OMAHA 1UILY 15ER : SUNDAY , APRIL .30 , IBOfr-TWENTY PAGES.
ENGLISH. VILLAGE VISTAS
Lines of Lonolj Lifo in Happy Old Land
| j Hamlets.
HOME COMFORT IN PICTURESQUE SETTING
* *
Hrltlih I'enmiiit' * il'.ol Not un Unlinppjr One
ream anil Content ( lonornl
Type * In IHItrri-nt ,1'nrtn
of tint Country.
IxNi > os , April 17. [ Corri-spondcnco of
Tun HUB.-After ] nil , though the nntlqunr-
iixn , historic and jileturcsquo features of
English vlllngi'9 proviile wnlless fascination
and chnnn , tliolr huninn Interest has tlio
strongest hold upon the observant mind and
sympathetic nature.
They arc by no moans allko though univer
sally possessing similar I'haracterlstlcs. and
very many tire strikitmlj typical of thorn all.
Thosp most like the Kngllsb villages of literature -
aturo will ho found In the eastern , midland
and southern shires , from Lincoln around to
Devon , and thfso comprise the far greater
number. Those differing most from each
other , and occasionally separately as well as
a whole from all others , riro these of the
northwestern shires ; the nnrthwestern mid
land shirrs where Industrial development
has created a host of comparatively modern
hamlets ; the western central shires among
thoMalvcrn and Cotswold hills , where the
antiquity of nil villages Is very great ; and
these of Cornwall.where rare distinction has
left strongly marked peculiarities In lan
guage , customs , and homo and village life
among thu lowly.
The peasants of Cumberland and West
moreland , who are nearly all villagers , most
of ttio former being "statesmen , " that is ,
owners in fee of their tiny estates , aru as a
rule "house-proud. " In years of wandering
among the lowly of European countries 1
bavo never come upon any rustic folk thu
exteriors of whoso habitations were ntoro
picturesque , or whose Interiors were such
shining examples of homely comfort and con
tent. There are , of course , exceptions. Now
nnd then you will find Immluts lilni Watend-
lath , hidden among tlie fell * between Borrow-
dale and Thirlmere , where may bo seen the
sodden squalor occasionally met among the
unfortunate Scottish wrstcoast crofters
and in the Irish westcoast Ilshing villages.
Their nouses are dark and unwholesome , the
floors uneven , tlui furniture crazy , the men
clad in ragged fustian nnd the women in
coarse wool and wooden clogs. These are
sheep herders under a later sort of feudal-
Ism. In every such case the history is. their
forefathers sold their little "estates" to en
croaching land-grabbers , and their children
are consequently today in a condition of
serfdom.
Precisely as in Wordsworth's time you
will find outside the Cumbrian villagers' cot
tages the shade of grand old sycamores and
always "a tall Ilr through which the winds
sing when other trees are lealless ; " a near
rill or spring spout with its ceaseless wim
ple ; a comely garden , comfortable stone out
buildings for grain and for winter housing
of the cows and tiny but hardy Cumbrian
sheep , and always the shed for the hives of
bees which distill from the mountain heath
the darkest but over the sweetest honey in
the world.
These village homo interiors are no less
characteristic. The doors are of the same
hugo slates as those covering the roof. They
nro scrubbed and cleaned until they shmo
like dusky mirrors. Frequently you will find
them , particularly near the door and lire-
place , decorated with white , ocliro and vor-
nilllion chalk In figures mid scroll work em
bodying strange fancies in rustic art. The
or'lire house " it is called
living room , or , us ,
Is always very largo for a cottage , often
frqin eighteen to twenty-llvo feet square ,
low , but with the richest of old and polished
oaken beams in the celling. Indeed , old oak
may be found in th'.so Cumbrian village
homes in profusion.
The long , solid table with benches at Its
aides where the "statesman,1' his family and
laborers sit together at meals and of evenIngs -
Ings in winter ; the "long settle" or two-
yards long seat at one side of the great llrc-
placo. and the "scono" on the ether side ,
under which the night's fuel , called an
' elden , " is placed ; the chairs , huito nnd
high and requiring a strong arm to move
them ; the high , narrow , sprawling-legged
bureaus ; the many iron or brass bound
chests ; the beds hugo nnd strong enough to
hold giants , for these Cumbrians are often
tremendous in stature are nil of oak ,
curiously carved and wonderfully polished.
All this is sometimes varied by pieces of
mahogany almost as unique as can bo found
among the peasant homes of Brittany.
From this clean ' 'llre-houso"
largo , - or living
room there nro in all directions Inviting vistas
through wide , low doors and cozy stone
"lean-tos , " perhaps each ono built in a differ
ent century , to tiuy-pancd windows , splayed
llko turret windows , white with inner cur
tains , nnd in summer ablaze with outer bud
and blossom. These villagers rooted to the
land which gave them birth not only by the
sacred tics of heredity , but oy the to them
more pricelessherltngoof ownership , neither
emigrate nor ( lock to the congested towns.
Hero is rare rural Kugland as it has for
centuries been , among n typo of independ
ent , half defiant folk , whoso simplicity ,
piety , hardihood and solidarity compel
genuine admiration nnd respect.
