Page:Christian Greece and Living Greek.djvu/277

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GREEK AS INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE. 255 have existed. During those periods, however, only those could attain greatness who, by na- ture, had been stamped for it. Now, since in- struction has been perfected, men are made great by training." If the Greek language becomes the property of all scholars of all civilized nations in such manner that it may serve as the medium of in- tercourse, there is no telling how great the prac- tical advantage will be along with the ideal gain. The introduction of the living Greek language into our schools would be of not less significance than the work of the humanists at the end of the Middle Ages. As the humanists in their times fought against the obstinate and clumsy form in which the scholastic science was taught, as they fought against the prevailing professional quarrelling, and the cunning and subtilizing in words, just as much is it timely now to agitate for a reform in teaching Greek in our schools. These men were inspired for the grand inheritance left by the ancient classical nations ; they recognized in this inheritance one of the most excellent means of improvement of the mind, and an inex- haustible soil of noble sentiment. The single individual can accomplish very