New-York tribune., 1907-09-07

French is. of course. the diplomatic language
Of the world. Germany lays claim TO the deep
est and most up-to-date works on scientific as
well as literary subjects. Many places with
good sized salaries attached 10 them are open
to-day to and women knowing Italian.
Spanish, Russian one of the Oriental
tongues, and young man who has a reading
and speaking knowledge Of any one OF these
possesses one of the first requirements for en-
trance into the consular service Of this govern
Tnent.
COLLEGES REQUIRE MODERN LAM
GUAGES
Il is a significant facl that the colleges ana
universities of this country now paying
attention to modern languages than ever
before. Either French German is required in
every institution for degree, while some col
Ieges require at least years study in both Ian
guages All scientific men, mathematicians.
astronomers. chemists. physicists, philosophers
and phiiologists find it absolutely necessary 10
be able to read German with ease and no man
OF woman who intends 10 become a literary
person in any sense Of the word afford to
De ignorant OF the beautiful and widely varied
literature of France
Some writer has said that a person never
really knows his own language until he has
studied foreign one. Certainly no one can
fully appreciate the fine distinctions of which
the English tongue is capable until he has stud
guages. All scientific men, mathematcians.
between the different idiomatic expressions Of
lLlS ana some biiltT modern tongue tlSilSll
Is a complex language. and has drawn literally
from the vocabularies and gramnars of every
branch Of the so-caIIed Indo- European group of
languages. For the deepest scholarship and
mast genuine culture one must turn 10 a study
Of the languages and Iiteratures Of Greece and
Rome.
This. however. is not possible for many Of the
young Americans of to-day. but every one is
able to become acquainted with French, which
IS the keystone to all the Romance languages,
and contains in its literature much of the spirit
Of the ancient poets, dramatsts and phiioso-
piers.
INCREASE OF FOREIGN TRAVEL
The number Of tourists from all parts of the
United States who travel through Europe every
year is increasing rapidly 1t is safe to say that
ma ajority of these are unable to speak anything
but English and have trouble almost every
where they sc. OF course il is possible to find
individuals in all of the large cities and at the
places the regular route OF tourists who
speak English. But these are ever ready TO
profit by the Americans inability to speak the
native tongue Of the land
To young men and women who dependent
upon themselves for their livelihood the knowl
edge of German, French or Spanish. especially
Spanish. is Invaluable Business men who carry
trade with any Of the insular possessions of
tEe United States with the South American
countries say that they have found it abso-
tUtey essential TO their business to speak Span
ish. Formerly they were satisfied with employ
ing an occasional Interpreter Now they
learning Spanish themselves and are also get
ting employees who know it.
There are many instances here in New York
Of business houses who used to send out their
correspondence with Spanards to have it trans
lated by the piece" Now these same houses
not only pay regular salaries to interpreters, but
are even employing stenographers who can
write both Spanish and English Many young
women stencgraphers who know Spanish are
able tc earn at least $25 week AT several
places this salary is offered them only to begin
with, and they have the opportunity to show
their ability and to have their salaries in
creased correspOndngly- In only one South
American country, Brazil, is Spanish not the
state tongue. But even in Brazil where Portu-
guese is spoken. one knowing Spanish has no
trouble, 1t is said in making himself understood
and in finding who speak Spanish them
selves.
THE CONSULAR SERVICE
Only within the last few years the government
has undertaken to put its consular service
higher plane Consular appointments no
longer matter of political preferment only,
1t -