The morning call., 1893-07-31
LIVING AND DEAD LANGUAGES.

department of the Worlds Fair between
Principal Jordan Of the Leland Stanford
University and Professor Hale Of Chicago
On the compulsory study of the dead Ian
guaaes. the formar had a hne opportunity
to bring common-sense to bear on the sub
ject. He was probably the more willing to
avail himself Of it as the first Of the Amer
lean universities, Harvard, still adheres
to the ancient doctrine.
The subject is thre adbare: but so long
as colleges refuse to class Latin and
Gresk among elective studies it can
not be said to be exhausted. The OPP
poneDts of classical study may fairly
be suspected of being influenced by their
own ignorance of classical literature. The
arguments of such persons cannot 60 for
much; they are not qualified to pass
Judgment on tho value OF knowledge
which they do not possess. Nor does the
argument that many of the greatest
Americans were ignorant of the classics
possess any real force. Because man of
genius made his way in spite of educa-
tional disadvantages it does not follow that
others who may not be imbued with
equal genius should be subjected to SIM
liar dra backs.
The true question lies in q nutshell.
No one will contend that the knowledge
of Greek and Latin is not an advantage to
a scholar. The question Is whether the
time occupied by learning tho dead
languages might not be more adyan-
tageously bestowed on the acquisition OF
modern tongues. And this question
turns simply on the issue Of fact whether
the dead or the living languages contain
the largest proportion of useful know
ledge. A language is a key to q closet.
II the closet is rsplete with useful informa-
item it will pay to get possession of the
key. If the closet is empty the key will
will be Of no practical value. The value
Of the key will depend on the contents of
the closet. Thus the student who is con-
fronted with the alternative whether he
will devote the hours at his disposal to the
study of French or the study OF Latin
must ask himself the question in which
language are there most book. containing
the things he wants to know and which
language is spoken by the largest mum Der
of persons whom he is likely to meet.
That question can be answered almost
without moments thought.
A leading argument employed at Har-
ward was that the study of Latin end
Greek was excellent discipline fer tho
mind. IN both languages the grammar
and syntax have bsen reduced to an
exact science. Their study requires
analytical processes and reasoning power.
But these dead languages do not differ
in this respect from the French. Our
English grammar is a chaotic gathering OF
rule. resting on caprice and precedent :;
for many of them no reason can BE-
assigned. But French grammar is . SYM
metrickl structure based on logic and
philosophy. No professor will assert thar
the study Of French subjects the mind to
less rigid discipline than the study Of
Latin.
With the development Of civilization,
the domain of modern knowledge is so vas
that no one can hope to master it all.
Agassiz once said that life WAS too short
for any one to acquire thorough knowl-
edge OF the natural history Of fishes.
What. then. becomes of mind which un-
dertske. to absorb history, geography.
astronomy. geology, chemistry. botany,
physics, and natural history. with a smat-
| tering Of law and medicine? 1t must cul-
inmate in a reproduction OF the mind OF
Dominic Sampson. which was overloaded
with undgssted material. Few young
men or young women are so unfortunately
situate ut the present day that they cannot
obtain thorough education. But in order
that the education shall do them any good.
it must be restricted to few specific
studies. The college which adopts long
list of compulsory studies does Its stu
dents injustice. 1t is the liss of elective
studies which should be long, and tho list
OF compulsory studies short. Students
who propose to devote their lives to pure
bellies lettres may wisely take the classical
course; those who look forward to life
Of action will prefer course which is in
closer touch with the actual and present