University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-07
REASON WHY SERIES.
Seeking To Show How 4 Study of The Various Courses
In The University of Missouri Equip The
Student For Future Usefulness
g. WHY STUDY THE CLASSICS, BY DR.. j. c. JONES
Dean Of the College Of Arts Science.

guage is valuable 70 4 student because
when he acquires it he gets new pail
of eyes with which he may view the
world. He sees the accustomed Oh
ljects about him from new point vi
view, or in a different light. He learns
that the characteristic which is en-.
IphasiZed in his native speech is .Ot
the one that has been emphasized Ii:
the speech of other peoples. He learns,
for example. that the animal when We
lcall man." was to the Romans 'the
courageous animal and to the Greeks
1.-THE animal OF strength" that the
standards by which he measures con
Iduct and moral values are not the
same as those used by others. The
benefit TO be derived from the acquir-
ling of any foreign language depends
upon (D the disciplinary value of the
Language, Oh the aid which it may
give the student in the understanding
and use OF his own tongue, Ccj the
| vi lRH lilti III tiItlNGliHS
his taste and enriching his life.
The study of the Classics, Latin
and Greek. introduces the student at
once to the scientific method and
greatly aids him in acquiring wha5 we
may call the scientific attitude OF mind
BY this we mean the habit of Ob.er-
walton, comparison and generalization
At the very outset he acquires TIE
habit of noticing carefully the indI
vidual word. its form. its accent. It's
place in the sentence, the habit Of
comparing it with Othcr words in the
same sentence noting Similarities and
Ivations and comparisons tie haDit Ol
lcareGully drawing his conclusions. In
doing this he is getting an attitude OF
mind, Il habit of thought, that will be
lserviceahle 10 him in after life wnat-
ever line of WORK he may choose. For
the ability, 10 observe things accurate
ly, to compare them by noting i,iCir
lresemblanCcS and their differences and
20 put in proper form sound conc!u-
siOnS based upGn .uci observations
and comparisons is necessary for the
lawyer. the engineer, the physician,
the teacher, farmer. and for the man
of affairs. The lawyer who makes his
way though the tangie of dflicail
case at law finds the process a thor
lOushly natural one, if he has been
trained in the Classics. In tran, la;ing
la long or difficult sentence from Greek
or Latin he has hecOme accustomed TO
observing carefully the forms and re-
lationS of the wGril; just as he mus;
now observe the form and relation of
the facts; he has acquired the habit
Of comparing words with each other
not only as to form but also a. to
meaning, just as he must now COM
pare the facts with each other. After
observation and comparison of .he
facts he has been accustomed 10 draw
his conclusion and to state il with
.clearness and precision just as he must
now formulate Il clear and convincing
statement of his case based upon OBJ
servation and compari. on of the facts. |
In acquiring facility in observing. sort
ing. and drawing sound conclusions |
from facts and in acquiring the ability |
TO state that conclusion in clear, force |
fui, and accurate terms, training IN |
the Classics is of immeasureable value |
10 the student of law These sane |
qualities are neces ary in the Inter
probation of statutes and of legal doe |
uments in which so much of the yOrh
of the modern lawyer consists. He
must constantly observe, compare and
draw his conclusion. To the law stu.
dent who would go deep into the study
of his subject and penetrate to the
sources of our law, knowledge of
Latin i as indispensable a tool rs
the dissecting knife to the anatomist
Or the microscope to the Zoolosist.
Or minor Importance may be mention
ed the superior grasp which the stu
dent Of Latin has on legal maxims. to
say nothing of the sense of satisfac-
ion that he feels in understanding
hem so readily.
The limits of this article will not +,
PERMIT 30 full statement of the ad-
of the training given by the /,
Classics TO the engineer, the physician.
he teacher, the farmer and the man of
'ffairs. The ability to observe facts
loosely, to compare them carefully +,
md to draw accurate conclusions is
leeded by the engineer, whether he
S engaged in applying in the usual
way the well established PRINCIPLES
# his profession or seeking some new
ppllcation of the old or striking out