Mnnyof the comparatively modern villages
of Yorkshire , Lancashire. Derbyshire and
Staffordshire , the village homes of opera
tives In mines , mills aim potteries , are far
V prettier and moro comfortable than oven
! i many Englishmen would have us believe. A
halt dozen different religions fighting'tooth
nnd nail for their piety and1 pence , the vagno
unrest that comes through almost unlimited
access to newspapers nnd books , and the
changed standards of necessities r.nd luxuries
pressing sorely upon the highest limitations
of oven largely increased wages , have given
the villagers of this typo of hamlets an en
tirely different mental and material mold. I
would not say that they are happier for the
change , but their homes , food , labor , wage
and environment are , as wo measure things.
Inllnitoly superior to those of the same class
from a half century to p. century ago.
Many of these hamlets are massed about
by trees , have architecturally beautiful little
churches , chapels , club houses , libraries and
the neatest of shops. Nearly all are tidy
and clean. The potters villages of Stafford
shire are good Illustrations of them all.
Within a live-mile radiusof Ilnnloy , Hurslem
and Ktoko you can llnd 10,000 homes of potters -
tors , nearly all In pretty hamlets or in shady
village lanes , and villages of long , single
streets. The jworcst potter of the district
lives ns snugly as did the masterpotter
manufacturer of forty and llfty years ago.
ilis cottage is of brick. It has two stories ,
nnd the blessing of perfect drainage. On
the ground floor are a parlor with n pretty
fireplace , n largo living room provided with
n hugo grate , hobs and ' -jockey-bar" for
swinging pots and kettles ; and behind this
Is a scullery , with a line little garden at the
rear. The upper lloor comprises two largo
sleeping rooms.
This gives every family n five-roomed ,
completely detached house and garden. Or
dinary workmen earn from SS to DO shillings
weekly. If there happen to bo daughters ,
one may bo a "palntress , " coloring the
cheaper wares and earning 8 shillings , anil
perhaps another a "burnisher , " earning 0
shillings , per week. Many families thus se
cure from a. > to 40 shillings per week , while
their rent and rates do not exceed 5 shillings
per week for such a home.
Nearly all of these workmen's village
homes have front-area llower plats. In the
gardens of all nro mazes of flowers and vines
nnd beds of vegetables in summer. Kvery
parlor has Us solemn voiced "grandfather's
clock. " It also boasts chests of linen , draw
ers of comfortable clothing , and many cheap
nnd pretty pieces of furniture ; while on the
mantel or bureau top Is always found some
fanciful sketch , painting or curious model ,
thu result of emulation to win prizes for in
vention in IIIMV processes , or for unique nnd
original designs In modeling and dec-oration
The murderous "truck" system Is unknown
In Kugland , as It should bo in America ; mid
every penny duo every man I * paid him each
Saturday noon. Wo are very fond , about
election tiino , of telling our workmen what
BI " " * 'lucky tloss they aro. I wish they truly imv
If1 swsl llie homo comfort mm i > icunruit en-
r 'viromnciit ' that Knplish workmen's villages
ul mail universally tlucloao.
Another ami most interesting' ty | > e of
vIllnRrs and village llfu may bo found in the
"region comprised in jkiuthwesteniVur.Tluk -
hire , uorthera Gloucestershire , eastern
Herefordshire and southern Worccstcrshlro ,
Iwtwcen the towns of Stratford-on-Avon ,
Hereford. Worcester nnd Gloucester. The
antiquity of most of these villages is in
great and their charnvteristlcs as distinc
tive as these of the stone hamlets of Cum
berland. Llko the latter , most aru of stone
nnd from .TOO to fiOOyoars old. Hero It every
thing curlou.i and undent In old oak door *
nnd hinges , fanciful chimney pieces , masslvf
oak llntel.'t. doors and h.iluslr.ulos , mullloncd
windows nnd paneled rooms. When the
habitations are not of stone they nro the
still moro picturesque ancient Tudor half-
timbered houses. These lu their gables ,
with crowning pinnacles , their odd porches ,
small but massive doors , mullloned windows
dews nnd hugo chimne.\s , overhanging
Htorles and Jumbles of projecting windows ,
are no less quaint and curious than their In
teriors , with their spacious , low-collinged
rooms paneled with oak of ebon darkness ,
often elaborately c'arved and ornamented ,
nnd with paKsagcs. nooks , niches , cupboards
and presses , bewildering in arrangement and
number.
Kach farm house and cotter's vlllaee
homo stands In Its own orchard ,
brilliant with sprays of nlnk and
whlto , or with balls of russet anil gold , ac
cording to the season. Challlnches and
robins are among the mosses in all these or
chards ; blackbirds and thrushcscvcrywhero
In the thick gurdoii shrubberies and lu the
tangled coppices nnd hedgerows. The stage
coaches are hero Just as of old. Ko arc the
carrier , the carter , the thatchcr. the tiler ,
the drainer , the plowman , the shepherd , the
common Held lalwrcr undo\en the poacher ,
all as heedless of reform as Cuban guajlros ,
and all with kindly faces and speech betok
ening sturdy pride in their vocations which
were the toll of their fathers before them.
There Is no elbowing , no Jostling , no Imi't'v-
Ing or hurrying. Kverybody haunters , do/e
or labors as though content never paid pen
alty to want. An atmosphere of uncon
strained amplitude broils ever all. Hun
dreds of the olden Kngllsh villages are
surely hero in a rogiun that knows no
change.
