Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-18

| three essentials OF educauOn, -KnoWle0ge
/ discipline, and intelligent sclion may
be derived from it. The plea of discipline
alone. which seems to be the only
advantage many teachers ascribs t.
Latin, would in itself fail to justify
is maintenance in its presen
position. Mathematics, science and phil
csophy would long since have driven i
from supremacy if this were the only ben
eft afforded. Men IN all ages have beer
too practical to allow so exalted position
10 be occupied exclusively by a menta
gymnasium. 1t is not because Of the vir.
tue of great disciplinary pOtency-thougt
in this respect the peer of any branch o.
learniDg-that Latin has been regarded
with prominent favor by the educators o.
all ages, and that we are knocking for III
admission into all existing and prospective
secondary schools in West Virginia, bnt
because Gifts practical worth to the people
Cf E1rope, E1gland and America. 1t may
be truly said that Latin is the mater lin
gudrum of these nations.
Prof. S. NJ. SterD, whose extended expe
rieuce and observation in methods of edu
cation have been recognized on both sides
of the Atlantic, has obliged us with the
authority of bis opinion on this paper. 81
language, Gays he, "the most powerful in
etrument in the possession Of men, Ii
to he ons of the objects o.
instruction in public schools, and if it is
/ intended at all to teach in accordance with
rational pedagogical principles, then Latin,
l think, ought 10 be taught in every pub
lie school OF the English speaking nations
This testimony is not the utterance of an
enthusiast or a specialist. 1t is the logical
conclusion OF an honest liberal-minded in
vestigator in the realms of educational sci
ence. The common experience Of Amsri-
can educators attest its truth. 1t could
not be otherwise since the English Ian.
guage ia not primary, but q secondary OF
derivstive one. According to P.of Whit
ney. OF Yale University, only about two
| ff. hs of the words found in the English
dictionary sre of Anglo-Saxon origin,
while five seventies come from classical
sources. TIE number from Latin has beer
estimated by Prof. Hadley at four-ifths OF
these from foreign tongues. The yigor and
bloom of our language is derived from 1t.
Tiolgh dead in the abstract it lives
and energies almost every lam
euspe of continental Europe. II
| forms the keenest instrument
in the bands of those who write and speak
against it as q means of modern education
The arraigument of the classics from the
pen of Charles Francis Adams, was the
product of brain fertilized by 1t. The
study of that address shows the adroitnes
II -, fpgFrnpnant hrq be1n ma.
nipulated for its own destruction.
To comprehend the technical force OF ex
preston of almost any standard work o.
/ English or American literature necessitate'
a certain knowledge Of Latin. Even th'
preamble of the Constitution OF the United
States, containing only thirty-four differ.
ent words has twenty-five Latin deriva
tiyes. Repeat the Apostles creed ard you
come in contact with twelve words Of tbs
same origin. This is true in general. We
read, write ard speak constantly in these
words. 1t may be Objected, how
ever, that it is not necessary Il
be acquainted with the primary
language in order to use correctly
words derived from it. Certainly not II
every case. Unconscionsly the writer and
speaker employs them to convey hi'
thoughts. He has learned theiT use In
ductively. Yet frequently the force o
words. and more especially of compound
ones. with their various secondary mean
ings can be comprehended only and used
10 express thought exactly sf!er knowl
edge Of their use in the language from
which they are taken.
I'll, fufO fha paDoRffy ard ron
s,ruction of English which Latin affOrd'
can be acquired from no other source. i
expands and enriches the vocabulary, The
greatest need of the common school schol
ar. For clear illustration of this fact VIZ
are indebted to Prof H. P. Emerson, o.
New York: Gas single example cut o.
hundreds take the verb tOrQUeo. the perfect
participle of which is tOrtts. II means 'tC
twist and from the twisting motion
Of throwing, to hurl' Over fifty
English words are derived from
this verb, of which only few nesd be
mentioned: dis tOriiOH, twiating apart Of
ont of shape; &c toriiOH, twisting wrest-
| ling away; con t0riiOn, twisting together
re tort, a hurting back. Again, we heai
in law of actions fer tort, an injury, like
the E,glish wrong from wrung, and IL
botany the term tOrtae, twisted. Again
we speak Of a tOrtuOus road, of a chemist {
reforf. Oh account of its twisted shape; Of
/ n tortoise. on account of its twisted oil
crooked feet Tor ment first meant an en-
zine for hurliDg missiles in war, then al
| instrument for racking the body, and last
" the twisting and writing Of the body
when subjected to severe pain. Ihest
are only examples of what may be taught
from every page Of Latin"
Latin further teaches right choice o.
words,n which Cesar says, lis the foun'
da,ion of eloquence," and thus develop;
the faculty q expressing thought clearly
exactly and tluently, whether in speech OF
in writing. This advantage in practice
life Is invaluable. The need of it Il
felt in every department Of socia
and industrial society. To the merchant
and the mechanic as we'll as to the lawyer
and the teacher it is essential. The aching
void Of our present system OF education IL
the public school, is the want of sufficient
instruction in Language. We see it IL
every walk of life The statement y
know it, but can't tell it," is familiar t.
every teacher. We cram the mind OF th'
pupil with the so-called practical lniorma
tioa without furnishing them the means o
intelligent communication. The way Il
remedy this defect, is not teach less math
ematics or science, but to teach more Ian
gusge. Like John Stuart Mills tailor, lie
us make both coats and trouses.
The benefit of the study of Lltin is no
alone because it so materially affects on
Language aud literature, but also because
in it is preserved the substance of wha
remains OF a great people that flour
ished for centuries and ruled tn
world. Much of our civilization
may be traced to them. Out of the debris
of the Roman Empire European cultur,
arose. The vacations, customs, laws anc
philosophers of the people of the presen
time are based upol the experiences o
that nation. In no other way con We gai1
a better knowledge OF their spirit and at
fairs than by the study of their literature
and their own language. 1t Is essentia
that the citizens of q republic like ours b.
versed in the origin and progress Ct tn,
fundamental principles of their social ant
political fabrics. The perpetuiIy Of on
institutions depends directly upon it. !
is not by attention to present conditions
alone that we receive most for our guild
apcs; we need knowledge of growth. o
the procession of events, Of the causatlv'
relation Of human thought and action