LATIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1659, 9 January 1917, Page 4

LATIN.

Mr Dawson, Chief Inspector of Schools in New South Wales, did not see why a hoy should be debarred from a university education because he had not passed an examination in Latin. —News item. 0 listen to the tale of William Bloggs, Whose father said, ‘Tie’ll be an engineer,” Because he had a gift for cranks and cogs — At eight years old a motor he could steer; But Willie’s young ambitions were a flam, He sacrificed his early dreams of bliss I Because he couldn’f say “Mensa, mensam. ; Mensae, mensas, mensarum, and mensis.” So Willie's genius otherwise was turned — He read “Campaigns of Ilindenburg and Haig"; The martial flame was fierce altho* a trifle vague. Again professors branded him an ass, He never led an army at the front, Because he didn’t know “Amo, minis, Amavi, amavisti, amabunt." “To heal the sick” his father cried, “is grand” — Young William heard the speech, and made a vow To cut appendices with a steady hand 1 And smooth with pills the sufferer’s anguished brow. But still the sore appendix hangs atlame, The chemist’s pills unsold are still a. Joss, Since Willie didn’t know (oh, fact of shame!) ’ That “bovis was the genitive of “bos.” “Make the young cub a dentist!” cried his dad. “A blooming ivory-snatcher — that’s not so bad!” But still (hey said, “First give him his degree! Where’s his diploma ? ’Tis the golden rule, No boy cun plant a spud or shear a lamb Unless he knows before he leaves his school \ ‘Mensa, mensa, mensae, menV sara.’ ” —Sydney Sun.