Year: 1879

and Latin terms, and the medical stu


dent who is already familiar with such


words and can easily determine the


meaning Of the parts which make up


the various compound words possesses


an immense practical advantage.


By the fourth learned profession of


course | refer to teaching. 1t needs


but little argument to show the prac-


tical value of a knowledge Of the an


cient languages to the teacher so long


as they are taught in all our colleges


and nearly all our academies all over


the land A person who chooses


teaching as profession usually COM


mences with district school work in


which he can make grand and useful


record. But until this work is better


appreciated and therefore better paid


for than it is at present teacher can


hardly be content to allow his work


to end there and promotion when it


comes is usually to some academic or


hlgh-school position requiring


knowledge Of the languages in ques-


ton.


These are some of the reasons why


Latin and Greek should not be entire


ly supplanted by modern languages


are studied to some extent in all our


colleges. But sometimes it is urged


that science ought to be substituted.


This however results from the super


fetal idea that education is acquisi-


ton. This is contrary to any intelli-


gent theory of education. To substi-


tute science for the study of ideas and
development Of expression to a great
er extent than is done already would
have tendency toward making book
worms and encyclopedias instead of
practical men capable of pushing their
way to success. These reasons which
might be much further expanded and
convince me that the words
of President Porter Of Yale are true
when he states "The curriculum has
been arranged, not by theorists in ed
ucation, nor by the traditional adher-
ents to an hereditary system made sa-
cred by hallowed associations, but un-
der the just demands of public life as
tested by long experience and con-
firmed in the success of many genera
tions."


It is sometimes claimed that higher
education lifts an individual above
his station" and this is urged especial
ly against the idea of intellectual cul-
ture for the children Of poor parents.
But what is the station of an Ameri-
can youth who is the child of poor
parents? Any station for which he
in fitting himself! In these
lays of socialistic tendencies, of labor
vs.. capital agitation, to close any ave-
nue Of distinction to the poor, or to
favor any sentiment calculated to
lowness of social position
rom father to son, is suicidal and un-
American. It is true however that
We do sometimes find the educated
oafer. But his education is usually
superficial and his loafing propensities
10 not result from BIZ literary educa-
ion but rather from constitutional
aziness. A college course of educa-
ion is calculated to develop habits of
Industry. Here however let me utter


word of caution to parents. When
ca bring your children to school do
.ot say within their hearing II want
ny boy to have better chance than
is father has had. | don't want him
o have to work so hard" | never
higher education as a
neans Of lifting an individual above
york, but as a means of enabling him
0 work to the best advantage Col
eyes are sometimes denounced in gen.
raj terms as impractical and behind
he times, but by their fruits we shall
now them" DIR. r. Dunn relates
hat on one occasion while visiting
congress a member speaking made
of classical phrase in
he original, and Immediately a smile
vent all over the floor at his expense.
l majority of our congressman have
eceived classical education and very
learly one-half are college graduates.
his considered in connection with
he small percentage of our popula-
ion that takes such a course, and
With the fact that the mere circum-
tances of graduation gains for man
'ut very few votes but he has to show
Iimself a leader in some direction
though alas not in morality to gain
uch a position, is convincing testi-.
nony to the practical value OF the
curse. This appears still more evi-
ent by turning over the leaves OF a
yclopedia like Johnson's) containing
biographical sketches Of Americans
7hO have accomplished such work as
as secured for them permanent rec
rd, and observing the large proper
ion Of them who are college bred
len. Furthermore personal acquaint-
nee with the men who are foremost
i college work and who thus give
one to it shows them to be eminently
ractical men who know how to rec
gnize the demands of the times.
tead the speeches and writings of
PRESIDENT Eliot of Harvard and Pres
lent Porter of Yale. Look at Ex-
PRESIDENT Woolsey of Yale, now near
Y eighty years old and yet the best
in this nation on profound
the best authority on the
history and principles and future of
Communism. Look at President
,eelye of Amherst with his splendid
record. Look at Presi-
ent Chamberlain of Bowdoin college
Who in the service of his country won
enown as a commander of men and
ubsequently occupied the highest po-
ition within the gift of the citizens
# his State. Look at President
White of Cornell who is occupying
he responsible position of represent
ng our nation to the leading nation
# continental Europe. Look at the
college President from our own State
yho has won laurels as soldier and