Unless ono has really wandered in rock-
btittressc.il old Cornwall it is hard to bollovo
that outside the picturesque coastwise llsh-
iug hamlets there is such a thing as charac
teristic village life. To the casual observer
from the railway train , the whole face of
the land seems torn and scarred as if by tre
mendous elemental struggles. A myriad hiss
ing fragments of exploded planets , hurled in
awful upper rain upou its facc.eould have left
no moro unsightly hurts. But it is full of
entrancing hidden nooks , where , sloping
from nigged moorlands , are beauteous little
vallejs with ample farms , lessening into
tinier checkers of hedge and lunebroldercd
fields and these into mossy old hamlets ,
where the white Wesleyan chapel and the
Norman towered parish church are the only
two structures showing through a wealth of
trees , but where are curious old homes and
always a bawling moorland stream turning
the gray , hugo wheel of some trembling old
mill.
mill.Here
Here , miles perhaps from their "pairdner1'
worlc "below grass" in the mines on the
moors , live swarthy "Coden ( cousin ) Jack"
with scores of cotter laborers upon the
farms. Wherever these village collates are
their walls are of everlasting stone , em
bowered in brilliant Cornish creepers ami
roses , with cement floors and thatched roofs
subject to interminable repairs from on
slaughts of scores of busy sparrows , tiny
miners themselves , endlessly sinking shafts
and drilling "crosscuts' ' and "levels'1 in the
soft and yielding straw. There is one room
below , .sometimes two , and a half-story gar
ret beneath the thatch , 'a hero is only a
front door. A window is at either side of
this and sometimes directly above these
tiny panes to light the garret. Each cot
tage is provided at the end or back with an
open fireplace in the center , n sort of range
at ono side , covered with brass ornaments ,
which the housewife is endlessly polishing
with growler , while at the other side is the
"ungconer" with "heps" or upper and under
doors , lor storing faggots or furze for fuel.
The lurnituro though scant is honest and
useful. At the fireplace are the "brandes , "
a tiiangular iron on legs on which , over the
coals , the kettles boil , the circular eastlron
"baker" is set and the flsh or meat , when
they can bo luckily had , nro "scrowled" or
grilled. There are , perhaps , four chairs ,
singularly enough with solid mahogany
frames , but the scats arc of painted pine nnd
are waxed weekly. These nro for "best , "
and all the best. For every day use one or
two "firms" of rude benches are provided.
The single table is of pine , an unpainted
side for dally use , nnd scrubbed dally , and a
painted side for Sunday. The table ware is
something startling in cheap goods , for the
gypsy hawkers frequent Cornwall , and each
member of the family Is provided with a
real "chany" cup and saucer with a gorgeous
gilt band.
For Ills class the Cornish villager Is a gen
erous liver. The young folk have an unus
ual fund of games distinctive of Cornwall ;
marriages provide extraordinary festivals ;
the dead are "watched" from decease to
burial nnd funerals provide subdued diver
sions with heroic feasts ; leaping , wrestling ,
running , cricket and "putting ihe stono" are
the principal amusements of youths and
men , in which they excel ; and their count
less endeared hobgoblins nnd "buccaboos , "
which Wesley nnd Whitlleld nlong with the
railways and telegraph were never able to
"lay , " draw these sturdy Cornish villagers
closer together around the flashing village
smithy forge , the Cornishman's chief place
of evening resort , or within the homo glow
of their blazing ingle-nooks , during the long
winter nights when the cruel fogs pound in
over the moors from the seething channel ,
or the tempests' howl across the dreary ,
shuddering moors.
Practically all English village folk are
laborers , whether operatives , shepherds ,
wagoners , th ateliers , drainers , or common
Held laborers , Just as they have been for
hundreds of years. There may bo a publican
or innkeeper , a shopkeeper who is postmas
ter or postmistress , a carpenter , who is often
a painter , undertaker , verger and gravedlg-
ger in ono , a baker , n tailor , a blacksmith
and a poacher , for the latter is in every ham
let in ISritain , all great oracles in their way.
But three families of quality , and frequently
not that many , are known these of the lord
of the manor or the squire , the rector or the
curate and the schoolmaster : for the doctor
is always summoned from u near city or
town.
English village life is therefore found to
Ho within a wonderfully close horizon. I have
been much witli these folk in their labor ,
their diversions and their homes. After
looking nt thorn long and earnestly with my
own eyes , I have tried to got , as nearly as
possible , into their personal environment
and then look out of the windows of their
minds and their habitations ii | > on the every
day world about them. In this way a good
deal that is not hopeless and much that Is
gratifying can bo discerned. It is certainly
truothatan infinitely higher standard o'f
life and living is enjoyed than in the "good
old days" whoso departure the wise writers
so bitterly deplore.
Universal education has certainly caused
universal discontent. But I do not think it
carries from youth to old ago. By the time
these folk are 20 or > years of ago the fer
mentation period is passed. Homo go away
to the cities , as with us , or to America or
Australia ; but those who remain are butter
laborers , villagers and cltUcns. The English
peasant clod has thus almost entirely disap
peared. You will not see very much knee-
crooking , hoad-duckiug and tuft-pulling to
superiors , whllo lliero Is no less genuine
kindhearledness and respect. Smock frocks
and corduroys are less frequent. So are the
feasts and gorglngs uudguzzllngs. But these
villagers are less gross. J'hey are of better
stuff. They have moro wholesome food to
eat , and a greater variety. They know
something about hygiene. They Insist on
good drainage. In humble fashion ihoy
beautify their habitations without and
within. What has been lost in the rough
and often brutal amusements of the olden
time has been moro than gained in and for
the homo. There are books and newspapers
and in it. The
prints iiresido is even a
grander place than the parson's lawn or the
brawling street. In a word , without having
lost a Jot'of their value as laborers and ser
vants they have emerged from the condition
of sodden male and fomalc hinds to that of
selt-resi > ecting men nnd-women.
