“But, man, in a college for the instruction of youth—however, let us return to our subject. In the three years you have studied Aztec, have you learned to speak it?”
“No, sir; by no means.”
“Then, what have you learned?”
“The philosophy and richness of the Aztec tongue.”
“But you must have studied the four divisions of Aztec grammar—analogy, syntax, prosody, and orthography—and by this complete study arrived at an understanding of the philosophy and richness of the language.”
“No, sir.”
“But have you not had a public examination?”
“Yes, sir; but those who were publicly examined in past years, have as little, made a complete study of the grammar, but have also learned the philosophy and richness of the Mexican tongue.”
“Come! let us see. How many years has the chair of the Aztec language been established in the Seminario at Guadalajara?”
“About thirty.”
“And during about thirty years has some priest gone forth from the institution to preach to the Indians in their native language?”
“Why, no sir! During the thirty years what has been, and is, learned is the philosophy and richness of the Aztec language. You must have seen the precious little work, by my professor, upon the beauty and richness of the Aztec language, elegantly bound, which was sent to the Paris Exposition.”