[To THE EDITOR OP THU “spscra.vor...]
Sin,—It seems to me that one argument in favour of the retention of Greek in education, and one which should appeal strongly to the utilitarian mind, has not been brought promi- nently forward. If it can be asserted that Greek is of little use in helping a boy to learn French or German, it is in- dispensable in teaching him to know and understand English. In these days, when the language is being added to daily, when scientific terms are common property, when every new invention, or advertisement even, must have some catchword of compact form to recommend it, who is to interpret these un- familiar terms without any knowledge of the derivation of them ? (or, indeed, in the far future, when Greek is forgotten, to invent them ?) But an acquaintance with Greek (I might almost say, however small) is sufficient often to show daylight, and the apparently unintelligible explains itself. Moreover, scientific terms are practically the same in all languages; and once know their derivation, the meaning of them is clear. I speak as a mere woman who has but a smattering of the language ; but little as it is, I am thankful for it every day of my life.—I am, Sir, &c., Z.
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