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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 86
of 154
pretty equally, we thus beat one another into that language. I afterwards with a
little painstaking, acquir'd as much of the Spanish as to read their books also.
I have already mention'd that I had only one year's instruction in a Latin
school, and that when very young, after which I neglected that language
entirely. But, when I had attained an acquaintance with the French, Italian, and
Spanish, I was surpriz'd to find, on looking over a Latin Testament, that I
understood so much more of that language than I had imagined, which encouraged
me to apply myself again to the study of it, and I met with more success, as
those preceding languages had greatly smooth'd my way.
From these circumstances, I have thought that there is some inconsistency in our
common mode of teaching languages. We are told that it is proper to begin first
with the Latin, and, having acquir'd that, it will be more easy to attain those
modern languages which are deriv'd from it; and yet we do not begin with the
Greek, in order more easily to acquire the Latin. It is true that, if you can
clamber and get to the top of a staircase without using the steps, you will more
easily gain them in descending; but certainly, if you begin with the lowest you
will with more ease ascend to the top; and I would therefore offer it to the
consideration of those who superintend the education of our youth, whether,
since many of those who begin with the Latin quit the same after spending some
years without having made any great proficiency, and what they have learnt
becomes almost useless, so that their time has been lost, it would not have been
better to have begun with the French, proceeding to the Italian, etc.; for,
tho', after spending the same time, they should quit the study of languages and
never arrive at the Latin, they would, however, have acquired another tongue or
two, that, being in modern use, might be serviceable to them in common life.
After ten years' absence from Boston, and having become easy in my
circumstances, I made a journey thither to visit my relations, which I could not
sooner well afford. In returning, I call'd at Newport to see my brother, then
settled there with his printing-house. Our former differences were forgotten,
and our meeting was very cordial and affectionate. He was fast declining in his
health, and requested of me that, in case of his death, which he apprehended not
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