New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-28
"OLD GREEK. a"
4 Biographical Tribute to an Old
time Teacher.

1t is not alone 10 the alumni Of Hamilton Col
Iege that the memoir OF Professor Edward
North, published by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.
under the title of "Old Greek"-the name by
which he was afectionately known-should APP
peal. The work is aimed at and should reach
a larger circle. The view given by DR.. S. n. D.
North Of this "oldtirne professor in an old fash
toned college" as the subtitle has it, possesses
a typical as we'll as historical and biographi-
cal significance As the author we'll puts ii in
his introduction:
The life Of Dr.. Edward North reveals relation
h his Students whc was frequent In the early
in the small college. and which has largely dlsap-
Tofessors and tutors are numbered 6y the hundred
and students by the thousand. TINS picture o9 b OF
old Greek Will stand for many anotLef
college professor dear TO his students, who spent
his life making and moulding men
For ffty-eight years Professor North held the
chair Of Greek at Hamilton. from 1913 TO lSOl'
and small as the college was and is, his long ca
reer brought him into intimate personal rela-
tons with several thousand students, and the
/ evidence is abundant that all Of them drew in
spiration from his contagious spirit and exam
pie" Coincident with his main purpose in pay
ing tribute TO the memory of DR.. North, the
author uses the story Of his life to point two
fold argunent-in favor of the small college as
contrasted with the large university. and OF the
restoration OF the classics ito that place in our
educational system from which modern methods
are rapidly excluding them" AS matter of
fact. universities and science have forced places
for themselves IN the educational economy
which the subject of this memoir would have
been the last person to deny them. But II is
impossible 10 read the record Of this devoted
and stimulating career without conceding that
the small college and classical learning have
likewise their functions. which they are not
likely TO forfeit at least while men like Edward
North continue to dignity them.
Extracts from Professor North's diary and
correspondence and abundant selections from his
lectures and miscellaneous writings give the vol
ume an almost photographed character, so
that the reader IS led 10 feel something of that
close intimacy with "Old Greek that was real
tied by those who came more directly under his
influence and guidance. How intimate that was
is indicated by an entry in his diary, In regard
10 the birth of his first child:
At Il o'clock I went to the recitation room, and,
IN place of meeting the freshmen I found the room
empty. on the desk was generous budget OF
baby clothes with the congratulations OF the class
Though an oldtime teacher Of oldtine Ian
guage, Professor North profoundly Impressed
with the ciyilizing mission OF the English tongue
and regarded il the coming language He was
even in favor such simpcation Of its spelling as
would the better fit il 10 this end, and based his
arguments therefor in regard 10 particular words
on scholarly grounds He enjoyed the writings OF
Josh Billings and spoke thus Of him in q lecture:
Josh Billings says TO our venerable Mother
Tongue. she sits on her throne OF awful state,
bulwar6ed about with millions of books and ell
thraled professors, 4 VIII spell my words as GO
TO my dinner by the shortest cut, ana II that -
treason your majesty, make the most OF 1t
Many a word is spoken in jest, and Josh
Billings hits the champions of unphonographlc
spelling between the joints Of the harness, IRAN
a class OF quick-witted Germans previously lgno-
OF our language. 10 spell according TO the
Josh Billings method. then introduce them 10
the dictionary method and which Of the two WAYS
would they instinctively select most i'll keeping
with the eternal fitness of things?
Needless TO say. he did not go so far as 10 put
practice the principles followed by the anna bic
humorist. and his real attitude is shown in letter
10 a friend, written IN lSS3;
have more faith il spelling reform than tie
spelling reformers. AS class the spelling reform
earisolne fanatics, who stupidly ignore the
fact that language is q growth and not creation
They cannot how the pig can be roasted with
out burning the homestead There is this
compensation, that our irregular spelling makes
each Ell gish word distinct power. with inherited
rights and privileges