Channing I am describing
him and his method in instruction faithfully as it seemed
to me at the time. It is quite possible I may be wrong. I
am sure that the better scholars and the youths who were much
better in every way than I was at that time of my life who
were his pupils will dissent from my opinion and be shocked
at what I say. So it is quite likely that I am in fault and
not he. I have read again lately his book on Rhetoric and
Oratory since what I said a little while ago was dedicated,
and I wish to reaffirm my high opinion of the book. For fresh,
racy and correct style, for clear perception and exquisite
literary taste, it is one of the best books on the subject,
as it one of the best books on any subject ever written by
an American. His mistake was, in large measure, the prevalent
mistake of the College in his time,--the use of ridicule and
severity instead of sympathy as a means of correcting the
faults incident to youth. It was the fault of the College,
both of instructors and of the students. Dr. Walker in one
of his public addresses speaks with commendation of "the storm
of merciless ridicule" which overwhelms young men who are
addicted to certain errors which he is criticising.

The Latin professor was Charles Beck, Ph.D. He was a native
of Heidelberg. He had been compelled to leave Prussia because
of his love of liberty. He had studied theology, and had
published a treatise on gymnastics, in which he was accomplished.
We read with him Terence and Plautus, the Medea of Seneca,
Horace, and probably some Latin prose, which I have forgotten.
He was a very learned Latin scholar. I do not know whether
he cared anything about poetry or eloquence or the philosophy
of the Roman authors or no. Certainly he did nothing to indicate
to us that he had any such interest or to stimulate any such
interest in his pupils. He was strict to harshness in dealing
with his class. The only evidence of enthusiasm I ever witnessed
in Dr. Beck was this: He brought into the classroom one day
an old fat German with very dirty hands and a dirty shirt.
He had a low forehead and a large head with coarse curling
hair which looked as if it had not seen a comb or brush for
a quarter of a century. We looked with amazement at this
figure. He went out before the recitation was over. But
Dr. Beck said to us: "This is Dr. ----, gentlemen. He is
a most admiwable scholar." (This was the Doctor's pronunciation
of the r