thus, amícus, the accent being on the penult. There is another way of marking the same fact; it is by the use of a short straight line, as ¯, and a curve, as ˘. The former denotes a long or accented syllable—for instance, doctrīna; the latter denotes a short or unaccented syllable—for instance, domĭnus. We thus see that doctrīna and doctrína, dóminus and domĭnus point out the same thing—namely, that in pronouncing doctrína the stress of the voice must be laid on the i, and in pronouncing dóminus it must be laid on the o.
Another practice must be pointed out. In Latin, as will presently be learnt, the endings of words have a good deal to do with their meanings. It is, on that account, usual to pronounce them at least very distinctly. Indeed, we might say, that on every terminating syllable a sort of secondary accent is laid. Thus, dominus is pronounced dóminús. So in other forms of the word: thus, dóminí, dóminó, dóminúm. The object is to mark the distinction between, say, dominus and domino, a distinction of great consequence. Another form of this word is dominos. For the same reason a stress is laid on the termination os, which accordingly is pronounced as if it were written oase. Words, too, which end in es have a secondary accent on the e; as vulpes, a fox, pronounced vulpees. In a few cases the vowel is what we call doubtful, that is, it is sometimes short and sometimes long. This peculiarity is marked thus, -̆ as in tenē̆brae, darkness, when the accent may be on the penult, as tenébrae, or on the antepenult, as ténebrae. Observe, also, that a vowel at the end of a word is always pronounced in Latin. Take, as an example, docéré, to teach, which is pronounced as it is marked, that is, with an accent on the last syllable no less than on the last syllable but one. Care must be taken to pronounce docéré as a word of three syllables, do-ce-re, and not do-cere, as if it were a word of two syllables only, remembering, as we have observed before, that the Latin language has no silent e, as we have: for instance, in wife. The reader may practise himself, according to these rules, in pronouncing thus the opening lines of that fine poem, Virgil's "Æneid." The translation made by the English poet Dryden gives a fair idea of the meaning of the original.
"Arma virúmque canó, Trójaé quí prímus ab óris
Italiám, fátó profugús, Lávinia vénit
Líttora; múlt[um] íll[e] ét térrís jáctátus et álto,
Ví superúm, saévaé memorém Júnónis ob íram;
Múlta quoqu[e] ét bélló pássus dúm cónderet úrbem,
Inférrétque Deós Latió; genus únde Latínum,
Albáníque patrés, átqu[e] áltaé móenia Rómae."
"Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by fate,
And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate,
Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan shore.
Long labours, both by sea and land, he bore,
And in the doubtful war, before he won
The Latin realm, and built the destined town—
His banished gods restored to rites divine,
And settled sure succession in his line,
From whence the race of Alban fathers came,
And the long glories of majestic Rome."
In the above piece of Latin poetry will be noticed some letters enclosed by brackets. By certain rules which will be found in Latin prosody, these letters are dropped, or not sounded, under certain conditions of position in Latin poetry, although they are sounded distinctly in Latin prose. In pronouncing the third line, we must cut off the um in multum before the vowel i in ille; and the e in ille before the e in et. Also in the fifth line drop the e' in quoque before the e in et. In the last line, too, the e' in atque is dropped or elided before the vowel a in altae, and the two words are run into one, and pronounced as if written atqualtae. Accuracy of pronunciation, however, is not easily acquired from any written or printed directions. The living tongue is the only adequate teacher. And it will be well for the reader to get some grammar-schoolboy to read to him and hear him read the passage given above from Virgil, and the exercises, or some of them, which will be found in future lessons. Although the pronunciation of Latin is of secondary importance, yet it is well to be as correct as possible, if only from the consideration that what is worth doing at all, is worth doing well. But should any one, as he justifiably may, hope by these lessons to prepare himself for becoming even a teacher of Latin—say in a school—he would in that capacity find the pronunciation considered as a matter of consequence; indeed, a disproportionate value is, especially in the old grammar schools, attached to the established methods of pronunciation. After all, we cannot pronounce the Latin as it was pronounced by the Latins themselves, nor can the best trained lips pronounce their poetry so as to reproduce its music.
OUR HOLIDAY.
As the possession of a healthful frame and strength of muscle and sinew is absolutely necessary to all who desire to make the most of their mental powers, we have thought it desirable to devote a portion of the Popular Educator to a series of papers on what is generally termed Physical Education, or, in other words, the culture of the powers of the body.
We intend, therefore, to take "Our Holiday" at regular intervals, and invite our readers on these occasions to dismiss all thoughts of graver studies for a while, and enter heartily into the consideration of the art of developing the strength, endurance, and agility of the human form by properly regulated gymnastic exercises and athletic sports and games.
We will take first a game which on its introduction into this country a few years ago attracted special attention—
LA CROSSE, THE NATIONAL GAME OF CANADA,
a game lately introduced into this country from the "New Dominion," where it occupies a position like that so long held by cricket in England. It is of Indian origin, and has been played here by a party of Indians brought over for the purpose. It is a ball game, and derives its name from the implement used in striking the ball, which is a long hickory stick bent at one end like a crosse, or bishop's crosier. Across this curve of the stick stout network is stretched, and extends nearly half-way down its length. The "crosse" has, therefore, something of the appearance of a racket-bat, but is much longer.
To the spectator the game presents the appearance of a combination of football and hockey, with some striking variations from both. It is a very animated game, interesting to the looker-on, and highly exciting to those engaged in the contest. It requires a large space of ground, not less, as a rule, than about 400 yards square, and tolerably level. Towards the two ends of this ground goal-posts are fixed, as at football, and the players are divided into two parties, each having its own goal. Each goal consists of two poles about six feet high and seven feet apart, ornamented with flags of the colour—say red or blue—chosen by the party who may take that side in the game. The distance between the two goals is optional, depending upon the space of the ground in which the game may be played, and other conditions either accidental or the subject of agreement between the contending parties. The number of persons who may play is optional also, but they are usually equally divided, as in other field amusements.
The object which is pursued by either party throughout the game is to drive the ball through the opponent's goal—that is, between their goal-posts. When this is done the game is over, having been won by that side which has succeeded in the attempt. The ball used is made of hollow india-rubber, and must not be more than nine nor less than eight inches in circumference. It must, as a rule, be touched only with the "crosse," and it may either be struck with this implement or carried upon it. The crosse is about four feet long, and the network with which it is provided is nearly tight, but just sufficiently loose to hold the ball when resting on it. It is not allowed to assume the shape of a bag. Thus fashioned the ball may be readily picked up from the ground and carried upon the crosse, or flung from it towards the opponents' goal.
The principal players engaged on either side occupy the following stations:—1. Goal-keeper, who places himself near the goal, it being his duty to defend it when in imminent danger. 2. Point, some twenty or thirty yards in front of the goal-keeper. 3. Cover-point, about the same distance in advance of point. 4. Centre, who faces the centre of the field; and, 5. Home, who is stationed nearest the opponents' goal. The remaining players are called the fielders, and have no fixed position.
The game is commenced midway between the two goals, the ball being struck off by the captain of one side, as may have been decided by lot. The struggle at once ensues, one party endeavouring, by striking and following up the ball, to carry it