With this has como nn individual love for
the vlllago homo and the homo village. The
thrilling history of many a place , its anti
quarian marvels. Its ancient legends , folk
lore and oven superstitions , are no longer
the exclusive possession of London savants.
A deep and steadfast interest of this sort is
flaming up among them. It bodes ill to the
nlo house. Along with it surely romps an
ethical development. They are beginning to
sharu with the historian , the artist , the
novelist , the vagrant wandrror like you and
me , n perception the matchless U-auty of
their env.nminunt. That ulono Is proving n
mighty factor in preserving all that is ten
der , sweet and r.amxl about thorn for the
exquisite delight of alien eyes.
KUUAJI L. WAKKMJLN.
ACQUIRING AIM TONGUES
Methods of Learning Modern Languages Dis-
cuwed by an Exparioaood Teacher.
ANALYSIS OF THE NEW GOUIN SYSTEM
Cinnpiirlinii nf tlin "Natural" MotlimU Moil
U'ldoly Ailvt-rtUdl Sclrnrn In l.liiKtml
I'filiigoslfx t'riir. I'lBo's Ktpcrlonco
anil DiMliictlunt Therefrom.
"A Koynl Konil to IxMriilng I/uiguages" is
the heading of an artlclo In the March num
ber of the Heviow of Hovlowa In which Mr.
Stead , the London editor of the magazine ,
ro | > orts the results obtained in his family by
the Uouln method of teaching languages.
That the method of teaching languages
now followed In many schools and colleges
will be displaced by some bettor ono within
n few years , and that the process of learning
language" * will bo nuido u moro practical ,
seientlllcand fruitful procedure.1 , can hardly
bo doubted. But while we may , providing
wo have some insight into the matter. Justly
denounce some of the methods yet largely In
vogue wo must bo cautious and conservative
in our criticism of these teachers who do not
throw away an accustomed method , by
which heretofore very fair results have been
achieved , immediately upon the announce
ment of snnuuicw sensational thing crying
"Kureka. " and which is apt to lead the un
wary follower Inlo chaos.
In his book entitled "The Art of Teaching
and Studying Languages , " Prof. Cioulii
toadies many facts about language teaching
which undoubtedly are and have been known
and applied to a greater or less extent by
many successful teachers of our time and of
times gene b. > ; but ho teaches also certain
principles which are an entirely new depart
ure , having not been comprised before in any
known method. Although ho may bo the
first ono to voice and publish the former , it
is , of course , the latter ouly to which the
nnino Oouin's method can properly bo ap
plied , I. o. , to that wherein his method differs
from others.
It has been known before now that the
learner should have for exercises sentences
which bear a distinct and sensible moaning
and are true in substance and in fact ; that
the learner should be eiveu the word orally
lirst , bi < fore ho sees the printed word , and
tills several times successively and method
ically until it is engraven on his memory ;
that ouly after ho thorough'y ' knows the
meaning and pronunciation should ho bo
allowed to sco the written and printed word ;
that no rule should be given an abstract
condition. Now the Gouin course docs
distinguish itself from all others in
"
the "following important points : The
exercises are a series of sentences all
logically connected and given in the order in
which the facts would necessarily occur ,
their aggregate describing , for instance , the
life of a plant from the seed to the fruit , the
tilling of the soil , describing in the saino
natural order animals and men in their va
rying pursuits , mechanical and otherwise.
Thus the first link suggests the next , and so
on to the last , and the rovcrso. Each
phrase has a sot measure and limit. While
other courses embrace but from 2,000 to 4.000
words , leaving the student to Increase his
vocabulary by reading the literature of the
language , Prof. Gouin states that his series
have been compiled to cover a Hold of over
'J0,000 words , the knowledge and use of
which would give one , of course , a complete
mastery of the language. Ho divides his
material into objective language on the ono
hand and subjectvoanu ! symbolical language
on the other.
Now in a well written narrative , the epi
sodes of which it is composed stand to each
ether and usually follow each other in logical
sequence , but of course not in as rigid a
sunso as the sprouting will follow the sow
ing , Yet in attempting to give the analysis
of actions in torso sentences , ono student
would undoubtedly think of moro dot-ails
than another , thus precluding the possibility
of teaching the scries without the aid of the
student's mother tongue , nor does Gouin ad
vocate that it should bo excluded. Many
persons seem to think that the "natural"
method of studying a foreign t.ougue
must bo ono In which the student's
native language Is not used as an
aid. Nothing can bo moro erroneous.
The appearance of any well known object
ci.n be recalled to one's mind as vividly by
its name being uttered as by showing the ob
ject or a picture thereof. Only in the former
case ono has to bu attentive to the subject lu
question to bo able to exercise his visual
memory upon It. It may bo more primitive
to walk than to ride , but certainly not more
natural. To resort to doubtful gestures to
make one's self understood , while a single
word could call ui in the pupil's mind at his
will the object in plain enough
outlines before the mental eye , and
as for that any other impression-
with all the vividness desired , if he will
make but n slight effort mentally to inuko it
appear real to himself. To resort to gesture ,
to mimicry , is surely a desperate moans and
can Mover be the quickest method of making
the pupil think in the language taught. It
is true that if the student is to think in the
foreign tongue ho must see , hoar and feel
that of which the foreign phrase Is the ver
bal expression while ho utters the same ; it
is not true that English must bo entirely ex
cluded from a course in order that it will not
wcdgo itself between the idea and the
foreign phraso.
