Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE CLASSIC QUEMION. Principal W. G. Blake of the Spartanburg Graded SchobN. Imitation is a sort of second nature with men, and when it crystalizes into custom or habit, there is created a wonderful po tential energy for good or for evil. In China the fashionable woman hobbles about on what has a remote resemblance to feet, because her ancestors have set her the example of pedal deform ity. In Europe and America for several hundred years two lan guages monopolized the curicular of our institutions of learning, and education meant mainly pro ficiep cy in Latin and Greek. It would seem now that custom is m.inly responsible for this "linked fody long drawn out.' We would do our Chinese matran an injustice if we sup posed she was conscious that it was custom alone that caused her to maim her feet. She has rea sons valid enough to her own mind for thus doing, however ab surd these reasons might be to an unbiased critic. So with this classic fetish. There is no end of argument in favor of a classic requirement for the granting of the A. B. degree in our colleges. In many respects, however, these arguments are but little removed in validity from those of our Chinese friend in favor of her shoe. For example: The Mon golian argues that she must wear her shoes because they keep her feet warm. We say to her, wear larger shoes; the same result is secured, and your feet are saved from deformity. The classicist claims that he must study the dead languages in order to disci pline his mind. The answer comes, study with a like diligence the living languages; the same end is attained, and you secure besides most useful tools for practical life work. It is an easy matter for the classicist to claim surpassmg excellence for his Latin and Greek as to their educational value, and he offers an imposing array of facts which seem to substantiate his claim; but when the crucial question is asked, wherein lies the intrinsic superiority of these languages, no satisfactory answer is forthcoming. If the classicist demands that Greek and Latin be laced on apqal footing Sto'the A:. B. degree, he stands on solid ground;~ but just as soon as he says there shall be no A. B. -degree except by way of Latin Sd Greek, why then he is build non the sand, and no argument can make tenable his position. In support of the claim that Latin and Greek are superior to *anything else as a means .of mental discipline, the classicist argues that the most astute scholars, literary or scientific, are those whose minds have been thoroughly schooled in the clas sic gymna'sium. This claim may be true. I am not prepared to confute it. But I am not sur prised. I should be amazed if it were otherwise; and yet it does not detract one iota from our aigument. We must remember that pure mental discipline in the past, leaving out the mathematics, * has been almost wholly confined to the study of the classics; and since menital training is essential to scholastic attainment in any field, to be sure we find the ma jority of eminent thinkers in the ranks of the classicists. But does that argue that in all the range of human learning nothing could be successfually substituted for the dead languages? Take a parallel case: WVould it be sur prising if, in examining the lists of our foot-ball players, we should find that the most eminent ath letes in the number had taken the physical gymnasiu:n course while in college? But wouml th prove that dumb balls, lumai clubs. horizontal bars,. et~. I-.ar the only possible mneans by which this physical training in iy be acquired? CaLn we not imagmne a college department where, instead of the ordinary gymnasium equip ment, there are established a variety of machines, which would, when put in operation by muscu lar power, accomplish some use ful work, at the same time giving exercises to every muscle in the body? Surely it would not be a question for a moment as to the superiority of that gymnasium which, while developing the mus cles, would at the same time uti lize the vast amount of energy otherwise lost, and also serve to tre.n the student in the ~ manual dexterities of practical industrial life. And so it is in the higher gymnasium of mind training. (Girte me that discipline, which, while esseftially rigid and thor ough, can in after life be put to A the most diverse and varied prac- t tical use. Does such discipline 1: reside only in the dead languages? h Does it reside there at all? We hear a good deal of that p mental acumen, that "indescriba- t ble fineness of thought and dic- c tion" c:iaracteristic of the classi- c cal sch olar. There is much in t this. WiVe do not question