Eudora Welty reflects on her transformative experience with Latin during her first year of high school. Her teacher introduced her to the complexities and beauty of grammar, which sparked a deep love for language. Through learning Latin, she developed a genuine appreciation for the nuances of words, enhancing her understanding and creativity in writing.

Welty describes how this linguistic journey allowed her to build sentences with clarity and strength, akin to the sturdy Mississippi State Capitol. The process of crafting sentences became a passion, leading to a profound connection with the written word that she treasures to this day.