The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-31
DANISH PAGAN CLASSICS?

DANISH PAGAN CLASSICS?
In one of our esteemed Elk
changes we ran across the follow
ing condemnation Of the ancient
classics. To say we were shocked
is putting it mildly. The editorial
says in part:
This paper is firmly of the
opinion that the so-called classi-
cal course of studies should be
amended, modernized and adapted
to the needs Of American students.
Greek should be eliminated. More
attention should be given to logic,
moral philosophy, science, Amer
lean history, and vocational
preparation. What do we care
for the writings Of pagans ?
Their so-called masterpieces, if
produced today, could not find
a publisher. What do we care
for the history Of Greece and
Rome?" etc.
What do we care for the writ
ings of pagans? Well, this SEN
tence it representing universal
belief, would surely characterize
our age as a real Dark Age. It
appears that all distinction has
been eliminated between educa-
ton and instruction: the usual
fatal error Of the day.
The intellect is possessed Of a
fine aesthetic quality that is capa-
bic of detecting beauty wherever
found. Logic, science, etc, do
not necessarily develop or tend to
unfold this quality. It's develop
ment is assisted to a very high
degree by the perusal and the
study Of those classic forms of
thought which show the aesthetic
value Of all things. Indifferent
it is whether these classics were
the work of pagan or Christian
we prescind from the religion of
the authors, and we admire their
work, and this admiration soon
develops a love for the beauty Of
the ancient masterpieces.
Is there no such thing as a
love for the intellectual? Must
the practical, the material, ever
engrosss our whole being? Why
stop at the writings Of the an
clients: why not eliminate their
art, their history, and their
|polity. What do we care for their
history? Well, we consider it a
magnificent setting for the grand
drama Of Christianity that was
unfolded in the very midst OF
pagan history at it's zenith.
If we really eliminate the pag-
an writings, what substitute may
be offered adequately to fill their
place. The writings of the Chris
tian Fathers, or the later Chris
tan writer's? These were tried
Tout in the schools of Europe at the
time Of the Renaissance, and
| found wanting in aesthetic values,
and subsequently dropped into
the realm of pathology where they
rightfully belong.
| But these masterpieces, we are
told, if produced today, could not
| find a publisher. Does that argue
the inferiority of the works, or
rather the inferiority of present
day intellectual appetite? Are
the writings of Pindar, of Arts
totle, Of Sophocles, Euripides, and
Aeschylus simply educational
Ijunk?" Are Cicero, Virgil, and
Horace, candidates for the educa-
tional junk-pile? True, it is not
necessary to cram all our students
with the works of these authors
| Neither is it required to fill them
up with Logic, American his
tory" etc. Cut adrift from the
Ancients, segregate their writings,
isolate their history, and the sub
sequent history Of the world be
comes unintelligible, the march OF
humanity adown the ages is but an
aimless stroll, starting nowhere
and you have that most amusing
of all intelligent beings, the prlg.
the mental parvenue, the man
| with the insular mind.
No, dear contemporary, let us
have the classics in our schools
Regulate them if you wish; not
every stomach can digest all kinds
of nourishment; but do not, we
pray, deprive our mental repast
of its choicest viands, Of its deli
cacies, even though exotic, just be
cause many of the guests at our IN
tellectual symposium prefer tc
satiate themselves exclusively OF
the coarser fare OF science anC
vocational preparation. =