• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: Musings on an Old-Time Liberal Education

By RD Blakeslee

Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife

An early 19th century liberal education mandated studies in classical literature, now abandoned — and sometimes scorned — in most “universities.”

Grandfathers Father, Ralph the First, studied for the ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where Greek and Hebrew were part of the curriculum. Grandfather was about four years old.

Ralph the First would pace the floor, reciting his lessons and, as youngsters that age do, Grandfather absorbed it and was a source of amusement from time to time, pacing the floor and reciting Greek and Hebrew.

But it didn’t stick and Grandfather remembers none of it now. But, virtuous soul that he is, he does remember a little of the Latin he studied in high school: amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant (that is: I love, you love, he/she loves, etc.).

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

March 5, 2020

Comments

  1. 1

    Jason says

    I remember Mrs. Mullis, my high school Latin teacher, dancing around the classroom, clapping and stomping as she sang amo amas amamus amatis amant and eram eras erat eramus eratis erant.

    Personally, I’d be much happier if the schools taught such exotic things as penmanship, math, and how to show up for work on time.

    • 2

      RD Blakeslee says

      Jason, WolfStreet.com’s commentary has a regular who posts as “Paulo”. He thinks as you and I do and his posts are always interesting. There are so few of us represented in the financial blogs that, when we find a kindred spirit, it’s worth noting.

      • 3

        RD Blakeslee says

        Re the things you’d like to see taught: I remember penmanship from the first grade – carefully formed connected cursive letters. But, very few anymore do what Li’l Abner (In Al Capp’s comic strip “Dogpatch” ca. 1935 – early fifties) called “Writ by hand!” I agree about math, but would settle for ordinary arithmetic.

        Showing up (anywhere) on time has been mostly a skill taught within the family and, since families are (deliberately) on the way out, promptness will remain a lost virtue, I think.

  2. 4

    RD Blakeslee says

    Every age has had its contemporary “conventional wisdom”.

    Just now, it’s how to take the WOO HOO! halo bug. Officiously:

    “Pro tip: Scrub wet hands with soap for at least 20 seconds (humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.”

    https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-protect-yourself-handwashing-912482f1-cbdb-489f-bb5d-3ad4b6150382.html

    Maybe we should sing “Ring Around the Rosie” while washing hands – it is said to have been sung during the great plagues of Europe in centuries past.

    http://www.sewerhistory.org/miscellaneous/the-history-of-a-nursery-rhyme-ring-around-the-rosie/

The Question of the Week:

Did you buy any fireworks to celebrate Independence Day this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • 100 Words On: Why You Should Never Ever Be Afraid of Failure
  • How to Retire Five Years Earlier Than You May Think You Can
  • 11 Dollar Store Bargains You’d Be Crazy to Buy Anywhere Else
  • What to Look for When Purchasing a Medical Alert System
  • What Everyone Should Know Before Depositing Their Money In a Bank
  • Black Coffee: Born on the 4th of July
  • How To Start Investing In Cryptocurrencies
  • Grandfather Says: The Travails of Working with Stone
  • 5 Expert Tips for Saving Money with a Credit Card
  • How to Implement Strategic Planning Processes

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
  2. 2. Series I Savings Bonds Are Now Paying 9.62%; Here Are Their Pros & Cons
  3. 3. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  4. 4. 7 Big Reasons Why a Roth IRA Isn’t the Best Way to Save for Retirement
  5. 5. 3 Ways That Great Sleep Helps You Get Richer
  6. 6. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  7. 7. How to Save Money on Dental Care So You Won’t Go Broke at the Dentist
  8. 8. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  9. 9. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022