New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26

for study under leading specialists IN almost every
field may be appreciated, but II the desideratum
be advancement In English studies, preparation Ion
q literary life, OK (when the question relates TO
your hoy) improvement in health and the cuiu-
walton Of good manners in the widest IS well as III
the narrower sense, tho Influences viii not be
found to be favorable.
The influence Of tho German prose style upon
the English is corrupting; and this MOB only oy
reason Of the artificial structure OF the German
sentence with its diversions, It's llogicai puncI
uation it's crude compounds, Its lack OF proper
articulation. Such formal defects mighs exercise
o malign influence, even II hecontent OK the SEN
tence were altogether admirable; but unfortu-
nately the content itself-the thought that Is
too often is simplary obnoxious. 1t may be good
thought but it is not properly divided, not rightly
articulated. Very probably you will find, after
analyzing the sentence, that it contains several
thoughts which should be stated separately but
all Of which have been brutality crowded between
two periods There they are, II you will take the
trouble to examine them-really good thonghts'
but ont Of their natural order ana each qu'.e
damned OUT Of shape about as much ike wen
rounded thoughts as layer-raisins are IKE ouncne'
Of grapes But even this is not all. Inc uerii"n
writer expresses his doubts his RESERVATIONS
his exceptions In immediate conjunction WIN ms
principal thought You must look sharply 10 dis
cover his conviction among these doubts, reserva-
tions and exceptions. To use anothei hgure' HIS
thought Ia muddy. He does not clarity H. ou'
offers 10 to you with all the original sedlmeno.
The only German prose-writers who have clarinet
their thought before Offering it to the pubic nave
been those who tried to form their style upon
a Greek or French model With such exceptions.
the German authors finished work Is no better
IT. Itch 0rct 1rQf wi
near knship of the English and German tongues
renders it difficult for one to avoid transferring
to the former the pecuarities and faults of the
latter They are alike in many respects that
one unconsciously debases his native language
in making It like the German in too many respects
Now it is obvious that from these considerations
two conclusions, of interest to the student OF Eng
lsh and to the hteratus, are deduclble: Flrst.
by constantly reading and speaking German, one
corrupts ones English style. constant reader OF
German is n poor writer Of English READ goou
German, write bad English: this is rule which
has brilliant exceptions but which is still rule.
And Just as truly as the study Of German exerts
a positively prcudcial influence upon ones Eng
ish style, the study of French, Spanish or Italian
exerts a positively beneficial influence. Second
the Germans estimate of modern English writers
is almost worthless, for the reason that the former
have not well developed literary sense. They
are fond Of reading English books, it is true, and
criticise with confidence as they read; but for
such criticism they are incompetent From them
we may learn much about Old English but about
modern English nothing.
In comparison with the average Engllsh or
American undergraduate, the average herman
student is more or less Of a boor, and association
with the latter cannot be counted among the adj
vantagcs of residence at n continental university
The laws Of health, also, are more lnteiiigently
-. rltSl &c nf
many ;pgrims, therefore, the English universities
are preferable to the German; and it IS much 10 Dc
regretted that the cost Of living at the former IS
so high that comparatively few can afford 10 TAKE
a graduate or undergraduate course at OXFORD OF
Cambridge
But word about the cost Of living in Germany.
in regard to which such fables and romantic tales
current. Do not listen TO any one who tells you
that in Germany mark has the purchasing power
of a dollar. or even half-dollar, IN america.
hat is less than half truth ana all similar
statements are misleading Even II you were n
good economist and should take infinite pains 70
rctrench you would not be able to live comfort
ably and at the same time reduce your expenses
to one-quarter or Qne-half OF what they are IN
America But in the nature or things n studeht
is not good economist and an American IN Uer,
many finds his estimates swollen by a Thousand
incidental expenses. lie cannot and should not
attempt to live economically as the German stud
nature is more exacting, and if he does not allow
himself more relaxation than the Eerman hnn ns
necessary his health will suffer and his work VIII
he would be sighting priceless opportunity 10
cultivate his taste in music dramatic art, etc.
The incidental requirements referred TO anoxe are
n chief occasion for these incidental expenses.
How long should ore remain in Germany?
For the purpose Of CARRYING on ones study OF
the language, after good beginning has heen
made a brief vist-of year, or even six months
may be helpful: hut is II not evident that
for the purpose of learning much more than the
language,-of pursuing special studies, OF tnor-
oughiy comprehending German methods, OF malrng
ourselves Mt home in conditions so unlike those
Of American society,-a brief visit VIII not sur
feel Moreover our training at school or college
docs not 1T US for entering Immediately upon any
one of their university courses. We must supply
the deficiency: and unless we able to allow
ourselves sufficient time for this preparation
shall not get good results. or course, IN except
ional cases mature students who know precisely
what they need and where the required instruction
may he obtained fall 10 work without loss OF time:
but TO limit ones self to semester or two, with
q less distinct and narrow purpose, is 10 court
disappointment. As a ruiz. therefore. the question
How Long" should be answered as long time
as the Germans themselves that Is. the serious
class take in preparation for their examinations
Take full course, ending in an examination lor
the degree Of doctor of philosophy
TJpon those who cannot take the full course
ahroad the supplemental departments OF our own
colleges and universities have strong claims TOT mere
there need ne no loss Of time, and although the
possibilities are not SO great the rlSk Oh aSap
pointment is also not so great Already there
are indications OF increasing readiness on the part
of American students to pass from one college or
university to anotherin quest OF special lnstrucoh
the sanitary effects Of change, etc and 10 VIII be
an incalcmloblc advantage to American scholarship
when our leading educational institutions mako
common cause in promoting this kind Of migration
APPLYING to their thinking shops" the free trade
nrincinlc ms II is in force at the German univer
stiles. and in the form Of more and better intel
lectual prod lets reaping the benefits of such free
trade But even now at the strongest OF our
uniyersities-notaby Yale. Harvard and Johns
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. efforts are being made to pro
vide for those who wish to pursue liberal studies
For n wear or two and so this sign post counsels
such rs have made provision for only brief
visit in Germany TO loo<about them and see II
they cannot do better In America.
Now a word in regard to accommodations In
Germany.
Should one secure rooms and board in private
family in which there no other foreigners
hotel or in German student fashion, lodge in q