Anyone can see a table whiter he does so
pronounce the Gorman word for it , tlsch , or
ho can say wanu ( when ) and be aware that
ho is inquiring for time , excluding the
English word from his mind temporarily
after it has served Its purpose of suggesting
to him the correct idea.
1'rof. Gouin has set forth his method very
.ably and lucidly. Ho seems to have antici
pated and answered every objection that
might suggest itself to the thoughtful reader
and competent critic. Of course , it is easy
to make any number of plauslblo objections
and unfavoranlo comments , but to
present objections that will stand is
something which in this case scorns
extremely diflloult to do. Finally ,
1'rof Gouin advocates that geography ,
physics and ether science branches
could bo taught in the foreign tongue ,
thus making it serve a double purpose , but
in voicing this theory ho is nlso neither
alone nor first. On the whole , however , it
may bo said that Prof. Gouln's book will
rank as a classic in pedagogics. Ho appears
to have made his case and it is questionable
whether the principles referring to the study
of foreign languages have over been so com
pletely stated as ho has stated them with
consummate skill.
Prof. Gouin has not only voiced n theory ,
but ho has , so wo read , spent years in giving
it tangible shape in compiling a series ready
to bo used as a text , nnd comprising over
30,000 words , and this wark has undoubtedly
been the greatest benefit Prof. Gouin has
rendered.
But what about the result of the experi
ment referred to in the March number of
the Koviow of Heviews ? Five children of
Mr. Stead wore taught French for six
months after the Gouin method bv Prof.
Betis , a disclplo of Prof. Goulu. Ho had
come from Paris to London to introduce the
method ihero. "Three of these iivo chil
dren , " wo quote , "had previously for some
time been learning French with their tutor ,
Dr. Barns. They had been through Badols'
grammar and various conversational and
other exercises and were as far advanced as
are most pupils who have undergone the
regular training under the ordinary
methods. " This means that they had re
ceived the equivalent of at least two full
years of ordinary instruction under , special
tutor prior to their beginning to study by
t'.io Gouin motho.l. By the latter
thfso three children wore then in
tructed two hours every day for-
six months. They wore constantly together
nnd had thus of course an excellent oppor
tunity to practice. The results that were
accomplished , as set fortti In-tho artlclo ,
were certainly unusual and very pralsowor-
thy , but not remarkable , and it is to bo re
gretted that the experiment -.does not lur-
nish us with a standard of comparison , ns the
method was applied under conditions differ
ing from those under which other methods
are generally used Other methods of repute -
puto are the Mclstersohaft .system , the
Prcndergast system , Doyspring Cumulative
method , the Berlitz method and the Sauvour
method. Unhappily , wo havu not
seen enough of the latter two
methods to discuss them horn.
Between the Mcistcrschnft system and
Prendorgast system some similarity exists.
In either a certain number of sentences
illustrative of thu various constructions are
simply committed to memory. Space does
not permit saying more than tint they con
tain some good hints , but neither deserves
the name of n complete method. In thu
hands of their authors these books undoubt
edly become formidable tools , for the author
will bury his enthusiasm nnd original
thought into his class , but beyond this they
must leave preference to the others.
Dreyspring has a method which ho carries
out consistently. His vocabulary Is ex
tracted from a Gorman fairy tale , and to the
proper understanding of this all the exercises
lead up. The first words given are "table , "
"chair , " "floor , " "stove , " "stovepipe" and
the like , presumably because these objects
can bo pointed out or because they are be-
1 loved to bo part of what is called nn ordi
nary vocabulary. The latter , however , docs
not apply ; thuso words may bo a consider
able part of the ovrrydnv conversation of a
carpenter or house /furnisher , but they are
far less commonly used by the average per
son than many abstr.ict words. If ho must
needs begin wltll 'n" noun , n name of some
thing which can bo'Ahown , why did lie not
begin witli the word "dollar" nnd thus
secure the Interest of his audience.
He could make the dollar Jlnglo and
appeal at once to. the visual memory ,
the auditory memory and the cntlro emo
tional center of his student. In the second
or third lesson HontmH-cs are introduced like
' Where is the doort It is in the wall. "
"Whoro is the ceiling ? It is over the bed. "
"Where is the bed ) . U is in the room. "
"Whero is the room ) It Li in the house. " It
is safe to say that 'theso sentences would
never occur in this combination in actual
life ; the equivalent of this dialogue does not
exist in the pupil's mind and experience ; the
sentence will tlioivforo remain abstract ; the
student's mind will refuse to make these
tlilnus real to his imagination the student
will exorcise his mind upon the German
phrase alone , instead of exorcising it upon
some fact. The second p.irt ol Droyspring's
book has many redeeming qualities , it con
sists almost entirely of letters , In the com
position of which the author displays great
ingenuity.
To know n language well Is only the be
ginning of knowing how to teach It. To
teach it well with economy of time and
strength is a high art. Any so-callod method
not based upoii sclcntlnV principles wakes a
suspicion of charlatanry.
