The Classics and Modern Training. By Sidney G. Ashmore. (G.y.
Putnam's Sons. 5s. net.)—Professor Ashmbre gives us here five-addresses which, more or less, answer to 'the general title which he has given them. The first deals with the subject most directly and scientifically. Its contention, briefly put, is that the most valuable part of the intellectual province of education is the terming of concepts, that this is best effected by the study of language, and that the best languages for this purpose are (1) English, as the mother-tongue of the American and pritish nations, and (2) Latin. The second paper, "Our Classical In- heritance,'" gives a history of what we may call, for brevity's sake, humanism. Addresses follow on Greek drama and classical archaeology, and finally there is a picturesque description of the revived Olympic games as they were held at Athens in 1896. Why at Athens? it may be asked. Because Athens was practically' the Only place in Greece which furnished the necessary accommodation. "The paucity of Englishmen [among the spectators and competitors] was both criticised and regretted." The Milos of the day seem to have been chiefly American, though in Australian (whom the Greeks appear to have had a difficulty in distinguishing from an American) won the 1,600 metres (1,640 yards) race. The race from Marathon was won, to the intense delight and relief of the natives, by a Greek peasant, Spyridion Lones. He traversed the twenty-five miles in about a minute under the three hours. This makes an interesting comment on the story of Pheidippides. Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta (to ask help against the Persians), and reached that city " the very next day." The distance is 140 miles. Less than half the rate at which Loues travelled would suffice,-25 miles in 3 hours 833; 140 in 40 (not to take the whole time which Herodotus's language would admit) 35; but then it is a much easier task to do a short than a long distance at speed. Professor Ashmore's book is a seasonable addition to a discussion which now occupies much attention.
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