The Georgia collegian. (Athens, Ga.) 1870-current, October 29, 1870, Page 3, Image 3

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give rise to a poor and bald render ing, or to the necessity of breaking his single period into several. It is instructive also, to see in this manner how efficient our language is in the inverted order, and how much more of Ciceronian pomp is gained by such a method. Enough has been said, I trust, to show the connexion between the stu dy of the Classics and of Rhetoric, and to induce those who desire to ex cel in the study as well as practice of composition, to give attention to an element of education so important. It will bo observed that the only point of view in which the study has been insisted on, regards simply the assistance to be derived from it in practical composition. When we come to add to this the improvement of taste by intimate acquaintance with models of style whose purity, elegance and simplicity have never been surpassed, an additional and higher reason might be assigned for this study. It is from this pure source that all that is truly excellent in modern literature has flowed.— They form still, and will always form the standard by which we measure the excellence of our literary work— the patterns by which we shape our efforts of to-day, if we wish to attain the perfection of style. The litera ture of England, as compared with that of other nations of modern times, occupies a position unsurpassed for extent, variety and power. It is im possible to estimate the amount of human happiness and interest at tached to this noble litorature, which speaks in that language which has encircled the globe. This grand lit erature, to which we are so much in debted, owes its origin, its growth and its mature power, to these clas sic originals. There is not a writer in the language, from Spenser to Ma caulay, who has not been thoroughly imbued with classical learning and classical taste. The writers of the greatest fame, have all been tho roughly taught in the classics ; and their own manifold excellences are due to the thorough infusion into their own works of classic purity and elegance. The long period from 12 years of age to twenty-five, through which English youth were compelled to pass in delving at these Ancient Languages, however much derided and sneered at by modern utilitarians, would seem not unworthily or use lessly spent, when such fruit is the product of that labor. If we turn to our own literature, what a falling off do we see from that of England, though it uses the same nobio language for its vehicle. Can it be from lack of native genius ? Or is it that the genius which has shone so conspicuous in letters in the Fa therland, has been here turned alto gether to the useful and metalic? — Or is it because we have neglected a study—a method of intellectual cul ture found so beneficial elsewhere ? Whatever the solution, tho fact re mains, that we are far behind tho THE GEORGIA COLLEGIAN. English in a literary point of view. But it is likewise a striking fact that even with ns, wherever there has been a thorough instruction of the author in these classic models, we find tho best examples of style and matter. Need we compare Irving with Headly—Prescott and Long fellow with hosts of fameless if not nameless writors, who stuff out the long roll of our book makers ? LETTER FROM ATLANTA. The Georgia State Fair—Glorious sue cess—General satisfaction. Dear Collegian 1 have just ex cused myself from tho ladies in the parlor, to run up stairs, and have a chat with you about what I have seen, heard and done. It would be as useless as uninteresting, to give you a detailed account, so just let mo tell things as they happened.— Now one would imagine that in At lanta, everybody was seized with the Fair fever; and so they were; but to make matters worse, they tried to be unconcerned and indifferent, seeming to live in utter ignorance of the exis tence of any exhibition. But their enthusiasm would crop out here and there. Every morning, as the train camo to the depot to carry passen gers to the grounds, every man made it a point of life and death to get on first of all, and those left behind were virtually dead to U3 on the train— for your correspondent was always lucky and prompt. The trains left the depot every half hour during the day, and returned after the same intervals of time. The grounds were just two miles from the city; the whole park was on a slope stretch ing down towards Atlanta, and was more than four miles in circumfers ence. The train entered the grounds, and then the passengers were turned out as if they were cattle; and the first thing I saw, were somo large letters staring me in the face, “ Be~ ware of Pickpockets.” So I bawled out as loud as I could, ‘ Beware of Pickpockets .’ Instantly every man buttoned up to his chin ; the women began to scream, police blew their whistles, and during the excitement the crowd gave way, so that your humble correspondent entered in fine style. I made my way to the ampi theatre, which faced the race track, and although it was yet early, the crowd was quite large. People from everywhere were there; of all colors, from the lily white of the ladies, to the ebony black of the african. And every man was for himself, and the d —l take the hindmost. But as I was not interested either in the crowd or the race, I was off to see. I went to the Floral hall, but did’nt sec a flower, unless they call stoves, and preserves and fruits flowers. I went to the Fine Arts hail—but so many strange and wonderful things con tinually met my gaze, that I could not remember a thing, except Motes’ photographs of our Athens ladies.