Word: uselessly
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...again, it is not the instruction in itself that I decry, it is the generalization of this instruction, its application to all. Had we, in connection with the classical studies, some system of professional instruction corresponding to the Real Schulen of the Germans, we should not see so many useless individuals, so many fruits secs as they are called. We should find advantage in having the mass of our young men, instead of pursuing exclusively the dead languages, learning the living ones; instead of comparing Latin orations, perfecting themselves in the study of French; instead of giving themselves...
...this aversion has also other causes. It does not proceed alone from the method of instruction, but from the very nature of the subjects taught. We are forced to study wholly useless subjects, several centuries old, which custom retains in the University courses without other reason that that of their antiquity. Of what value are Latin verses? Of what utility Greek themes? Above all, of what earthly use are Latin orations? And why even orations, and always orations? Have n't we already enough fine speakers? Have not we Frenchmen already too strong an inclination to give ourselves...
...little affected, but those large portions of what is known as the Christian world, who build much upon ritual and the reverence due to antiquity, will suffer grievously, - a fact which deserves to be considered by all sentiment-destroyers. We must lose, too, or rather throw away, as useless and not money-making, that large part of history which teaches us so little, being mainly occupied in pandering to our taste for sentiment of a venerable sort, which has come down unharmed through many years...
...labor of the antiquary, too, except in so far as it throws light upon "useful" points in history, must be condemned at once. If there still exists an old curiosity shop in some unsuspected and hardly useful spot, let it be dismantled at once. Out with the useless lumber, - it will make firewood at least, - and away to the poor-house with the doting old fool who sleeps in a Mayflower bed and pokes his fire with a blade of Damascus...
...long list of great things which we owe to sentiment, but the lesser ones are dearer to us. I know, my dear Magenta, that I am a person of very small consequence, that my literary contributions are but little valued by you, but must I give up as useless even the few mementos of consideration and regard which I cherish with so much care? Must I light my fire with the paper which contains a record of my one College office? May I not feel sentiment? Nay, may I not grow sentimental (utilitarians may sneer if they choose) over...