258 Darwinism and Other Essays. 



are well known as men of wide literary culture 

 and trained judgment. 



The opinions of such men upon the subject of 

 classical education are entitled to respectful con 

 sideration ; and when we find among them the 

 most complete unanimity in the declaration that 

 a large part of the classical instruction now given 

 in English universities is utterly worthless, and 

 ought to be replaced by a course in physical sci 

 ence, we cannot set aside the judgment on the 

 plea of ignorant prejudice. Let not Philistinism 

 clap its hands too hastily, however ; for the ob 

 ject of this Cambridge book is, not to supersede, 

 but to complement, classical studies. It declares, 

 not against the study of antiquity (Alterthums- 

 wissenschaft), but against the pedantry with which 

 that study is now carried on ; and one of the 

 ablest essays in the volume is devoted to showing 

 that physical science is habitually taught with 

 quite as much pedantry as any branch of ancient 

 learning. 



The long career of irrational stultification, 

 through defect in the method of instruction, is 

 usually begun in our school-days. Most countries 

 have rivers running through them ; and in study 

 ing elementary geography, we are expected duly 

 to learn their courses. Many countries are inter 



