"
"Allen says it is so now."
"Allen may be a better judge of the present state of things, but I
should think there was always a studious set who were respectable."
"Besides," proceeded Bobus, warming with his subject, "I see no good
in nothing but classics. I don't care what ridiculous lies some old
man who never existed, or else was a dozen people at once, told about
a lot of ruffians who never lived, killing each other at some place
that never was. I like what you can lay your finger on, and say it's
here, it's true, and I can prove it, and explain it, and improve on
it."
"If you can," said Mr. Ogilvie, struck by the contrast with the
little brother.
"That's what I want to do," said Bobus; "to deal with real things,
not words and empty fancies. I know languages are necessary; but if
one can read a Latin book, and understand a Greek technical term,
that's all that is of use. If my uncle won't let me study physical
science in Germany, I had rather go on here, where I can be let alone
to study it for myself."
"I do not think you understand what you would throw away. What is
the difference between Higg, the bone-setter, and Dr. Leslie?"
"Higg can do that one thing just by instinct. He is uneducated."
"And in a measure it is so with all who throw themselves into some
special pursuit without waiting for the mind and character to have
full training and expansion.
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