— What a sensation they created ! when I wakled towards them, there was no one by—but I began to ex press my admiration in such glowing eloquence, that the people wanted to know what was so beautiful; and when I felt that I had done my duty for the ladies, in securing them many admirers, I silently stole away. I went to the Bellwood department, where everything was put up in bot tles, and they fed me with a straw, although I assured them I was in perfect health. I went to see the educated pig, who knew the day of the month, when it was the first; I went to see the fat woman, who weighed down all opposition ; I went to see the Siamese twins who were joined together just below the neck; I went to see the little man, who in the words of his manager, “ was the smallest man in the world, only 3 feet 2 inches and a half high, weighed eighty-five pounds, and could cons verse with remarkable fluency upon any topic, from the state of the weather to the most abstruse politi cal myth." I went to the Episcopal Hall, where I ate a dinner for the benefit of tho church ; I went to de partment of manufactures, where 1 was so much pleased, that the man ager lectured me two hours on his patent egg-beater; and then I went back to the Ampitheatre. Now can you imagine how the things I saw could interest any one, for I spent about as much time in ex amining them, as you editors ap parently do in composing your edi torials. I can only remember how vast a multitude of various articles were crowded together; how many beautiful women I saw; how many ugly men who did’nt have any wo men with them ; how many bad boys who crowded me out of all shape and then trod on my toes; how many squalling babies who disturbed my reveries as I stood disconsolate in the crowd ; how many disappointed people I saw who did’nt get the ex pected premiums; how tho Athens Base Ball Nine was beaten ; how the knight was killed; how tho people were sad and the tournament was postponed to Monday; how some people could be proud, when, if they could only have seen themselves as I did, they would die of shame; how 11. I. Kimball is making money and how Bullock is gradually growing into a calf; how Atlanta is a thriv ing place for thieves and other mem bers of tho General Ass embly ; all these things I can remember. But have I told you anything about the Fair? No; for the fair is each man’s knowledge of it.; and to me, it was very small. The largest crowd num bered only twelve thousand people; and they were so scattered, that they did not seem as many as when the chapel here is crowded at Comment cement. But the Fair was a success; it was managed well; as well as some men can ever do anything—and everybody was satisfied and glad that they went. As I was reporter for your paper, I had many courtesies shown mo which otherwise I would not have enjoyed, such as standing with the judges, wearing a blue ribbon, shout ing for John Smith till I was hoarse, ringing a bell for dinner and many others of less notice. Accept my many thanks. Yery truly yours, Hash. Praiseworthy Liberality. —ln the Northern States and in Europe, large sums of money are frequently given, by will, or during the life of the benefactors, for the endowment of educational institutions. Such Colleges as Brown, Colby,Drew, Ho bart, &c., perpetuate the names of their founders, or most liberal friends. Other persons have been quite as lib eral. Wm. Packer gave half a mil lion to Lehigh University, in Penn sylvania; Yassar expended over $500,000 of his estate in founding the noble institution that immortalizes his name; Ezra Cornell has given $600,000 to Cornell University, at Ithiea, New York; Samuel Willis ton gave $256,000 to Williston Semi nary, in Massachusetts; the Crozers have given several hundred thousand dollars for the endowment of the Crozer Theological Seminary; 11. Pardee $120,000, for La Fayette Col lego, Pa.; Daniel Drew, $250,000, for a Methodist College in New York ci ty; Dr. Wm. Walker and Sylvanus Pakard, each, $250,000 for Tuft’s Coliege, Mass. Certainly, no higher earthly honor can be coveted than to link one’s name with an institution which is to mould character for ma ny centuries. “No benefactions have such a guarantee of perpetual useful ness as those judiciously bestowed in laying, or improving, the foundations of a seat of learning, and no benefac tors go down to posterity with such assured and honorable fame as the founders or benefactors of Colleges." We could wish that tho liberality of Southern Christians and patriots could be turned in these channels.— There are few bequests for charitablo purposes. It has not been a habit with our people to devise their prop erty to others than their relatives.- We commend the example of wealthy men and women elsewhere as wor thy of frequent imitation.— Richmond Rel. Herald. ...Mr. Henry Durant has been elected President of the University of California, vice Prof. Gilman, de clined. The session opened on Sep tember 22d.— Southern Presbyterian, 3