Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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others who would investigate problems in history, philosophy, religion, literature, or practically anything else. They give us our technical vocabulary in all the sciences. And, finally, they open up for our inspection many of the greatest literary pro- ductions of all ages — works of oratory and pleading, poetry and the drama, that may truly be said to form the basis of all our modern literature. And yet these studies are rejected because of their lack of utility. How is it, one may ask, that the study of Latin and Greek is of such great value in building up and strengthening the mental and moral powers? The reasons can easily be seen. First of all, the daily translations from these languages into English is an excellent discipline for the mind, requiring, as it does, severe and systematic mental labor, close observation, and minute consideration and appreciation of details. And, just as bodily exercise develops and strengthens the physical side of man, so does this mental exercise assist greatly in the broadening of his intellectual side. Again, the transforming of thought from such tongues so widely differing from our own causes the student to develop a quickness and flexibility of mind, for the varying phases and idioms of the ancient world must be turned and twisted and made to fit our own times. And following upon this sharpening of the faculties must, of necessity, come a power of accurate and forcible expression, else the beauty and force of the ancient writers will not be felt in the translation. Thus these studies, while forcing the student to work and think independently, and to voice his thoughts with precision, at the same time open up before his eyes the storehouses of the wisdom of bygone days, and enable him to view and study the lives and achievements of men of other ages, and thus obtain a broadened outlook on life in general. The study of modern languages cannot well replace them. These latter- day tongues are of commercial value and nothing more. They are but poor developments of the two great mother tongues; their study does not require the same exertions of mind from the student, and cannot possibly develop the same discipline of mind and clear habit of thought. I shall quote a few opinions on the value of the classics from (21)

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J. AMBROSE QUINN. Our authority on horticulture. Class Historian and Poet. ‘ Brose’’ and ‘‘Ed” Graham have made their way together from First High.

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FRANCIS A. RUPPERT. Came to Loyola in 1908 and has been a leader all through his course. ‘‘Franz” takes life philosophically.