the 1 utility of language study in men- s tal drill; bat what is there in- j herent in the classics, as opposed to living languages, that makes them to vastly superior to the 1 latter as mind trainers? I be lie- e that no sane jreason has I ever been given why Anglo-Saxon, French and German, if taught with the same care that is devoted to the study of Latin and Greek, would not produce in the mind equally good gymnastic results. German scholarship, the flower of the classic school, as excellent as it is, may not be, after all, the great desideratum in educating the Alplea and Omega of intel lectual accomplishment. That "fineness of thought savors some what of narrowness of thought. The stiletto has excellent pene trating and probing qualities, but the broader blade of a more natu ral and a more rational culture, while just as keen, is more hu mane and more practical. That "Higher criticism," of German birth, is noted chiefly for its stabbi ag propensities. Its office is blo d letting, too often unac companied by ,any life infusing po er. The philosophy of a Hegal, which simply ignores the supernatural, is not natural. The scholarship of a Darwin has given to the world the wonderful "Origin of Species," but, unfor tunately it comes to us in the habiliments of a chilling ma terialism. Happily the hard common sense of a more modern way of thinking, with its intoler ance of superstition and sham, leads us to look for better things in the future. It is claimed that the classics are such rich mines of intellectual resource, so beautifu); so charm ing in their literary 'quality, that one must needs yttdy them to absorb that deeppst wisdom and aesthetic sense possessed by the people who wr 'te and spoke them. We answei that, value these languages -we may, there is Dot one in a jundred who, studying obtains any true idea of the rich ess and beauty of their litera tures from that study. A gram mar and lexicon knowleage of Latin and Greek is almost as in adequate'to convey any apprecia 'on of their literary quality, as an analysis of the oils of a paint ing to furnish a basis for criticism of the art value of a pictur~e. We are willing to grant, for the sake of argument, that these languages are all from a literary point of view that their most ardent ad mirers claim for them; but what we do deny is that our college students reach any just apprecia tion of their worth from their study of them. We have been too prone to accept without ques tion the time honored laudation of the classics, and with a sort of superstitious awe to do them reverence as something not alto gether of earthly origin. I am not on.e to underestimate the value of that vast fund of use ful knowledge, that wealth of inspiration to be derived from a study of the Greek and Roman peoples. No education is com plete without such study; bat this knowledge and this inspiration is not to be acquired by memorizing innumerable lists of words and grammatical rules, by grubbing for Latin and Greek roots, or by agonizing over knotty problems in tanslation. If the four or five yeais usually spent in wrestling with Greek and Latin in the ,4ina tongues were devoted to ie study of the history, litera ue, art and mythology of these toples as presented in English orks by the best classical schi'lars,~there is no question whatever in my mind that a bet ter insight ini~o, and a higher ap preciation of the genius of Greek and Roman life and literature could be gotten. When I think of the heroic prowess of a Theseus, the lofty statesmanship of a Peri ces, the brilliant, iough un scrupulous genius of an Alci biade, the inordinate ambition of an Alexnder, I recall my reading of "Plutarch's Lives"-not in the original Greek-but in the Eng lish translation. I shall make no apology for my free use of the personal pro noun in this article. Personal experience has wrought within me intense convictions regarding a matter of too great importance in education to be treated with moiety of this experience, nged, as it were, with my own fe blood, must not be omitted iom this argument. Classic mythology possesses a eculiar charm for me, and I ink I can appreciate the won erful aid it has lent to the poetry f our tongue. I can feel the ruth of the assertion that Poe's Ine, "On the Night's Plutonian hore," is the most poetical ex ression in our language; and rhen I take up my Shakespeare nd find I have marked for its >eauty the following exclamation >f the poet: "Moist Hesperus ias quenched his sleepy lamp"; vhy I am assured that my own ppreciation of the beautiful in nythological allusion has no :arthly connection with that ex ruciating Greek of my college ourse, the bane of my student