Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-08-20

lIy Is German periodical OF SUI or 120O
pages, where long and intricate expert
mental work has been condensed to par
agraph. You see that here we are obliged.
from the nature of things and the limits
of time, to take the work as correctly done
by the scores of eminent observers labor
ing in that field. OF >eorrss. one who de-
sires to master Speciality must test each
fact by examing the Original WORK at the
very foundation of each demonstration.
Study Of languages contrasts. strongly
with study of sciences, but in all stuIles
the teacher should, whenever time and
opportunity allow, show the pupils ow to
verify facts. Take, say the study Of the His
tory Of Virginia. Suppose some elemen-
tary books assert that something took
place in colonial days. One must examine
original documents in our libraries as in
Richmond or ut the University of Vir-
ginia or elsewhere, and see for yourself.
whether such was the fact. By thus veri-
flying the early history you may better and
more thoroughly understand the history
subsequent to those early days.
In Geography there are many facts las
those concerning foreign countries and
those where we nave never been) which
must be taken upon authorities of others,
and yet no one doubts the main facts
stated in the text books concerning Aus
tralia or South America, even though he
may never have been there himself.
Local geography, however. may be stud
led directly and with ones own eyes,
Boys may be taken over limited portion
of their county or township and asked to
note the hiIls-their situation-with re-
gard to the road the class traveled-their
height, shape, roughness or smoothness;
| whether wooded or not; the streams trav-
ersed; their approximate depths, width.
swiftness, direction, &C., all these, or most
| of them, committed to paper with sketch.
rough but valuable, as the work of ones
oWy1 self. would constitute a valuable part
ofIany boys education.
tche advantage Of a study of nature is
based on the superstition that she be stud
led directly, and that the results are facts
demonstrated by ones own observation
And where these conditions do actually
exist, the study has all the advantages
claimed for it. But as to facts necessarily
taken from the text books, there is no ad-
vantage whatever, over similar study Of
languages. A text book knowledge of as
stronomy is not whit more advantageous
to mental development than a text book
knowledge of Language in history. l
say this for those who undervalue the
study of words. II use this semi-contemp-
tuous phrase so often in the mouth of
those who affect to look down upon lin
guistic pursuits.
That the mere study of language aside
from facts set forth in language, has ad-
vantage, no one will doubt, who will con-
slider the case of prisoners condemned to
what is called "silent punishment" Con-
Yicts are in some countries confined in
cells apart-not being allowed to see any
one, not even an attendant. Their food
is put through an opening in the wall and
they never hear word. This is one of the
most awful of punishments, and leads
to imbecility and often to idiocy. Here is
strong proof of the actual value of Ian.
guages, mere language. as medium of
communication as a means of developing
the mind.
Witness the extraordinary efforts to
teach the deaf and dumb, and to arouse
their dormant faculties-dormant because
of their inability to communicate their
ideas, and thus building on what they
have, attain to greater and greater pos
session of knowledge.
The greatest difference between man
and the other animals is the possession of
speech.
There is but little difference between
the brain Of some of the higher animals
and that of mantle highest of created
beings; hence language must not only in
dlcate mental superiority, but help to
deYelope it.
[The distingu ished speaker here referred
to the difference between dogs and human
beings. but as we never like even faint
reflection on good dog, we omit DR..
Mallet would be- surprised to learn how
near talking well-bred pointer or setter
can come.-REPORTER.l
The greatest savant in the world never
developes mentally, perhaps, SO much, as
child in the first three years of its talk
ing life! This time in the child's history
is almost solely taken up in the study of |
language. When we consider after spoken
language, the effects CT written words
upon all departments of learning, scientific
as we'll as other. we are simply astounded.
To communicate with relative in Cal
cutta or Japan, to retain thoughts uttered
before you and lay them aside for future
reference, all indicate the wonderful ad-
vantages of the study of words. And not
only marks made by the pen. but otr r
signs used in the electric telegraphezSnd
sounds themselves used as signs of other
sounds; themselves signs of ideas-as in the
click of the telegraphic instrument ali are
nor silent ones, of the advan-
tages of the study of words. By words, i'm
printed words. we are in communication
with the whole Inass of human kind who
nave preceded US.
Compare our condition, beins, thus in
communication with thirty or forty CEN
uries of the past, with Tie condition of
The barbarous tribes in the interior Of