HARVARD CLASSICS

The survey undertaken by the Daily Princetonian, while it originated as an investigation of the importance of the Classics in Princeton as compared with that in several other universities, has revealed facts and suggested plans that are of particular interest to Harvard. Statistics that show both Harvard and Chicago following Princeton in proportionate numbers of concentrators in the Classics may give a slight setback to the prevalent opinion that the first two strongholds of ancient literatures, but universities are the especial American these direct results of the investigation are less significant than the project for reviving the study of antiquity by means of translations.

Harvard has gone somewhat less than half-way in its present advocacy of the Classics as an essential part in the culture of an educated man. While Divisional Examinations have made obligatory for candidates in Literatures or History and Literature the study of two ancient authors, the student has been left to thumb his own way through the Biad and the Odyssey during the summer preceding his Senior year, and generally reaches the time of the examinations with inadequate preparation for them and no appreciation at all for the works he has studied. This may be argued back to the omnipresent evil of cramming, but the fact remains that the pretense that men are made really better rounded out by the acquaintance with ancient literature necessitated by Divisional Examinations, is pitiable.

At present, of three survey courses in Latin and Greek literatures, only one, Greek 11, the history of the Greek drama, does not require a knowledge of the language. Latin 12 and Greek 12 doubtless are commendable survey courses for those men concentrating in Classics, but they require what few undergraduates possess, an ability to translate Latin and Greek well. For at least three years the two surveys of ancient civilizations, Latin 10 and Greek 10, with reading in English, have not been given. There is a field for such courses, and if they are properly announced and organized, there is no reason for their not being strongly supported.