ife. Then what of Shakespeare iimself, boon companion of the ;ods and goddess.As: and as much kt home as they upon the misty eights of Mount Olympus? Can my one for a moment suppose :hat his marvellous familiarity with classic lore sprang mainly rom the "little Latin and less Greek" of his Stratford School? As I recall the text of my Homer, I believe I do remember something about "owl-eyed An Iromache" and "ox-eyed" some body else, but there are no pleas ant emotions assoeiated with the reminiscence. I do not exaggerate when I say that about half of my time in college was devoted to the study of Greek alone, and I believe that three-fourths of that time was wasted,-worse than wasted,-for my college life was made a bur den, my health was injured, I do not doubt, and irreparable wrong was done me for life. Of course it was the diploma at the end of the lane that seemed to justify the torture. That piece of sheep skin was to be the "open sesame" to all earthly success. Just here I would fain give expression to sentiments requiring multiple ex clamation points, but that would be irrelevant, and I refrain. . Of course it may be said that I was an exception to the rule-that Greek was peculiarly difficulb $or me. That may be true, but itis just as true that there are ma in every class that enters co who have no aptitud er acquire t pt progress in it, while at the time thegse very persons may hav decided talent in other directioni, as is often the case, and yet whfo have not the opportunity nor the encouragement to develop their powers along. the lines marked out for them by nature herself. The classicist has forgotten the fact that all men are not cast in the same mould. While there are some men whose highest intel lectual development may possibly be secured by a study of the, dead languages, it is certainly true thiat' such study for others is posi tively blighting, and should be replaced by something more in harmony wi'ith their intellectual bent. To sum up then : 1st. The dead Languages are not the sine gua non ~ of the best educational develop ment. 2nd. The classics should be placed on an equal footing with other disciplinary studies, where they must stand or fall on their own merits. - If the classi eist demurs, he cannot have much faith in his hobby. * (I apologize for the use of the Latin quotation; but it would not be amiss to say,-since an bonest confession here is at least ood for the argument,-that the Latin was just introduced for pedantic effect, and not because no English equivalent is equally good. And I trust the classicist will pardon me when I say that pedantry is responsible for most f this loreign flourish in English writing.) Kodol Dyspepsia Cure is not4 a mere tiulant to tired nature. It affords :he stomach complete and absolute rest by digesting the food you eat. You :on't have to diet b)ut cani enjoy all the yod food you want. Kodol Dyspep sia Cure instantly relieves that dis ressed feeling after eating, giving you lew life and vigor. McMaster Co. The two communities of Mag olia and Lynchburg, which in reality form but one town, have hown good sense by uniting the two old schools, levying a special tax, and erecting a creditable uiding. The opening day was m educational rally, the speaker f the occasion being the Hon. no. J. McMahan. The new mchool is taught by Mr. Marvin Auld, principal; Miss Johanna, cark and Miss Mary Cooper as 3atants. CLERK'S SALE. STATE OF SOUTH CARZOLINA, COUNTY OF FAI RFIELD. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. -,heslov A. Mathews, Mathew C. Mathews and Ananda Dickey. plain tiffs, against aroline Mathews, Alice Mathews and Jo') Mathews, defeldants. IN pursuance of an order of the Court of Conuon Pleas made in the ibove ,tated ease. I will offer for sale before the Court House door in Winns boro, S. C., on the FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER next, within the legal hours of sale, at public outcry to the highest bidder, the following described property, to wit: All that piece, parcel or tract of land lying, being and situate in the County and State aforesaid, containing ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ACRES, more or less, and bounded on the north by Little River and lands of R. R. Maefie; on the east by tract of land as signed to Caroline Mathews and others: ol the south by tile public highway leading to Winnsboro; and on the west by Little River, and having such other narks and abutments as will appear on pl)at made by J. M. Stewart on the 7th January, 1901. TERMS OF SALE. One-half ea.sh, the balance on a credit of twelve months from the day of sale, with interest from the day of sale at eight pcr cent per annum, to be secured by the bond of the purchaser and n1 mortgage of the preiises sold, with the privilege to the purchaser to pay all or any portion of the credit instalment i eash. The purchaser to pay for all necessary papers, for revenue staips and recording, JOHN W. LYLES, C. C. C. P. F. C. Winnsboro, S. C., Oct. 7, 1901. 