The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-03-04

L t8 - - a.
Language Confvrencel
The study Of the c~iassics has noia
disciplinary md intrinsic values. that
Is TO say, It has high value both IS $
means to an education IN that IL trains
the mind 10 think. and IS an end ia
and superiority OF these ancient el,-
iiizitions and literatures.
Any system OF instruction that OVER
estimates the Importance al mcr, IN
formation and underestimate the
value of mental discipline thereby cue
t!vates the memory In IA detrimcnt
Of the Reason. imagination. and the
other faculties OF the mind. II IS only
when these are all equally trained
and symmetrically developed. and the
mind works With a healthy and vigur
Gus activity. that the student is ready
for life and able to meet and solve
It's problems. Then, like the healthy
body. the mind in this healthy state
finds a real JOY in life, the JOY OF cul-
ture, which is the enrichment of lifa
The primary purpose OF the college
! course is not TO furnish information
nor to give useful knowledge that viii
be of practical value in after life. but
TO train the mind and discipline tha
intellectual powers. The classics are
anon" the cry best instruments Of
education, the best means Of com.
polling the student TO think cone
sacutively and with accuracy and pres
cision. The study OF tho classics gives
one h ability to interpret a passage
accurately and express its thought in
clear, forcible, and idiomatic Eng
lish; it teaches concentration OF the
attention. mental alertness, and con-
trol over the operations Of the mind;
il gives a better knowledge OF Ian
EuaGe in general. and it c~ultivates the
taste and gives q higher appveciation
OF literary values through contact
with the great masterpieces Of literary
art. The harder q subject, the greater
its educatiVe value; if the numerous
and varied problems encountered n
the study OF the classics require moro
thought, this greater mental EFFORT
produces greater mental development.
That the classics give Il superior in
tellectual power through a more Eff
: ~fective discipline of the faculties OF
the mind is the testimony of many
eminent teachers OF science and the
! modern languages who have had the
opportunity 10 compare the work done
: in their own departments by classical
: ly trained and nOH-claSSical students.
, The literature Of the Greeks stands
l supreme and unrivaled among the lit
J eratures Of the world. It is a remark
able fact that while they themselves
h no literary models to copy. they
produced a literature that became the
model OF al subsequent European lit
CREATURES. They created and brought
to perfection the types or departments
4 OF literature. viz, epic, lyric. and dra
) matte poetry, history, philosophy. and
d oratory. with which we are so IA
miliar. and our familiarity arises from
4 the fact that the Romans and III
G li:er peoples adopted these types rs
their own. a5 the literary forms il
;. which they preferred to cast thei'
writings. From this qIick-witted
9 bright-minded people, OF acutc percep
e tons and keen sensibilities, he mos
cultured Of all nations, lovers O
u beauty and symmetry and the creator:
Is Of many beautiful things in art am
literaturc-He in commOn with tn
l. nations Of Europe have inherited on
l. civilization as we'll as or literature
T.. This rich heritage makes Greece "th'
l. mmo spiritual mother-country "
It an" and unites us and all Europe il
II the bond Of q ommon Civilization
l. When the world was parmeated witt
+ Greek culture. Christ came To carh
II and the Gospel message was sprea,
lr abroad through the medium OF tn
rs Greek language. Through the sam
r medium il was handed down to us
and since to understand the ChriStid'
religion one must study the Gree
records. his unique value OF the stud
of Greek places it beyond all com
pariSon.
II. In turning away from Greek in Re
l. cent years We ave urncd TO Ia
st amusement theory of education, to tn
III "bargain-counter. sample room, a
t. carte system Of electives, to q kin
III Of education nat has led the Eng
G lish To say Of its best products. o.
h. Rhodes scholars: AS 0 general fll'
q they know nothing well. but SOM
thing about a greft many things
ne the Kind Of knowledge you might :,
X from attending public lectures"
ii ~