Wabash College - Wabash Yearbook (Crawfordsville, IN)

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-2' GREEK. -2- f PROFESSOR MCLAIN. .fzlif-11' -v - ' 1 if O THE PI-IILISTINE, the young American who studies Greek !! i,,kllii,i1rllll is an unpardonable anachronism. Ill this age-in the year of the never-to-be-equalled Columbian Exposition, one of Maw' Q., whose buildings would hold fifty Parthenons-to be occupy- .mi ylx, vi ing onels attention with the language, literature and life of a people who never heard of Chicago and knew nothing whatever of our countless -graphs a11d -phones and -meters--albeit, by some sort of unconscious prophecy they did furnish names for them all-what is the sense of it? What does the world owe to the old Greeks or what of interest can anyone find in them that they should claim the time of an American youth, when he might be learning to compound prescriptions or manage a telegraph-key for living wages? There is little use in arguing the question. It will not be attempted here. Tothe utilitarian, the things of culture will always be foolishness: neither can he know them: they are spiritually discerned. But, certain it is, that upon those who, without hostile prejudice, venture within her reach, the charm of Hellas is as fresh and potent as ever, the world over. And how fares the youth who enters on the task of gaining what Greek culture has to give, and grows not weary in well-doing? By dint of perse- vering work, such as affords most varied discipline and presently becomes a pleasure, he comes to know and to admire the most perfect language of all the ages-a language in itself a consummate work of art, like the per- fectly developed body of an athlete, trained to symmetry and powerg a language musical almost as Italian, vigorous as the tongue of the martial Romans, flexible, clear and exact beyond comparison: by its delicate ap- paratus of mood and tense and particle and varying word-order, distinctly

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and highest results when the mind is guided by the philosophic spirit: it is supremely fostered by that love of science in its entirety which philosophy gives. Those ultimate principles which are the roots underlying all scientific specializing are to be sought for and found in the work of the Department of Philosophy. Logic is the systematic study of thought. In its principles it is co-ex- tensive with human knowledge. All objects experienced can be treated logically. It is discovered that the general conception of knowledge deter- mines the conception of logic, the general philosophic view of thought determines the view which will be entertained regarding this discipline. Here are the distinctions of metaphysical, empirical, formal and mixed logic. The solution of logical problems commands special attention. Time and pains are devoted to the handling of the difficulties of individual thinkers in the class. The work in Psychology stands in direct relation to work in physiology. The structure and functions of the brain are carefully considered in their bearings upon the subject. Theses are prepared as the result of special individual investigations. The course of thought in special philosophical research must be inquir- ing and critical in order to be faithful and exhaustive. A positive philosophy rightly prepares for a critical. We turn from the relations of the known to an examination of the conditions and guarantees of knowledge. A theory of being and becoming, which shall be satisfying, is to be found. Final and efficient causes are to be considered. We ask what is the goal of science? What the goal of life? What of beauty? What of truth? What of virtue? We ask these things in view of the thought and experience of the past. We think regarding these problems i11 view of the speculations and theories of the centuries. The steps of 111ental advancement in tl1e ex- perience of the race and in the thinking of the student are found to be along the pathway of sensation, knowledge, science, philosophy, and this last, in turn,,is found to be, stage by stage, positive, critical, metaphysical, practical.

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expressing every subtlest phase of thought and shade of emphasis, and almost reproducing tone of voice and play of feature: its words all coined of pure Hellenic metal, and not time-worn, but fresh minted, with edges sharp and superscription still distinct. Thus brought into the immediate presence of the great ancients, he lingers for a time among them, listening to the voices which have charmed the world so long. First, as is meet, he gives his ear to the undying music of Homer's matchless lyre-Homer, poet all of gold, poet of all ages, all races, all moods. With instructed interest he accompanies the prose Homer, the child-minded Herodotus, as with open-eyed wonder he journeys through the world, graphically recording all he sees and hears, yet not without re- Hection, nor without dramatic plan. On the southern slopes of the Acrop- olis, with unhindered view of sea and plain and mountain, he sits an auditor of the lofty, grave tragediansf' Hebrew prophets with Greek tongues, as to ear and eye they preach the solemn doctrine that Sorrow follows wrong, As echo follows song. And when, as a relief to tragedy's high tension, Aristophanes appears witl1 splendid burlesque and unsparing satire, he learns that freedom of speech in no American iuventiong in Agora and Academy, he mingles with groups of Apollo-like youths as they hold converse with the unique, undeiinable Socrates and witl1 Plato the Divinef' in the Pnyx, sitting among the thousands of the sovereign people, he listens to the voice of Demosthenes, patriot saint, as with art and fire, rhythm and force, never since so blended, he calls to arms against the man of Macedon, and, failing, utters the dying cry of Grecian freedomg a death which ministers to life, for, as Renan has said: Nations must 'first die, that the world may live through them. By converse with such and kindred spirits Clet not Theocritus be for- gotten- Thee, Theocritus, wha matches? said Burnsj,-noting also the peerless poems in marble which surround him, in peristyle, pediment and freize, the student grows to realize in some measure the world's ever- lasting debt to Hellas for its best lessons in literature, in art, in civil life, and is ready to say with Shelley, We are all Greeks. - ya w',,...1