1-Std CLERK'S SALE, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. Florence G. Feaster, as Executrix of the Will of T. D. Feaster, deceased, plaintiff, against Thomas Parr, as Ex ecutor of the Will of Jerry Thompson, deceased, and Peggie Thompson, his demise, de fendants. IN pursuance of an order of the Court of Common Pleas made in the above stated case, I will offer for sale hefore the Court House door in Winns boro, S. C., on the FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER next, within the legal hours of sale, at public outcry to the highest bidder, the following described property, to wit: All that piece, parcel or tract of: land lying being and situate in the County of Fairfield, in the State aforesaid, con Mi uning eateo E.F. Lyles, estate of Mrs. MK N. Dawkins, and lands of Thomas McOill. TERMS OF SALE. One-half of the purchase nmoney to be paid in cash, on the day of sale, and the balance thereof on a credit of t welve months, with interest from the day of sale, payable annualiy, until the whole debt and interest be paid, to be secured by the bond of the purchaser and a mortgage of the premises sold, or all cash at the option of the purchaser, and~ the purchaser to pay for all necessary papers. JO HN W. LYLES, C. C. C. P. F. C. Winnsboro, S. C., Oct. 7, l"901. 10-8td C LE RK'S S A LE. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD). COURT OF COMMON PL EAS. Charles A. Douglass, Plaintiff, against J. E. McDonald and~ Others, Defen dants. I N pursuance of an order of the Court of Common Pleas made in the above stated case, I will otffer for sale before the Court House door in Winns boro, S. C., on the FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER next, within the legal hours of sale, at public outcry to the highest bidder, the followinp described property, to wit: All that certain piece, p~arcel or tract of hand lying, being andl situate in the County of Fairfield and State of South Carolina, containuing FIVE HUND)RED AND FORTY ACRES, more or less, and bounded by lands for:naerty owned by MarshallI McG raw, deeased, Stephen Gibson, deceased, landls now or formerly ownedl A. P. Iry, lands formerly owned by J. JE. Me'D)anald anid Charles A. Douglass, now ownedl by Carmon, lands of H~enry Colemain, W. N. Maison, Josep)h W. Clark and others. TERMs OF SALE. The whole of the purchaise mioney to be pald in cash upon the day of sale inmediately at the close oft the bidding. Purchaser to pay for all necessarv paers, stamps andii recordling. JOH N W. L YL ES, C. C. C. P. F. C. Winnsboro, S. C., Oct. 7, 1901. 10-std C LE EK'S SA LE. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, (CoUNTY 01F FA IRFILD (OURlT OF COMMON PLEAS. W. B. Hogan and J1. L. Parker, late copa*rtnler undier the firm name of Hogan & Parker, plaintitis, egainist Charles WV. .Johnston and Wadmue H. Jobhnstonm, defendants. I N pursuance ofan order of the (Court of Common Pleas made in the above .4tated case, I will ofler for sale before the Court Houke door in Winnue boro, S. C., on the FIRST MOND)AY IN NOVEMBER next, within the legal hours of sale, at public outcry to the highess bidder, all 60IN6 TO M, MOV We are going to move the i5th of October, and w all our Dry Goods to go b AT COST. Unless you g will all b. g me belore you t then yo 1 will say, ":f I ha. W. R. Our line of Groceries, F, bz-7 is comIetC. Call on u kAJFACTURED Y ILLINOIS SEWING MA Why pay big prices for othei the above high grade machine prices: UPRIGHT, - - DROP-HEAD, PARLOR CABIN DesPortes Inspect the NEW ROYAL For one dollar additional an delivered to your nearest depoi W2.>hnstol and Wade~H.oiston in and to the following described tract or parcel of land, to wit: All that certain piece, parcel or tract of land lying, being and situate in the County of Fairfield and State aforesaid, containing ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT (188) ACRES, more or less, and bounded on the north by lands now, or formerly owned by Reuben Jones and Thos. Sims, Sr.; on the south by lands of the estate of N. M. McQuarters and William and Wal ter-Boye; on 4 nds of'A omias Sims, Jr. and others. +ERMS ON' SLE. The whole of tha purchase money to1 be paid in cash oin the day of~ sale i mediately at the close of the bidding. Purchaser to pay for all necessary pa pers, for revenue stamps and recording. JOH N W. LY LES, C. C. C. P. F. C. Winnsboro, S. C., Oct. 7, 1901. 