There are many who covet the power of
speaking foreign tongues ; why do so few at
tain it ! The bett answer , perhaps. Is be
cause they do not understand the principles ,
psychological and physiological , which must
bo heeded by hint who would master n lan
guage. Both children and adults study lan
guages , nnd what applies to the former will
not apply in the snmu measure to the latter.
Whllo the child learns now words and
phrases in his mother touguo. ho receives at
the same time now impressions and ideas ;
his vocabulary is gathered shortly after or
simultaneously with his acquirement of the
ide.isi of which such vocabulary is the ex
pression. But In the adult learning a
foreign language new words and phrases arose
so engrafted and stamped upon ideas ami
impressions with which ho has long been
familiar. Two ihinirs habitually seen , heard
or thought of together will n main associated
in memory. How docs the Frenchman , the
Italian , the Spaniard or the German express -
press his thoughts ? Listen to n German
with rapt attention aiding his method by
good will that the hearing may bo as acute
as possible : you receive the sounds of the
phrase which ho pronounces , you hold it
fast for a moment in the auditory memory ,
trying to remember distinctly even the in
structor's voice , and then you reproduce it ,
to satisfy him and yourself that you have re
ceived the sound lully and correctly , the
meaning of the phrase can bo made known
before or after.
The quickest.safcstand most effective way
to do this is to tell it in English. The
teacher may then rest assured that the pupil
will associate the Gorman phrase at least
with none ether than its correct anu accur
ate meaning , with no moro and no loss than
the idea for which it stands. The exclusion
of English from the very beginning of an
elementary course , the instructor relying
upon pictures and pantomime to make him
self understood to an uncertain degree , may
satisfy the listener for a time and make him
leave the class room greatly elated that ho
has grasped and understood some German
"without being told the meaning thereof in
English words. " But If ho imagines that ho
has gained anything to last ho is woefully
mistaken. Ho will sny "wio geht's" or "wio
belindon Sio slchj" ( how do you do ? ) when
ever he has a cbanco.and . will walk on ingleo
if he has been understood ; but lot him ad
dress German in a' few sentences and be
hold the lattcr's face grow long with a mixture -
turo of sympathy ami Irony ns ho trios sin
cerely but in vain to get any meaning out of
the collection of twenty or moro words in
coherently stammered forth , to bo tried on
him. If tlio listener is kind ho will say "ja ,
ja , " and walk on.
The teacher must know how to keep the
student at work the whole hour learn
ing , thinking and speaking correct
German. Systematically ho will set
different forms against each other and
show him how such and such n course
always produces such and such a change in
the construction. Ho will have to give no
rule then , for the pupil has seen how the
German , Frenchman , etc. , as n rule , speaks.
The teacher must have some Idea of what
goes on in his pupil's mind. Five minutes
spent in trying to recollect a Gurmnn phrase
is u loss ; five minutes spent in thinking the
German rhraso is a gain , for German is not
learned by trying to think it , but by think
ing it. In fact , progress In the language is
determined by the number of times the Ger
man phrase is thought correctly , as also by
thodegrcoof vividness in which the thought
Is made real to the pupil , excluding all else
for the time being. The energy of the mind
must not bo spent in trying to ascertain the
moaning of an instructor's gestures ; as if
by thinking nothing for live minutes ono
could remember something I Attention and
interest can bo secured in other ways.
What time will bo required by the average
student ? According to Prof. Gouin , 000 hours
are sufficient to completely master n lan
guage by his method , providing these 'JOO
hours are spread over a period of not longer
than ono year , ori : < T > days , which reduces itself -
self to two hours and n huIf a day. It is
certainly advantageous if the interval be
tween the lessons is short , in order that the
foreign language may bo given n fair chance
for successful rivalry with the learner's
mother tongue. It Is frequently stated that
immigrants learn to speak fairly well within
six months after their arrival , and many of
these who are innocent of knowing any lan
guage excepting their own , which they could
not help learning , would therefore urge
their instructor to simply begin and t ilk
witli them anyway anything , correcting
them if they make a mistake , as if in this
wise there would not bo moro mistakes than
words. The fact is the immigrant
is deplorably slow in learning the language
of his adopted country , oven if ho can gut
along in his special routine at the end of six
months. For wo must consider that during I
such time ho may have hoard and seen English
from morning till niglit , while these immi
grants who stay with these of their own na
tionality require years to learn to carry on
the simplest kind of conversation in English ,
and many never progress beyond that. The
writer of this claims that one hour dally for
six months spent in Ilis classes will enable
n student to gain as good a command of a
language as oven an educated immigrant
will gain in six months so long as ho relies
upon "picking up the language. "
Can a language bo learned without n
teacher ? To learn a language thcro must bo
Intercourse between two or moro minds.
It cannot bo learned out of books alono. Tlio
authors of some text books claim that it can
bo done ; some books aru written to sell , and
sold they aro.tho books as well as the
buyers. Of course , thcro may bo found now
nnd then a particularly apt and diligunt stu
dent who can make HO mo headway with a
book alone , but where ono may succeed 100
at least will fail in the attempt. Thcro are
some who ciuortain the fond expectation of
learning In a few lessons ( and no homo
study ) how to carry On a conversation in a
foreign tongue. Can wo expect them to ap
preciate the workulonp by the Gouin method )
It may bo interestiiijj hero to give a few
historical dates concurniug the introduction
of modern languages us a branch of studj in
the schools of this country. Wo find that
Columbia college established a chair of
French in 17TU and outfof German live years
later. William and lary college introdui-ud
moJcrn languages in Us curriculum in 17s : . ' .
