THE REMINISCENCES OF CARL SCHURZ
and the so-called useful ones in their place, I would, for myself at least, undoubtedly on the whole elect the same curriculum that I have gone through. I would do this the more readily as in all probability I should never have been able to begin or resume the classical studies had I not enjoyed them in my youth, and as the knowledge of the ancient languages has been of inestimable value to me in acquiring the modern ones in later life. He who understands Latin will not only learn French, and English, and Spanish, and Italian, and Portuguese much more easily, but also much better. I can say of myself that I have in fact studied only the Latin grammar quite thoroughly, but that this knowledge has divested my grammatical studies in modern Latin and Germanic languages of all wearisome difficulty. Therefore, while I recognize the title of the utility argument, now so much in vogue, to our serious consideration, I cannot but confess that I personally owe to the old classical courses very much that was good and beautiful, and that I would not forego.
To be a student at the university is the most entrancing dream of the German gymnasium boy. It had been mine. Now I was at the university. But how? As a mere intruder who had still to win his right to academic citizenship through a difficult examination still to pass; as a person of questionable standing hardly relieved of a most humiliating situation, troubled by bitter cares, with very uncertain prospects before me. Thus it happened to me that what I had hoped for came to me in depressing form. The wish could hardly be recognized in the appearance of the fulfillment.
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