ilst
the child, whether at work or play, never ceases to study and practice
its native language, and this is by far its principal occupation, the
youth and man, on the other hand, devote to the study of a foreign
language, the remnants, the odds and ends of their time, after having
exhausted their energies in their work.

These were the considerations that occurred to me on thinking over Mr.
Rodger's prospectus. Nevertheless, it was impossible to regard as
satisfactory a method of tuition or study, which left the pupil unable to
understand or speak a language after having gone through a grammar like
that of Otto. The Grammatical Method being one which does not seek to
render easy and simple at the cost of efficiency, by eluding and evading
the difficulties and peculiarities of a language, but being the one which
fairly meets and masters them: there can be no question of dispensing
with its valuable assistance. The wise course is to adopt that method of
using it, which will enable us to derive most benefit from its teachings,
and ensure success. It is for this purpose the following has been
written. It follows from this, that if the pupil's time admit, the most
complete Grammar is the best.

We have been amongst the most backward in this branch of study, but our
grammars since then have been largely borrowed from our more successful
competitors; from those who excelled as much in modern languages as we
ourselves in industry. They are in many instances the work of foreign
specialists and experts, they are the very instruments of success used by
our most successful rivals, how then can they be inadequate? Translation
has put us into possession of the best works used by our foreign rivals,
and if we are less successful than they, it is due, as a Swiss
correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" recently stated, not to the
superior aptitude, but to the superior application of the foreigner.

The writer first commenced studying foreign languages nearly forty years
ago, and has resided for nearly twenty years in various foreign
countries. His experience with regard to those who learn foreign
languages has been that those who commence the practice of a foreign
language with a previous knowledge of its Grammar, learn to speak it with
an ease, confidence and correctness never attained by those who try to
dispense with such preparation and study. On the other hand those who
have learnt to speak without such study, contra