Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-11
GEORGE DEPUE HADZSiTS
On Value Of the Classics

J7HAT the classics have "A tremendous prn'-
l. teal as well as cultural value in Amer
lean life, is the opinion of l'rOl. tcolG'
Dcpuc IIadzsits. Of the Latin department
of the University 0f pcnnsy ylvnnin and prcHl-
dent Of the Philadelphia Society for the
Promotion Of Liberal Studies.
''Thc value Of the classics. said Erot'
IIHdZ~ts. land by that | mean the Ihngua &C.,
literature and Il knowledge Of the CivliZhi ION
of ancient Greece and Rome. can Starr"IE
hc OvercStmnted. oven in these prac'h''
DAYS. This fact is coming more and moro
to be understood and appreciated. aud as n
result believe that the study Of the classics
will soon be put in the position whlch Il
should occupy.
There are many definite reasons for tho
immense value Of the classics to our CIVIL
zation. One Of the first and most mp"r,
tant Is that winch may b" termed l"rln"'
discipline, because study Of the classics
furnishes the most effective all around diS-
cipine Of the greatest number Of our ihcui'
ties.
Many Other Reasons
'Hut there arc in addition. many other
reasons ! think it will not be disputed
that knowledge of the classics IS OF lh"
first Importance in the study ct the EhS'iS"
language and this applies with even NOR"
force 20 the study Of the modern ltomal''
languages, especially Spanish. In our Own
language. n firm sense Of grammar Is lkr
Strument Of language is ot the utmost lm-
portanre for the mastery of technique IN
writing and for th" requirement of c'Car
and vigorous styl" Of speaking.
I'm the sam" way III" classics tend t" give
n better understanding Of all literature
which has been 80 profoundly Influenced by
them. The study of political systems, o.
sociology. of democracy and the tru" prin-
ciplcs Of freedom ar" advanced and mad"
easier by II knowledge of what IN" classic
,lf.l, I'm q
is better obtained by reading and studying
The records from the original than by what
,nnv be termed a second hand method.
1.-THE practical val" TO tn" ay"rpgc busi =,
moss man lies. Of course. in the CUrlmAnd II
Ills own language which II gives him. liut
the classics have n very real. in fact almost
essential value to tHr engineer. the architect
and of course to every writer and clergy
man.
and philosophy ar" only Il to" OF IN" oth'i'
| branches in which the value Of the classics
| Lus been shown to b" essential. In praC'
! ,icuIIv every wall, Of life n knOwlcdSc Of
what those great nations of the past have
accomplished is Of practical worth.
.'Thcn there is also the question Of =
| Iibcral chucaiiOn ~ Opp"scd to that al
| specialization ANA quick returns. There il
- decided place in our scheme Of civilization
| for vocational training, and PhiIHdciphin Is
C,pcCinIIV strong in that line Of Cdurat iOnGi
| Cu1pnNnr, Iinl Nllllr " ~ rNNCnl laI. "
| should be placed in its proper rntion to
cultural cducRtiom, Ih" vocational cduca
| lion enables the student to finish a special
! course and turn the knowledge hc hnS OBJ
! ,oined into immediate dollars and cents, but
| !, is acquired at the cost Of equally valuable
| things which arc learned in the other plan
| Of education. Both are essential and their
proper relation should b" maintained,
The Cultural Value
''rhc cultural value Of the classics is por
| hans its greatest sing" asset. BY 'rulture'
! IL meant that refinement Of mind and char.
| octcr resulting from an acquaintance with
| and an understanding OF our own inlcIlrr-
! tual. social moral, csthric and spiritual
| traditions which have come to us in such
| overwhelming measure from the worlds Of
| unricnt Greece and Rome. This cannot be-
attained without II thorough knowledge of
| the classics.
AT the present time the classics must
prove 10 II skrpticu democracy their
| authentic and universal validity In all cdu
cation. Vocational education leads to n
small outlook although it has its place In
the world; the cnssics lead 10 n broad uut
| look upon all life and an intimate and do.
| tailed knowledge Of many Specific things
"Phiadclpha needs II classical or cuIIurI,
high school Boston aud Cincinnati have
them. and we should have ut least one Of
that type. Its need Is partially shown by
the fact that mHny Of the coeges are nov
! requiring knowledge Of Latin as an en-