The Languages

Two of Ann Arbor'g citizens were conversing the other day, when one of theim was h-anded va Germán newspaper. "Can yooi rOad that paper?" vas askiMl. "No, I cara not, but I would give a great deal if I eould." "Candidly, Jiow niuch won!d you sito, to De a ble to read tuid speak Germán understandingly ?" ''Well, it would be worth at least $500 to me to have tluit satisfactwm, amd it is one of the greatest .r"grets oí my life tlvat I could not learn to speak tlie laixguage when I was young, but I liad no opportunity os the cliUdreai oi'to-day have." Aud there are many more citizens oí tilils pUace wlio feel as does this gentleman. It Ís astonishing to see the boys and erirls wlin 1 " -a j m. aj 1 X4 V CC i t 1111 U 1 JJii away tlieir opportiuiity to beeome familiar with the Germán tongue, aaough so at lrasr to be able to read it and imdeisiaml it hen spukeu. ButtJiere are Germán families even, in tbs city, where the ohildren absolutely refuse to become conversant witix tlie uative tongue of their jareiits. Wiien they get to be men and woimen grown liow they will regret it. To be a good Euigldsli acholar it is necéeeary to know not only tlie Gerruaji and FrencJi but the Latín as well, for tlie Emglish language is a ciomposite one, embracing sometiung from almost every language bnow-n. If our schools would devote more timo to language and lese to matheonatioal drill, they would gradúate far more polMied students and would fit tfaem far better for the enjoymeiit of life. Tüire is no refinement or polisli about matliematics, while ithe study of la-nguage is all refinement and cultivation. Tlie acquiring of other tongues than our own creates a taste ïor literattire ; in fact it is düficult to acqulre any literary taste or habiits without being familiar -vith the froan of speech used by the people of tlie .world in coniniuuioating t.heir thoughts. Tbe boy or gliQ Avho neglects to ianprove every oppnrtimity to learn anoither t ongue than the English, tnmkee a satl mistake, anti one that ■vill bc regretted as louig as llfe lasts. Poppies- for forpcetfulness Of the líate 'twixt "blue" and "gray,"- And over all - Forgét-menot3, For our héroes loved alway !