260 Darwinism and Other Essays. 



forms of the noun or verb, before we have been 

 introduced to a single sentence in which these 

 forms are presented. In mute dismay we con 

 template ingeniously framed rules of syntax, be 

 fore we have been shown a glimpse of the facts 

 upon which these rules depend. We get the gen 

 eralization before the particulars, the abstract be 

 fore the concrete ; we learn to repeat formulas 

 before we have the notions needful for rilling 

 them. As a natural result, our Latin and Greek 

 seem very difficult. To enhance our perplex 

 ity, the same thing is generally introduced to us 

 under different names, or, quite as often, differ 

 ent things under the same name. We are told 

 that the genitive in Greek denotes possession, and 

 next that it likewise denotes origin, and again 

 that it denotes separation. We are informed that 

 the Latin genitive, primarily denoting possession, 

 may, however, if of the first or second declension 

 and singular number, be used to signify place, an 

 idea conveyed by the ablative also, which for the 

 time being kindly neglects its proper function of 

 expressing removal. The genitive, moreover, may 

 express one kind of resemblance, another kind 

 being, by a mysterious dispensation of Providence, 

 indicated by the dative. Even if all these cum 

 brous rules for learning ancient languages were 



