The Detroit times., 1910-07-06

highest mountains In the state: and IL
is on this veranda that John Prentice
greets his tutor every pleasant morn
ing about 8 o'clock, before they sit
down 10 low unvarnished table 20
take up the morning lesson. On the
table are few books, and bat little
paper. Practically no English 10
spoken during Tho hour. II any inter
ruption comes they discuss the Incl
dent in Latin. The tutor explains the
meaning OF new words by blackboard
illustrations, or other Latin words and
gestures. The boy asks and answers
Questins In Latin. only occasionally
yoicin6 an English word 10 be sure
OF his understanding OF a point. He
has acquired this simple natural com
mand OF the language In about eight
months training under the personal
instruction OF Mr.. Avellanus.
Simplicity In Instruction.
This tutor does not instruct in the
mechanical textbook fashion that Gus
tom has accepted, but by beginning
with the language in a simple natural
way. You would not start an Ameri'
can boy learning English, on the writ
lngs Of Shakespeare" says he. Then
why should you start the Latin schol'
ar on advanced literature before he Is
ready TO grasp IT,"
He begins his teaching with the
commonplaces Of everyday converse
ton until the pupil becomes fluent
and familiar In the natural use OF sim
pie words. Then he tells the boy
Latin fables, familiarizes him with the
Latin words and the story, and let's the
boy tell the story back TO him In the
boys own Latin words. THE gram
mar We will take up later, but not
yet" he explains. When the boy
gets through he will have a founda-
tlon for his education that will not
be like the wooden stand supporting
the golden cross OF so many college
degrees"
Perhaps Il is the teacher. perhaps
II is the method, perhaps II Is the pupil;
but there Is something about the sue.
cess OF this big framed man with this
grandson OF riches that makes one
wonder why there ever were unruly
pupils. From the minute that the boy
seats himself at~-his little rough table
and the tutor begins talking with
many gestures. the boy Is all atten-
tion. He follows every word and
quickly grasps the meaning OF new
words. During the past week these
two have been working on Latin
story OF the wreck OF the steamship
Baltic near New York The boy copies
the story In his own handwriting while
the tutor explains the story In Latin
and has the pupil repeat It in Latin
words OF his own choosing.
Regret When Lesson Ends.
Sometimes the lesson is converse.
ton entirely. But whatever the daily
routine, there Is no haste on the part
OF the boy to have his lesson over.
When the hour is up there Is a linger.
Ing "bene vale for the tutor as he
departs down the hill with his big
walking stick, and last call OF You
will come again tomorrow"
Whatever may be the practically
OF teaching this method in all cases.
certain it Is that this youthful pupil
is securing a most practical basis for
future study and understanding OF the
great languages and literatures OF the
world, and when one hears the famil.
lar way in which his tongue curls
around the old Latin roots that the
ages have stumbled over in their
youth, one can readily believe the fore
cast that John d. Rockefeller Prem
tice will be prepared to enter the lofty
halls of some classic college before
he has left his twelfth birthday far
behind.