Poetry and criticism.

The Greek custom of training the young to commit to memory as much as possible of the writings of classical poets cannot be too much commended,nor can there be a greater mistake than to substitute the writings of minor and inferior poets, on the supposition that they will be more intelligible and attractive. The full meaning, it is true, of what is learned will not be understood, nay perhaps little more than the sensuous charm of harmonious numbers, and what is most obvious in significance will appeal ; but, as the application of heat brings out the characters of some forms of secret writing, so life's progressive experience will decipher wisdom and beauty and power where almost all that attracted before were the graces of style and the music of rhythm.