Year: 1879

dation for subsequent requirement


and success.


But it is sometimes urged that time


spent by young men in our colleges is


not spent to the best possible advan-


tage. Objections are brought against


them with considerable frequency and


persistency which it may be profitable


for us to consider


Probably the most popular obiec-


ton IS that too much time is spent


upon Latin and Greek-that the time


thus spent could be more proftably


occupied by modern languages. 1t is


perfectly natural that at first sight


from an outside point of view this OBJ


lection should appear valid. But


there IS another presumption that


ought to have weight, in the fact that


these studies are retained in our best


colleges by men Of first class intellect


ual ability and large and successful


experience as educators. These studies


are retained-not because it is tradi-


tional to keep them-but for good


and valid reasons a few Of which will


be briefly stated.


1st. In the ancient languages the


construction is more rigid and the


termlnology more exact than in the


modern. Consequently they are bet


ter adapted to illustrate and impress


fundamental laws of grammar-the


universal principles of language, than


the modern languages whose construc-


ton is looser and whose examinations


to express different relations are less


in number.


2nd. 1t follows-partly from the


reason already given and partly from


the fact that the modern languages of


the most practical value are largely


the offshot of Latin and Greek, that


knowledge of the latter two consti-
tutes a most excellent foundation on
which to build knowledge Of such
modern language as subsequent cir
cumstances may make it expedient for
a man to acquire. Especially is this
true OF the European languages. Lat
in is the foundation Of three of the
most important of them viz. French,
Spanish and italian, and it would be
matter of real economy Of time in OBJ
tanning a thorough knowledge of them
to first obtain knowledge of the
common parent. At least this is
view which has been presented by so
eminent thinker as John Stuart Mill
and | think but few thoroughly edu-
Gated men competent to Judge will be
disposed to dissent from it.


Sd. A knowledge of the classical
languages is also of practical value by
assisting to give command of the
Latin and Greek element of our own
language which actually comprises
more than one-half Of it. This is an
which the student begins
to feel before he has studied the class
les six months and accompanies him
ever after, the Importance of which
can be scarcely over-estimated.


4th. The study of the classics is
superior as a general drill in language.
Much of the translation from modern
languages to English can be done by
word for word with COM
few and unimportant chan
ges except in case of the idioms and
The proper translation 6e these even
depends more upon the memory than
upon the translator command of Ian
guage. But the construction Of Latin
and Greek sentences, though based on
comparatively simple principles, is yet
so different from the English that it
IS usually necessary to change the Or
ler OF words completely-frequently
to use three or four and sometimes
half dozen words to express what is
in the original by one word
with its position and connections. In
the Greek especially it is necessary
very often to translate participial
clauses by dependent sentences. Thus
various changes Of construction are
necessary to change ideas from class
cal Latin and Greek to classical Eng
llsh. The student finds in the Latin
and Greek forms simply the ideas Of
the philosophers, statesmen, historians
and poets of the old civilization and
it is his work to reproduce those ideas
in good English in style worthy of
the original thought. Thus the
Of the ancient languages
under the right kind of teachers IS a
continual persistent exercise in the
command of language 1t results in
a regular systematic development of
the power of expression. This is one
Of the most important results that can
be accomplished by education.


5th. A knowledge of the classical
languages possesses superior practical
advantages in the four learned profess
sions.


The Christian minister finds the ac-
count of Christ and his disciples writ
ten-not in French or German-but
in Greek, and a knowledge of Greek
therefore is insisted upon for the stu
dent in theology. This is reason
for studying Greek which appeals also
to every educated thinking person, for
its moulding influence in modern civ
ilization, the nature Of its subjects
and its claims to divine authority,
make it work of personal interest to
us all and the ability to study it crit
ically is not and ought not to be con-
fined to the clergy


How does knowledge of Latin af-
feet the lawyer? Much of modern
law has come from the old Roman
law. The old English laws are writ
ten in Latin. Many of the old i'm
portant well established laws therefore
are known by Latin names of which
''Habeas Corpus is a familiar exam
pie. The law student finds the pages
of some of his text books fairly bris-
Ting with Latin words and quotations
and he finds Il knowledge of Latin
to a complete under
of them and possessed of
practical value therefore such as he
can find in no modern languages.