The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-06-11
PROF. LYTTLE ADVOCATES
TEACHING SPANISH IN SCHOOLS.

From time to time communications
have appeared in THE NEWS from
the pen of Prof. G.. Britain Lyttle,
OF Manchester, deep student and
thinker, who is very much inter
ested in the teaching of Spanish as a
language-study in the schools of the
United States. Prof. Lyttle favors
THE NEWS with a translation from
The Ell Heraldo, leading Spanish
paper of New York, in which Mayor
Hylan, of New York, approves the
stand taken by President Menocal,
of Cuba, regarding the study of
Spanish, as follows:
Mayor Hylan, of New York, has
added his efforts to the endeavors of
President Menocal, of Cuba, to pro-
mote an International Educational
Alliance with a view to establishing
and drawing closer the bonds of in
tercourse between the United States
and the Spanish-American countries.
"Mr. Hylan published a statement
in support of the suggestion offered
by the Cuban President that the pri-
mary step to be taken in effecting
the promotion and durable establish
ment of the bonds that naturally and
logically should exist between all
the countries of the western hemis-
phere, was the teaching of Spanish
or Castillian in the public schools of
the United States.
president Menocal has proposed
the following elementary outline as
the means of establishing the inter-
ests of the American republics in
each other naturally, for the future:
1. "The holding in Havana next
autumn of a Pan-American Educa-
tiOnal Convention. To this assembly
President Menocal has invited the
heads of all the universities of North,
Central and South America.
2. 1.-THE establishment of an in
terchange of students Between the
of this country and those
of Spanish-America. In this manner
the youth of the United States so
inclined could take graduating
courses in Spanish-speaking coun-
tries, and, in consequence, would
know thoroughly the Spanish lam
guage and Spanish-American insti-
buttons, which would otherwise be
more difficult.
3. 1.-THE preparation of young men
of the United States for diplomatic
and consular service in Spanish
countries. The courses of
study which North American stu
dents are to pursue should be chosen
the advice and cooperation
of the Department of State.
4. The provision for teaching
Spanish in the public schools of the
United States should be universal.
Mayor Hylan has already begun
the investigation to determine the
best method of establishing these
educational principles in
the public schools of New York
City,"
"In relation to the translation
above from Ell Heraldo, leading
Spanish newspaper of New York, I
should be glad to invite the attention
of American educators in the United
States to the important fact that
Spanish is the National language of
all American countries except the
United States, Canada and Brazil, and
is closely related to that Of the lat
ter country. And Spanish is not only
one of the two National languages Of
it is also one of the leading
historical and literary channels of
Europe, like the English.
"Does it not indicate its advant-
ages to Americans when we consider
hat our own leading literary men
we're, without exception, almost,
Spanish scholars of distinction, in
Guiding Washington Irving, Henry
W. Longfellow, William Prescott and
Amos Ticknor? Shakespeare was also
with Castillian before he
became so illustriou, to which his
plays bear testimony. And for the |
attorneys-at-law of the |
United States it might be stated the |
,nly one of them who ever received |
| million-dollar fee, got the case |
through being Spanish scholar. 1t |
vas in law suit involving title to |
quicksilver mine in United States do
which had formerly belong
d to Spain, and where the docu-
pents and testimony were principally |
spanish, which would have been for
ign to the average American law
-er, and the case as much beyond
lis literary capacity, almost as if it
lad original title on another planet.
could mention this lawyers home
nd name, but it rendered him so
distinguished that he afterward OBJ
aimed even larger fees in this coun-
ry and England, where he died af
err holding office in the Southern
tates and acquiring fame as a poll
ician. whom all will doubtless re-