Address of
Rufus M. Rosebrough for the
Dialectic Society, February 1832
Roseborough, Rufus Milton
Cover page
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Fellow Members,
The frequency and ability, with which you have been addressed from this chair, on the various
topicks which relate to your mental culture and moral improvement, leave to the present incumbent,
but the gleanings of the rich harvests of those who have preceded him. And As it is difficult to
select a theme which will interest you by its novelty, he trusts that the present moments will not
be lost, while your attention is directed to a subject, tho, not new is however not the less
important.
The subject offered to your consideration, is, a particular attention to classical litterature.
The young, owing to their inexperience and want of that practical knowledge which they in after
life acquire, are incapable of properly appreciating those improvements to be derived from this
source; and are apt to inquire, what advantages will result to them from an acquaintance with those
languages which on account of their seeming little practical use to mankind, are termed
"the dead languages." By a consideration of this kind the young pupil is
frequently hurried to the unjust conclusion, that all classical litterature is useless and
calculated to waste in a criminal manner both his time and exertions, and instead of laying hold of
it as the means by which he is to facilitate his ascent along the rugged steep of the hill of
science, is but too apt to consider it as an obstacle thrown in his way only to impede his progress;
and sometimes even to wish that it were entirely discarded form our seminaries of learning.
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To a person obtaining a liberal education and who wishes to distinguish himself in the particular
part he may act on the on the stage of life, whether in the capacity of a politician, the polite
scholar, or in any of the different professional departments, it is of paramount importance, that he
acquire an intimate and accurate knowledge of antiquity. The happiest means to put him in possession
of this knowledge is a close and careful perusal of the Latin and Greek authors. It is true that
many of the ancient writers have been translated into the English language and may afford to the
reader, sources of much valuable information; yet so intimate is the connexion between thought and
the language in which it is expressed, that the English schollar could in this way form but an
imperfect view of the manners, customs, and modes of thoughts in ancient times. It is the profound
Greek and Latin scholar who can at pleasure transport himself into
Greece with all its refinements, tread the soil of
Athens and
Sparta and behold the monuments erected to departed greatness, visit the
plains of
Marathon
and witness the glorious struggle and immortal victory of
Miltiades
, walk in the groves of
Academus
and listen to the philosophical lectures of a
Plato, saunter along the banks of Ilissus and imagine himself charmed with
the sweet and melodious strains of
Apollo's lyre, enter
Rome when at the zenith of her renown and listen to the soul enrapturing
eloquence of a
Cicero and others who graced the
Roman Senate , associate himself with the shades of her departed heroes
and sages and acquaint himself with the passions and motives, by which, they were actuated in their
earthly career.
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Such advantages as these, give a new tone to the mind, an expansion of thought and a
manliness of feeling, which otherwise must have been lost.
Another advantage arising from this source is the facilities which it affords us in the acquisition
of the foreign living languages. Their introduction into so many of the different Colleges of the
Union and in many places, into private schools within the last few years, satisfactorily shew the
increasing desire of the American youth to make themselves acquainted with them; and it would be
needless here to press arguments in favour of the advantages which a knowledge of them affords to
the professional man and private gentleman. We become every day more sensible of their importance.
The rapid advancement of our republic in population, wealth, & litterature, which entitle
her to so enviable a rank among the nations of the earth, the enlargement of her commercial sphere,
that link which connects all civilized nations together, and the frequent intercourse which our
citizens have with foreign kingdoms urge but too forcibly their utility. It is the man who has
enriched his mind with the spoils of ancient litterature and embellished it with a familliar
acquaintance with the modern that feels himself at home in a foreign land. No two nations think
precisely in the same way, much less those which speak different languages. This we see verified in
the different shades of meaning which our own and the mother country attach to the same word. Hence
we see that words in passing from one nation to another
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generally lose a part or the whole of their original acceptation and assume that shade of
meaning, which may be given them by the nation into which they pass. This revolution, which words
undergo in migrating from one language to another, presents the fairest opportunity of arriving at
certainty in our investigations of subjects so subtle as thought and the symbols of thought. Thus
while we are engaged in the study of the ancient languages, we acquire the habit of analysing our
intellectual operations, than which, nothing can be more admirably adapted to the young mind just
beginning to unfold its powers. It gives it an accuracy and clearness of perception in all its
future investigations.
The improvement of our taste is an advantage by no means of minor importance.
Homers Illiad and
Virgils Aeneid have been admitted by all nations, as standards, by which,
epic poems must be measured. And coming to us with the accumulated approbation of preceding ages, it
would be superfluous to say anything in praise of them and presumptive to endeavour to detract from
their merit. It was these works that shone with a "phosphor radiance" during the
darkness of the middle ages and to which we are indebted for the high advancement of litterature at
the present day. Besides these, there are other ancient poetic writings which have been esteemed by
men of taste in all ages, as almost perfect in their kind. We have also models of historical and
biographical writings, exhibited in the works of
Thucydides
,
Livy
,
Xenophon,
Tacitus,
Salust and some
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others, which we despair of ever seeing excelled by writers of the present or succeeding
times. It is upon models like these in which there are delicate tints, impassionate touches,
chastness of expression, and accuracy of thought, that we wish to see the taste of the youth of the
present day formed. It is those who have drunk deep at the Pierian Spring and are sensible how much
remains to be known that we find to be more modest and unassuming, better qualified to engage in any
pursuit of science or of litterature, better fitted for an entrance upon professional duties and
possessing more taste and ardour for knowledge of all kinds, than those of more varied educations.
These remarks, fellow members, have been made, not so much for the purpose of setting fully before
you the importance of the classicks, as of calling your attention to them.
I cannot conclude however, without offering you a few remarks on the duties that devolve on each
one of you as a member of this litterary compact. It is an association which we have formed for our
improvement and in whose honor or disgrace we must all partake. The estimate which we place upon a
piece of metal or matter of any kind, depends wholly upon the value of each separate particle with
which it is composed; so the estimation in which this society is held and its future prosperity,
depends very much on the character of each individual member. The duties of this house, altho, they
they have long since ceased to interest you, with their novelty, in consequence of your familliarity
with them, are not, on that account to be esteemed of less importance. It is by a faithful
performance of them that you will acquire the capacity of arrainging your
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thoughts in a proper manner, a richness and chasteness of diction, a fluency and address in
delivery and a quickness and pertness in reply. And it is to be hoped, that while you properly
appreciate them, you will not prevent the improvement to be derived from them, by a cold and
reluctant performance; but that you will use that diligence in preparation and zeal in the discharge
of them, which shall create and cherish in the bosom of each one, a laudable emulation to excel. It
is also to be hoped that you will act with that gravity and dignity which is due to this house, that
you will refrain from indulging in that species of wit and sarcasm which has heretofore been
practiced to so great an extent, that in giving and receiving corrections you will endeavor to avoid
that dictatorial manner which is sometimes indulged in and exercise towards each other a mutual
forbearance and reciprocity of good feeling. It is by acting in this manner, that you will the
better obtain the noble object for which you meet; and instead of becoming wearied with the round of
duties here, will regard the time spent in the performance of them, as the happiest and most
precious hours of your college life; and your frequent meetings will serve to stregthen and brighten
those silken cords of affection by which you are now so happily linked.