Harvard provided'for a modern language
professorship lu 181.1. The llturuturu uf
these languages was not studied until fifty
years later , about the time when conserva
tive Yale foil Into line and nocordod modern
languages n plat'c beside the classic tongues.
In most of the elder Institutions now and In
all of the moro recently established ones
two or moro of tlio modern l.tmruaxcs are
recognized ns n both desirable and necessary
part of any finished course of study. Until
vury recent times , however , little If any at
tention was given thorn. The relations be
tween this country nnd the European
countries , formerly of a purely diplo
matic and commercial nature , have
boon strengthened latclv by far-reaching
social relations whldi certainly give n great
Impetus to the study of French and German.
In Europe one can scarcely make any claim
to being oven an ordinarily educated person
without having studied thoroughly at least
ono foreign languago. The needs of modern
life are pjromptorlly demanding very much
moro devotion to the modern languages than
has everyH been accorded them , not that
moro time need bo given them than
is now done at the average American college ,
but rather that their knowledge bo moro
widely diffused beyond the college. H lias
been Justly claimed that it is their supreme
Utility which raises them from the status of
an accomplishment and make * them rank as
1111 Integral portion of a liberal education.
Their stud v is also enjoyable and is pecu
liarly well fitted for elaaswork.
Kfpoi.r Hon.
The "No. U" Wheeler & Wilson Is u rapid
stitcher ; so rapid that it will stitch three
.Mirds of goods while only two yardrt nro
l > eini stitched on any vibrating shuttle ma-
ceine. Sold by Ueo. W. Lancaster ifc Co. ,
514 S. Kith street.
The bichloride of gold movement has not
into Kansas politics. A "Keeley ticket
was put up for ritofllcers , at Madison In
that state , nnd was smvessful. every candi
date , all Ki'oley gra luates. being olivte i
Unlike tiie Dutch Process
No Alkalies
Oil
Other Chemicals
are used In the
preparation of
w. IUKEB & co.'s
BrealfastCocoa
tc/i/r/i it nlmnlutelu
] ira mill tillable.
\ Uhwmorr.thnnthrecttmea
1 thestrrnylh of Ci ron mixed
i with Starch , Ariowroot or
, ' Su.ir ( , and Is far moro eco
nomical , casting less than one cent a cnp.
It U dolluioua , nourishing , and EASILY
DIGESTED. .
Solil by ( Irorerx cterynlicre.
W. BAKER & CO. , Dorchester , Mas
( From 1T. S , Journal r/.l/f
Prof.W. II.Pcekpwhomnkcsnf pci mlty of Epilepsy ,
has without doubt treated and cured more cases than
anyllvinfPhysician ; lilnBiicce'siiastonlslim . Wo
liavolioanlofcaspsofSDyearB'ttanillnKCuri'ilhylilin.
JIo iiiblislH'S vnlim ! > \vcirknn tMs JiPcufL'\vhicli ho
pcmN Ith a large bottle c f Ins absolute cure , free to
any tufltTcrlioninyBeiid their I'.O. nnd Kxprcssnil.
drcie.Vo uihljo Anyone wishing a euro to ndilrfpn ,
1'rof. W. H. 1'EEKi : , F. D. , 4 Cedar St. , New York.
IWAS BIG.
I WAS PAT.
I FELT MEAN.
I TOOK PILLS.
! I TOOK SALTS.
I GOT LEAN. .
Hnnclsomo Woman Can Lese Wolgh
Fast. Homely Nlon Look Better
if TliIn. Try Dr. Edison's
System. No Dieting.
Band worth Twloo the Monoy.
Office of H. M. Mill-ton , Hardware , C.-iry Sta
tion. 111. . Jan. U. IS. ) ) .
Dr. Edison Hoar &lr : I urn well pleased with
your treatment of oboslty. The baud U wortli
twice tlio money It cost , for comfort. I h ivo
reduced my wululit tun pounds , I weigh 233
now , and 1 did weigh -13 , Vours truly.
II. M. UUIITON.
They Are Doing Mo Good.
ttarlvllle , 111. , .Mny2l. H.r
IjOrlnKACoi IncIosoJ llml SJ..V ) for which | > ' USD
siinrt mo tlio oilier two bottlui of lr KilUon's i -
Ity I'llln. 1 linvu usodona andthliilc buy nro ill nz
tUoworlf. 8. M. IU1.KV , I' . O. llox ; . .
Talk So Much About Your Pills.
IVorln. III. , June 19. 139 ! .
Denr Sirs : After henrlntt ono or 017 frk'iiU * tnlk so
Such nbout your Olioillr Tills HIU ! tlio honolH ho If
rtorlvlnk' from thorn 1 llilnlt I will try tbem inyolf
1'lu.no sund mu 3 Loltloi c. I ) . I ) . , null oblliiO.
J. Moiiuis. Oi Terry Street.
Fool Better antlWoIgh 13 Pounds Lees
Oonlii-n , Inil. Hopt. 18. 1392.
flontlouion : Inoloicil I ni-ml you II , for which you
nlll plrasu Hunil mothrio liottlusof the uboiltr pllli.
