University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-14

ID iOuIlOIu value, anu IL ID tHSi cio' 7
from four different points of view
that il is proposed here 10 make a
very brief examination of it.
First. in common with the study OF
the classical languages, the study OF
the modern languages has been very
great and widely recognized disciplin-
airy value, serving in general to de-
velop the habits OF close observation
20 essential in every pursuit in life
land to train the faculties OF analysis
land reflection. II concentrates the
lattention first upon the individual
word, be it English or foreign, to de-
Itermine its form. its relation to the
words which precede and follow it, the
leXact shape of meaning that il pre-
lsents, and, what is especially true Of
the modern languages, its soundvalue.
and then upon the complex of wOrCs
forming the Sentence,in order to de-
Itermine its exact meaning and its
leXact relation to- the sentences. the
lideds. which precede and follow il.
for the eye. for the ear, and for the
lpOwerS OF analysis and reelection, ard
lcultivatcs precision Of thought and
statement. by thus training powers
Iof close observation and enlisting in
1.-The process The sense of hearing as
well as that Of sight il performs the
valuable service of training the mem-
Iory along proper lines. III general.
then. such study serves to inculcate
habits Of careful, methoGical work
and as discipline looking to this
end has few. if any. superiOrs.
Secondly. thI study Of modern iaagu
Iagc serves for the requirement of an
accomplishment which is useful for
IDurpOs es of business or travel. The
|degrce of such usefulness will natur-
ally depend unon The varying oppor-
ltunitics of the individual. Many would
doubtless never have an opportunity
TO make use OF it and its value for
them in this respect would reside
Ichiefly in the pleasurable sense of
mastery which accompanies any ac-
complishment. To many others it
lwOuld be not merely useful but per-
lhaps even Indispensable For them its
utility will be perfectly apparent with
lout further discussion.
| Thirdly. il serves to put the stu
dent in possession of an instrument
(which may often be absolutely indis-
ipcnsible for the further persecution
of his studies along other lines. Con
tributing 10 knOTledge in any and
every branch of learning i. not the
Exclusive privilege OF any one nation
and much of the best thar has been
written is, for example, in French and
German. The student who wishes TO
study any subject thoroughly must OF
lHecessity seek a large portion OF his
material in either or both of these
languages and even in others. This
fact is so clearly recognized today that
most of our univer tiles require
reading knowledge of French and Ger
man of ali candidates for advanced
degrees. In this connection it is per-
tinent to remark that relatively
slight knowledge OF the languages con-
| cerned Will enable the student TO
handle his technical material with
Icomparitivc ease. offering thus quick
and easy return for his investment of
ltime.
Fourthiy. OF tine utmost importance
lis the service rendered by the study
Of modern language in Introducing
the student to the life and literature
of the country concerned. Familiar
ity with the manner and customs,
ideas and ideals. Institutions and ar
tistic productions of other people is
one of the most potent factors in
broadening the mind and the sympa- |
thieS of the student and enriching |
MS ouilOok upon Ire. In no wise can |
the average man acquire such fami- |
liarity as readily as through a first |
hand acquaintance with the literature |
of any people. the record of its life. !
its ideas, its ideals. and of it's achieve |
ments as well as of it's mistakes and |
failures. The life of the individual is
enriched for all time, for he has pro-
vived himself with standards based |
on the best performance of the human |
race everywhere. His sympathies are
broadened incidentally. for he has ac-
quired knowledge of human nature
in all its infinite manifestations. There
publican convention of 1850 by the elo- |
uupncf of his voice advocating the !