Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-29
Study at Least One Foreign Language

Study at Least One Foreign Language
More and more. as | travel about the
world, | realize the mistake our Ameri-
can parents and our American school
system are making III their methods of
education.
Thousands of children are wasting pre-
cious hours on the study of drawing
but possess not the least ability in that
line; others are given rhetoric and COM
position. botany and anatomy and a
smattering Of languages. and never make
use of any of these studies.
All this broken time on useless labors
might better be applied to the thorough
mastering of some one language besides
English
| am acquainted with hundreds of
young women and men who have gradu-
ated from high schools, seminaries, bust
ness colleges and normal colleges. Not
ten of these speak any language but
English
When the subject of languages is re-
ferred to in America today. the great
majority of students. and even educators,
reply that English is rapidly becoming
the universal tongue.
They will tell you that one can trayei
anywhere and find English spoken.
As far as the actual benefit and use Of
the English language goes, this Ameri-
can statement of its universally is abso-
lutely untrue.
/ have walked a dozen blocks III Il
half dozen cities in Holland and Belgium
and addressed Il score of people before
| found one who could speak or under
stand word of English.
Three-fourths of the pleasure and
benefit in my travels have come from
the knowledge of the French tongue
imperfect as that knowledge is.
American tourists will tell you that
you can get along just as well and see
all the sights and enjoy all the pleasures
of foreign travel without knowing any
tongue but English
Again ! say the statement is most err
rOneous.
lie who imagines he has had the best
of travel in this way is labOring under Il
grave mistake. He is like one who
thinks he has dined when he has had
only soup and fish.
Whether one travels for business, for
pleasure or for social benefit, the best
results are not obtained without some
knowledge of a second language.
Not only are there millions of people
in Europe who do not speak or under
stand our language, but there are thou
sands who absolutely do not know what
the language of America is
A young man, a graduate of business
college in Holland, asked me if the
American language was not very much
like the English.
The American people who are looking
for the day when English will be the
universal tongue will have to wait AT
least Il thousand years.
Therefore, instead of wasting precious
years on hashed-up studies. which pro-
duce no beneficial result on the mind
and serve to weaken the power Of CON
centration, let out young Americans So
lect either French or German when the
mind is in its period of acquisition Of
knowelge and perfect themselves in that
tongue.
The knowledge of a second language is
highly enricbing to the mind.
1t opens mp vast storehouses Of pleas
ure and information even in the matter
of literature alone.
For a young man about to enter into
business it is most valuable.
For young woman it means social
privileges and benefits.
In travel it is the main source Of pleas
ure and satisfaction
OF course, one can employ a courier if
economy is not to be considered 3yA0|
will act as a monthpiece and Interpreter.
But Il courier can be Il great nuisance
as we'll as a great helper, and there are
a thousand and one situations IN travel
where courier is not obtainable or nd
mssibie
To all parents ambitious for the cdu-
cation of their children / would urge the
matter Of languages.
Encourage and stimulate your children
to master some tongue besides their oau.
4 stenogra phcr who is able to write and
read French or German, Italian or Spau-I
ish is a great assistance TO large bush
ness ho' 'es. and can command al excel
lent salary.
In every position life presents t. thcI
younG knowledge of two languages
will prove Of inconceivable value
Study the language. You will live io|
be glad of every hour 50 applied.
II you can study but one select
French. II is the Court language of|
The world" II is spoken by the maior.,y
Of educai ed people in Europe, Whatever
may be their native tongue
Where one person Of education I'm Hol-I
land and Germany speaks English, l00|
speak French.
In Mayence. Germany. a city OF ~
900, few Englisb-speaking residents are
70 BE- found.
Not one American family lives in the
city.
Here peculiarly important service was
rendered me by an acquaintance with
French phrases.
An eXCruciating tooth8Che seized me
on the way to the city, and the difficulty