The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03

her laurels. Her historians. her drama
isis, her noVelists and poets have W0r
thlly sustained the great traditions \
me country; From them, too, the Amer
iGan student Will be able to learn niue,
that is valuable. In the course Of he,
Drlef history America has done much
1er statesmen and warriors have earn.
ca the encomiums of mankind But the
% oSs n OF developing the material resource;
u tIe country IN the earlier stages of her
existence as an Independent nation, abb
sorDed the best energies of her abley.
sons Literature and art were compar31
livery neglected. Things have now changI
ed Wealth on every side abounds UnI
yersltles, colleges, and high schools havI
Deen multiplied. The reproach of one 4
our aDIest literary men that America wa;
tHe most common-schooled and least I'll
ucdteu nations of the world is now I'd
longer applicable, even If il could hayI
Deen ever uttered with perfect truth. Thi
ume is fast approaching when in I'D
hlghest domains Of literature, science an
ART, as IN all concerns of practical life tad
united states will take her place in nd
very forefront of civilized nations. It 4
py 1udicious eclecticism in the mattel
OF education that this will be accom-
plsned. 1t is our duty as well as our m
terest to adapt what is best in the sys1
TENS that prevail in other lands. I'D
stamp OF native genius will soon imi
print itself upon what we have made oui
own. L 90 not advocate any slaVish inf
tatlon, The man of transcendent powers
VINO, ike Shakespeare or a MOliere b0lf
rows freely from the stores of his predi
cessofs, transforming everything 10
new and magnificent shapes by n
magic touch of genius, is no mere plagi
larist. So is 1t with nations. What i
pest IN any is the common property 4
an. Chaucer to whom England looal
PACK with reverence as the Father n
English Poetry had lived much
France and Italy, and he made free u
OF the materials that were available in 4
Latin, French and Italian languages y
poems of the troubadour and trouysf
furnished models for the early EngAs
writers. Thus was founded the EngIl'
Scnool or poetry. LongfellOW prepdi
OF modern languages and for his tutu
career as great poet by extensive Az
prolonged travels on the continent OF q +
rope.
Some acute thinkers say that Germs
influences are unduly predominant m 0l
universities. The cultivation of nauol
taste is more important object tnah .
establishment Of that form Of scholars
which delights in ascertaintng exactly I.
often a particular Greek writer empg
the aorist as compared with the impeIle
tense. Let the promotion OF real CUT
be the object of our scholars and MOI
diligence in mere puerilities. Ma lI1e
Arnold, who by the way, was pupA
Sainte-Beuve, saw clearly the faults
MS countrymen; he Cnaracterlzed
English upper classes as "barpaIlaAs
and the middle classes as 'PhllSuAs
1t was Arnoids conviction that the o
counteractive TO the tendencies which
deplored was TO be found in the an a9
Of French culture in England. lie
Heved that Germany was not the
teacher for England. And II is eqaS
true that the American branch OF lne
glo-SaXOn race will be able to ma 81.
thing of Sweetness and light in T. l5I
culture. Or. Jessopp, whose confirms
to the magazines on antiquarian topics
so much appreciated, recently eGplts
surprise that the most interesting ana !-
osophical histories of English httIa.I
were written, not by Englishmen, ou.
two Frenchmen, Taine and JusseL@r
Let us hope that If the secret is lnco in lil
nicable to Englishmen, our Amer
scholars will prove themselves apls
pills. France has shown her goou
to America. II now remains for her
dren TO avail themselves of the hospi l..i
offered them by the French universe
Not only will the students who TOR z t ~
under French auspices, "scorn deLs
and live laborioqs days" in the puIsuft
the highest culture, be themselves the.
ter for their stay in France, but On =
return home their native land VIII
share in the benefit.