc art and in ell the glorious
,rickery Of the stage" aud last. but not
least, for winning the applause of a really
apmcciatiye audience. are all unsurpassed.
| mean. OF course, the universities OF Ger
many. The suggestion that Joint effort
II tie production OF Greek play might be
advisable would surely bo withdrawn after
little consideration. How should . hun
drcd rchearsalS be managed in hall distant
upon the average say even only ten miles
from The actors Very respectfully yours,
CHARLES 5. NENABLE.