Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

Page 20 text:

- . «Mes: .-SSS«SS:-T; ; ' .-iii5,SSS S3 .. !»5»o,,„ -.»oc«,..,.,iM T. H. McMICHAEL. D. D., President

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sSfflf ' r LANGUAGES H. McMillan. Department of I atin. J. L. VAN GUNDY, Department of Greek. Latin Latin is not a dead language. It is no m ore dead than is the English of King Alfred. Latin is living today in our English. Over half our words have a direct Latin origin. Many English words have been taken from the Latin without any change of form whatever. Words often are mere pictures of ideas. The original meaning of the word explains the picture. Latin is living today in the Romance Languages. The peoples of France. Portugal, Spain, Italy are speaking modern Latin, just as we are using modern English. Latin is just as much our mother tongue as is . ' nglo Saxon. English descends from both of these. The vigor and strength comes partly, but not entirely, from the Anglo Sa.xon ; the refinement and culture is found in the words of Latin origin. The vehicle by which our finer distinctions in thought are conveyed is the Latin vocabulary. To the student of English Latin is invaluable. To the student of History Latin opens the field of ancient deeds with a vividness not brought out in translations. To him who has the Legal Profession in view no better subject can be offered than a course in College Latin. Aside from the fact that modern Law rests on Roman Laws and many legal terms are in Latin, the habits of thought found in the Latin sentence is a useful training for a legal mind. The Pharmacist needs Latin that he may interpret Pre- scriptions to the safety of his patron. The student of Medicine needs Latin that he may understand the Physiological and Medical terms encountered. Besides the structure of the Latin sentence devlopes the habit of noting Symtoms . This the Physician nmst do constantly in the sick room. Latin then is an open door to nearly every field of modern service, whether it k Lit- erary, Professional, or Commercial. He to whom most doors are open is on the surest road to efficiency. Latin developes our powers of observation, memory, judgment. It leads to accuracy, trains us to reason and reach right conclusions. It increases our vocabulary and gives fluency in expressing our ideas. It opens Literature and makes plain many allusions. It trains us to hold in reserve our conclusions until all the facts are before us. These are some of the benefits to be derived from college courses in Latin. John H. McMillan.