10-8td C LE RK'S S4 LBE. STA TE OF SOUTH CA ROLINA, COCNUY OF FAIRFIELD). COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. Ella Mf. Boozer, Rebecca A. Walker and Mattie E. Morrison, Plaintiffs, against James R. Boliek. as Exeentor of the Will of E. W. Ollever, deceased, Wil son Ollever Boozer, Annie Louise Boozer, Henry WVilson Boozer and Clara Olivia Boozer, dlefendlan ts. Sale for Partition. I N pursuance of atn order of the Court of Commlon Pleas niiade in the above stated case, I will offe~r for sale before the Court House door in Winns boro, S. C., on the FIRST MiOND)AY IN NOVEMBER next, withiu the legal hours of sale, at pulblic outcry to the highest bidder, the ollowr.ing described property, to wit: Al! that certain piece, pa1rceLl or tract of landl lyiniz, being and situate in the County of Fairfield and State of South arolina, known as the Home Place, ontaining ONE HUND)RED (10)) ACRES, more or less, and b)ound~ed oni the north :> lands of Thomas Price,.or his wife, Nannie Price, better knowni as the Mlickle Place; on the cast by lands of rIalor and McNeil; on the south by he Boliek lands; and on the west by ands of Ismael Jeffares, bet ter kniown~ s the Rose Place. Also all that certain other place, >iece, parcel or tract of land lying, eing and situate in the County of Fairfield andlState of South Carolina, ontain ing from SEVENTY-FIVE .TO) ONE hUN DRED) ACRES; more or less, known as the Lower Place, and1( b)ounded~ on the niorth by ands of Bolick; east by land~s of R. T. Blair, or wife: south by lands of A. F. Rutff; andi' west by lands of Ruff and .JetTreCS, and beinig situate about three iles from the townl of Ridgewayv on he Longtowni road. TERMs OF SA LE. One-:half of the piurch~ase-mioney to beI paid in cash on the day of sale immedi-I tely at the close of the bidding, and he balance ini one yeari from the dlay ot ale, to be secured by the bond of the >urchiasers and a mortgage of the preml ss sold, witn interest fronm the (lay of sle. Purchasers to pay for all nieces-$ ry papeiPrs and( recording tihe samew. JOHN WV. LYLES, C. C. C. P. F. C. Winnsboro. S. C., Oct. 10, 1901. 10-1td S. ~C. M1cDOWEL --AGENT FOR lhe Farmfers' MAutnal Fire Inlslrallce AMsO~a fl1ll of fairleld CoRRLty S. C., S~licire your insurane.-i <n your cotin .L. try property. .JNO. J NEI L. Secr etary. J .O"NSTUN. Praemden'. DVt. IN6 TO 60. into our new storc about e have made a move for y marking them down et a move on you, they ret what ~you want-and only moved." Rabb & Co. Lrm Supplies, and Lum ITHIN THIElREACIH EVERY 'OF ALL MACHINE FULLY WARRANTED FOR TEN YEARS CHINEJili machines when you can get from us at the following low - - - $I8.oo, - - - $20.00. ET, - - $30.00. Mercantile Co. before buying. y of these machines will be HOR3t5 AND MAR E wilt *_ei or' will trade thern for thhi mules. If you need a horse come to see me and I will let you have 'one that will jive you satisfaction. CATTLE. I have four very fine Milch Cows that I will sell or trade them for dry cattle, A. Williford. Turilip Seeds S are now ready. If your Merchant does not sell. IWood's Seeds, write to us for special Price-List. Our aim is to grow and supply Seeds that are adapted in kind, variety and growth to the soil and climate of Ithe South, and that we are sue ceeding is evidenced by the large sale and splendid reputation which Wood's Seeds enjoy. Circular giving prices and informa tion about Seasonable Pield Seeds, German Miet, Buckwheat, Navy Beans, Crimson Clover, etc., mailed on request. T. W. Wood & Sons, Seedsmen, Richmond, Va. WOOD'S FALL CATALOGUE issued in Augut tells all about Crimson Glover, Har or Sandvetch, Rape, Winter S Tur or Grazing Oats, Seed Wheats, Grasses and Cloves.s TanpadVegtable Seeds, Hyacnth, Tuipsetc. SCatalogue mailed free-write for it. FOR TH FALL 8EA8OK. Wednsday, Thrsa, Friday and ataofeach week, after Septem er 18th, the Registered Stallion, WV. A. W., wvill be kept in Winnsboro ni the lot hack of Mr. H. B. Refo's store. Parties dlesirinig his service will not fail to find him in WVinisboro on :he daiys nmentioiied above. He will tot he sent to any standls in the coun :rv (during the fall season. He comes rm a long line of great horses and is egistered No. 2->9.4, American Trot ing Register. sired byv Red Wilke;: dani Betsy Baker. Betsy Baker was sired by D'e ator. D~ictator is the sire of Jay-Eye .ee, 2.10; Nan'e.y Hanks, 2.04; Director, .0-, and the peerless Directum, 2.04. Mother Hubbhard, the dam of Betsy Baker. is by Toronto and is the mnother f. srat trot tems. I'-ee for service $15S.00; colt insured. JOHN G. MOBLEY, Winnsbora. 8. CL.