The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25

In a singularly interesting Introduction tn this
volume DIR. Harris defines the respective obliga-
lions Of our modern civilization to the English.
the Germans. and the. French. and also to
the three ancient. peoples who have stood
toward us In the relation of teachers. those.
namely. OF Judea, of Rome. and of Greece. We
are reminded that the nations of Europe ard
America recognize their debt to Judea by set
ting apart n learned profession. the clergy, to
master the divine message revealed through the
highly endowed spiritual sense of the Hebrews,
and. in turn. to make the mass Of laymen. high
and low. acquainted with that message, and able
each 10 govern his own life in accordance with
Il. This education. moreover. in the religion
revealed to Hebrews. demands and receives
from Christians one day in seven set apart for
its exclusive purpose, besides its recognition in
the presence Of secular labor. In the second
place, our civilization sets apart another learned
profession to master the laws by which justice
IL secured between man and man. The protec-
tion of life and property and the punishment
of crime, the ordinances by which individuals
combine to form social aggregates for the
prosecution of business-or to provide for the
welfare of towns, cities. counties. states. and
nations almost all of these proceed from a
Roman origin. and were, in the first instance
taught by the Roman prRtOrian courts that
followed in the wake of Roman armies. and
mduo SECURE tnclT COnputSls W eSthDllSn!TE
Roman Jurisprudence in the plnce OF the local
laws and customs that had before Prevailed.
Why was the Roman Jurisprudence an improve
ment on those local laws and customs because
the Latin mind had pondered for many centuries
on the forms Of the will, discovering oac by one
the limitations Of individual caprice and ar
bitrariness necessary 10 prevent collision 81 The
individual with The social whole. This Roman
lesson to the world teaches us how to frame laws
and guide the individual. in such wise rs TO make
all his deeds affirmative of the whole purpose of
his community and nation, and cause him to
avoid all such deeds MS tend toward trcspass or
any injury Of others. The result is to make
each person strong through the corporate will
of his community and nation, aud TO prcvcat
the collision Of each with all, a collision
which would annihilate all reasonable
action. Thus it has come to pass that the
modern system OF education In Europe and the
United States places the study of Latin In Nil
secondary and higher education AZ a first essen
tial, side by side with mathematics, in the
school studies. This secures for youth from
three to seven years daily occupation with the
workings OF the Latin mind. The boys intellect
gradually becomes permcated with the motives
of that serlous-minded people, The special sig
~niicance Of those words that express the Ideals
OF Roman character. indeed the ideals Of all
characters, words which we have preserved IN
our English translation OF them. gravity, sober
ness, probity, honesty, selt-restraint, alstnrity,
considerateness, modesty, patriotism. imprcss"s
his mind deeply as q result of long-cUniinucd
study OF Roman literature and history. ApropOs
TO this point. DIR. Harris quotes a remark made
by Rosenkranz in his Philosophy OF Educa-
ton" to the effect that 1.-THE Latin tongue Is
crowded with expressions which paint presence
OF mind, the effort Of reflection. a critical alti-
tude of the intellect. the Importance OF self
control.
There is, however, a third people and a third
language TO which we give emphatic ~rlcogni-
Zion ~ our secondary and higher education. We
place the Greek language before the pupil for
its influence on his mind in opening IL TO the
vision OF science. art, and literature. DIR. Harris
reminds US that to Greece We owe the invention
OF all the potent literary forms, eplc. lyric, and
dramatic. IL was the Greeks who transformed
architecture and sculpture into shapes that re-
Vealed spiritual freedom. IL was they who dis
covered the beautiful In its highest forms as the
manifestation OF freedom and self-detcrmina-
ton. Besides the beautiful. they also found the
true, and explored its forms in science and
philosophy, science and estheties treating of
the two forms of the intellect just as j~urispru-
dence treats of the forms Of the will. Thus has
it come about that Greece educates all modern
nations in art and literature, while Rome odu-
Gates them in civil law, and Ju3eR in religion.
The nrir,ary aim of the author NJ Aha vnlrn,o