The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-20
LIVE LATIN SPEECH.

LIVE LATIN SPEECH.
Professor Fitzhugh has attracted
much attention by his call for con-
ference here shortly on the necessity
for wider study of Latin as source
of instruction and culture. 1t is inter
esting to note in this connection that
the Kansas City Journal declares that
there may be a renaissance of popu-
larity for this concededly important
aid to linguistic requirements" though
this prediction is based on the achieve
ments of. DR.. Arcadius Svellanus. of
Williamstown, Massachusetts,
This classical scholar is said to be
probably the only Latin teacher in this
country who teaches Latin as living
tongue His pupils devote no more
time to study of this ancient tongue
than is devoted to 1t in the ordinary
high school. but are able to speak and
read the tongue "as fuently as any of
the modern languages studied for an
equal length of time"
This seems almost quaint in day
when Latin and Creek are lightly es-
teemed and lightly used by educational
utilitarians. Those who delight in the
rare shadings of the language, who
know it's strength and It's fexibiiity.
are rejoiced If Latin be simply studied
in days like these. AS for speaking it,
it seems almost impossible to hope for
such a thing.
Just what the method of DR.. Svella-
nus is, we have no idea. At recent
meeting of the Latin teachers in one
of the largest States, he asked how
many of those present could ask in
/ Latin for a dish of strawberries and
cream?" A few tried to answer in
dog Latin but nothing more was
ventured. 1t would be well If knowl-
edge of this quick method of Latin
speech might be diffused throughout
the country. even We're 1t TO supplant
the dear pages OF Binghams Grammar
and Gldersleeve's yeilow-edged classic.
over which many perplexed youth has.
spent never to- be-forgotten hours.
Latin is the root of almost
third of the words in the
English language 1t lies at the
bottom of from thirds to nine
tenths of the tongues spoken by more
than 20o,oOo.ooo people-two and one
half times the population of the United
States. Educational experts. impatient
of genuine mental labor, may exclaim
against this ancient source OF the Ian
guagc OF nations, but it shall surely
endure Matchless is the beauty and
majesty Of the Latin tongue.
ANOTHER BELLE ELaIoRE STORY.
Every paragraph of College Topics,
the entertaining semi-weekly issued
at the University of Virginia and
happily known as Supreme at yir-
GINA" ts read by us when each issue
appears, but in It's columns this week
there is truly startling news item
which should DO flashed throughout
creation by the University Press AS.
ISOLATION. whose sleuth-reporters
have run down the tale
Here is the story to which Topics has
given so little news value that it Is
placed on its seventh page. "A woman
/ thought TO be Belle Elmore Crippcn
for whose murder DR.. Hawley Crippen
will be hanged in few days in Lon
don, was seen in the Ragged Noun
tains Just west of here, fleeing South
in an automobile last Sunday morn
Ing" Just why this fleeing female
gshould be taken for Belle Elmore, tho
Press Association fails to state, Yet
our suspicious are aroused by the de-
i scripron given of her, THE woman
\ wears a black felt hat and the sides
1 OF her face are covered with a black
1 veil. Her body is wrapped up in a.
heavy lap robe" Hist! the officers
I ot,the law are upon us, but here is the
last damning clue to the identity Of
this woman Of mystery. .Her face is
pale and haggard, and deep blue
rings are under lar eyes These rings
should be violet, but, Of course. such
details would be likely to escape evan
James CFeelman himself Homer nodded
! The report also states that the sus.
peoted woman has manta for giving
large bins for small purchases. and
not waiting for change, She Is "ner.
Nous TO the verge OF Mysteries" rhe
driver Is equally dark character. He
wears black goggles and all the rest
OF his face is covered with blaolr
neekcloth lie is unrecognizable.'