Amttiklim thn fourth bottle nnd fuul very much
bettor and woltfb l.'t pounds Itt-M tbnu irhun t b
taklnu thorn. I will cuntlnuu your trciitmunt.
. . . . ' -
Mils. J. C. .MCL'ON-X ,
South bUth Btrojt.
An Individual wbnno height Is
A feet 1 liii'h should welxti IJ5 pound *
fi feet Sliicliua " lin "
5 fuot 1U Inches " " 170 "
Dr. ICdlson pnyn : "It nny bo well to point out
thnt In my uipprlunco , which Is nccpnanrlly Tory
conMduruble , many troublunomosklu dUeiixo.1 such ,
eei'szfmin , 'n/onu. p40rlutlt , utlcnrla. vie . are prim
arily ciunoil by uhrMty , and n < tbi ) fat and 11 h li
reduced by the pills and Oucilty Fruit Suit an i the
action of the band thuio atfootloni ham almost
magically dlnappoarod "
Tlio Dboslty Fruit Snlt It used In connection with
Iho I'llls or Hands , ur both. Ono t'laipuonlid In a
tumbler of vratur mukiM a dollcloui aoiM. T.ntOJ
Ilku champalEiio.
The baimcim tl .V ) evich for any loiu'tli up to 3) )
Inche" . bufor on linvr tbun ' > ' Incliei udd 10
tents ultra fur inch iMdltlonal lnci. !
1'rlfe of Fruit Snlt. $1.0) .
Tills it.M I'i'r llottln. or : l llnttlut lor f 1.01
. * ent by Mall or ISxpros <
Cut this out ami ko'-p It. nnd oud fur our f ull ( J
coluuin rtlclo on cb ltr.
MhNTIUN ADDItKSS KXAUTI.V ASUIVKN
1IKI.OW.
Loring & Company.
3 Hamilton I'l . Dupt 2H. lloston. Mnir , 115 State
fit . l ) pt 'a. ChlcaKO. 111. , 43 W. flna Ht. , Dept 24 ,
New York City.
For sale in Omaha by Snow ,
Lund & Co.
_ _ _
Geisler's Bird Store.
Kec * Ivod DOW following warranted tlrnt-clas
Imported Oorinun Canurios
i 60 oach.
Kiixllib rud Cumulus , $15.03 a
unlr.
nifllah M/zard Cntmrlo ? ,
1IVOO ik piiir.
' i" iinon Ounnrlos ,
p i
ololiiicliPfiKloonnoh
Illi. "It hitudod NiKlit-
. .
IV ulii. Mi : hi.lnu'ules , n.ou
inioli.
Toxiis Ked birds , tt : V > rmcli.
GEISLER'S BIRD STORE
SON. loth Street. Omaha.
- < BEST AND GOES FARTHEST )
permit of Its Instantaneous preparation and render it
Highly Dlgastlblo aim Nutritious.
tc OPPORTUNITY
has winged feet ; " it is "a ship
which never anchors. " This is an
opportunity to see an entirely
new stock of
CARPETS and DRAPERIES
an opportunity to look without
feeling obliged to buy. A few
minutes among our curtains and
curtain materials will assist you if
you do your own draping , and
may assist us if you arc going to
have it done.
There are some new and novel
things in laces , dainty and beauti
ful in effect , at ordinary prices.
Carpets too ; luxurious if you
can , moderate in price if you
must , but all selected new for
good taste ; it will certainly be
profitable for you to see them if
you intend refurnishing.
ORCHARD & WILHELM
CARPET CO. ,
*
Successors to S. A. Orchard ,
Douglas St , , bet. 14th and 15th.
Oi the small winged , narrow pointed collars ? We show you
below an illustration of collar of much wider points and fuller
front , in different widths , which is a very stylish and popular
shape for the current season. You will find it the correct thing1
and will like it.
Cluett Brand Natona , Narrow ;
Wauscka , Medium ;
25c. Ncsota , Wide ,
Goon Brand
Chinook , Medium.
2Oc.
The "Monarch" Sblrt ! the one gou
. CLOETT COON & CO ,
houtd vcenr II gou trout ootlsfactlon. ,
U31G 7.Joug/ns Stroat , Oninhn , Nob.
IXACT size COMMC It-TAUT
THE MERCANTILE CIGAR , BETTER THAN EVER !
MM do nl" ( hit llurst quality ill' Htmum Tulmi'ru Hintnn l > ImuKlit. In -
-nn Kqunl rirrjrrsjiri t to Ilia
. . . . . .
Vt.t luivurtttt clfarMuuuluctirid liy U. K. .KICK MUUCVtNTlLil ! CIGAll I'.VLTOllY. Ht. I.o'il.
Omaha Loan and Trust Co
SAVINGS BANK.
SIXTEENTH AND DOUGLAS STREETS.
Capita ! $100 Liability of Siockholdsrs , $200.000
. f P M T Intrrmt mid on SIX MON'PlHi . 4 i O3r O3nl oiiTIIUUR
5DFTD on IN I , MONTHS'oarniioitesof . Dopom. 4 par OJi-lt IntoroU paid
aBBUUJaEaaxnsaaBBfam tn iianlme.'ounts
PROTECT hm IMPROVE YOUR SBOHT.
, Onr Suectacles and Eyeglasses Are the Best. )
EYES TESTED FREE , SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
F."pONDERrMgr. OMAHA OPTSOai CO. , 222S. 16thSt. ' , ;
" '
23S2ZZK32
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