Drury University - Souwester Yearbook (Springfield, MO)

Page 15 text:

SOU'WESTER Q NINETEEN TEN Department of Greek. Fmrz SAGE DARROW, A.M.. Ph.D. THE Department of Greek at Drury has . always done very excellent work, and the high standard of the Department is still k9Pf UP by Dr. Darrow, whose enthusiasm for Greek is equalled only by his knowledge of it He does not confine the work of the Depart- ment to the reading of the classics, but offers courses in Biblical Creek, Philology, and Greek Art. And next year, for the benefit of students not familiar withithe language. two new courses will be offered: a Study of Greek Myths in the Poetry of the Nine- teenth Century, and a Study of Greek Trag- edy in English Translations, both of which will be of great value to those specializing ' in English Literature. For four years the student may live in the ancient world of Greece-that wonderfull world of myths, of heroes. and of wise men-seeing with Homer the mighty combats be- tween the Creek and Trojan heroes, the destruction of Priam's city, and the long wan- :lerings of the crafty Odysseus: and with Xenophon, Athens fighting her battle in .her long struggle for supremacy. He may sit at the feet of the philosophers, Plato and Aris- totle, and leam from them the wisdom of the Greeks. He may listen to the sweet songs of the lyric poets and to the words of the silver-tongued orator, Demosthenes. And last he may view in some amphitheater the comedies of Aristophanes and the tragedies of tmschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. After four years spent in this way, the student is familiar with the Greek civilization and the Creek language and literature, which, for beauty of fonn and wealth of thought, has probably never been surpassed. 13

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SOU'W ESTER NINETEEN TEN Department of History and German. WILLIAM RUHLKOETTER. Ph.D. WHILE the ambition of the Department now is a division of its subjects into independent departments, the multiplex work is carried on very satisfactorily by Dr. Ruhl- koetter. He has charge of the advanced German, and so plans the work that the stu- dent is enabled to avail himself of the rich store of German thought, to acquire some practice in German composition and conver- V sation, and to make a critical study of a number of masterpieces, both in prose and poetry. Selections from Heine's prose, and plays from recent writers, such as Fulda, Hauptmann, and Sudermann, are studied. Also are studied critical selections from Les- sing, Schiller, and Goethe: and other German poetry is read in connection with a history of German literature. Now four years' work may be had in History, the courses including a History 05 Ancient Civilization, Mediaeval History, Nlodem European History, English Political and Constitutional History, and the Political and Constitutional History of the United States. The courses are consecutive and each succeding course reinforces the work of the preceding. and thus offers a splendid preparation for advanced and specialized work. Closely connected with the work in History are the social sciences offered also by this Department. They consist of the Industrial History of England, Economics, and Sociology, and give the student an understanding of modem economic and social problems. After spending three or four years under Dr. Ruhlkoetter, and getting an understanding of his quaint but altogether sound philosophy, the student goes out from school much better fitted to play his part in the world. I2

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SOU'WES'l ER NINETEEN TEN Department of Modern Languages. FREDERICK Aucusrus GRANT COWPER, A.B. NDER the able administration of Pro- fessor Cowper, the Department of Modern Languages is assuming more and more importance. At present the languages offered are French, Spanish, and German, though Italian will be given when there is a demand for it. The aim of the Department, first, is to get the student well grounded in the principles of grammar. This is acdomplished by prose composition, by dictation, and by the read- ing of modern fiction and plays. As much conversation is given as possible. When the student has acquired a good knowledge of N the language, he begins to read the master- pieces of the literature. Four years' work may be had in the French language, two years in the Spanish, and two years in the German language. IfAdvanced German belongs to the Department of History and German.1 Graduate work may now be done in French literature, consisting of the reading of Old French and the study of the philology of the French language. A French Club has been organized, to meet once or twice a month in private homes. Those eligible for membership are Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in French, grad- uate students of French, and desirable persons in town acquainted with the language. Conversation is to be carried on in French, and there will be practice in giving French songs, poems, and plays. It is believed that such a club will be a great advantage as well as pleasure to students ambitious to leam to speak French. This years plans are being made to give a French play at the end of the year, which will exhibit to some extent the progress of the Department. 14