The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-05
JOSEPH ADDISON ALEXANDER. d. d.

with amazement, not unmingled with certain
kind OF awe. 1t is the record of one whose thirst
for knowledge from early childhood to the day OF
his death, was Unsuitable; who began the study OF
the Latin language when he was four years old /;
who could read Hebrew letters when he was about
six, and entered upon its regular study when ten,
and about the same tine was rapidly learning
Arabic, and perhaps Persian and Syriac; and all
this without an instructor
The following is general statement of his at
tainments in languages before he died.
He knew profoundly, that is, read wrote and
spoke well, English, Latin, German, French, ltal-
ian, Spanish, Portuguese.
He knew profoundly as phiologist, and read
without helps, and wrote, but did not speak, 1. e.,
not fsmiliarly, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Greek,
Romaic Chaldee, Ethiopic Dutch, Sanscrit,
Danish
He knew profoundly as philologst, and read
with ease, with the help of lexicons-Polish, Swe
dish. He had also pretty good knowledge Of
Chinese, and Hindostanee, and some others.
In short he spoke not less than six different Ian.
guages; he knew profoundly and wrote certainly
thirteen and possibly twenty. He knew profoundly
as philologst and read with ease, with the help
of lexicons, not less than twenty-one. In all, he
knew more or less, between twenty five and thirty.
One of the most remarkable facts illustrating
his amazing memory and well dgested information
is given by his brother, the Rev. Samuel D. Alex
ander, D. D., of New York. He says:
1.-THE greater part of the commentaries on the
Psalms, the Acts, and Mark, were written in New
York. During the winter amidst the pressure of
professional labor, he found time to read and digest
all known commentaries on the book in hand, and
then when his vacation began, he would proceed
to New York, leaving his books behind him, and
in his room in hotel or in my study, would write
from eight clock in the morning until five in the
afternoon" In Princeton, while preparing his
subject, have seen thirty commentaries open be-
fore him at once. But in New York he would
have nothing but his Hebrew Bible and Greek
Testament and have never seen him use Lex
icon at these times. | once asked him, How can
you get along without your commentaries on these
difficult pointsY He answered, | know what
| they all have said.
When the character of his commentaries and
the number Of references is considered, the power
of his memory is surprising.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Hodge mentions this fact
More than once he has come into my study, and
then taken sheet of paper and written down in
alphabetical order the first, middle Names and the
surnameS of thirty or forty students, after having
heard them called over the day before promiscu.
ously in the process of naturalization"
But it would be great mistake to suppose it
was mere memory, such as is sometimes found in
persons of but feeble intellect His mental power
was prodigious in any direction, upon any subject
to which he chose to apply it. DR.. Hodge says
Taking him all in all, he was certainly the most
gifted man with whom have ever been personally
acquainted.
This biography will correct many erroneous i'm
pressions abroad concerning the peculiarities be.
longing to DR.. Alexander. They were indeed very
marked-some of them very curious. But it is
altogether mistake to think he was at all misan.
| thropic. The evidence is accumulated, showing
how entirely he was the opposite of this. He was
indeed a recluse from childhood passionatey ad-
dicted to study he had also strong constitutional
shyness of strangers-such as belonged to Cowper.
But it would be hard to find another man who felt
deeper and more kindly sympathy for his fellow
men, who knew better what was going on in the
world among all classes of people. A man who
could so completely win the hearts of little chill
dren wherever he went, and who all his life revealed
in their society, could not be morose. His sympa.
thies with what was occurring in society were as
keen those of any who mingled thoroughly with it.
Among his friends no one could be more genial,
affectionate companion, overlooking with CONVEX
sation, full Of humor, but full also of the refined,
pure hearted gentleman and Christian. DR.. Hall,
of Trenton, n j., who was an intimate and life
long friend, says: II never knew any one in whose
native honesty could so con6de. He seemed to
have been born honest
His tact and ability as teacher in the Theolo-
gical Seminary-his great power as preacher
the brilliant reviews he wrote sometimes of scorch-
ing sarcasm-are all presented in most interest
ing manner.
If time permitted we should like to remark par
ticularly upon the fine common sense which be-
longed to DR.. Alexander. No man of his day had
superior judgment.
The home, Uieo, however, is the most charming
in the whole picture No man S heart ever cleaved
with more tenderness to his fathers house. While
his vast requirements and acknowledged intellec-
tual ascendency command respect, and almost in.
spire us with ave. it is impossible that such man,
with heart so pure, so generous, so full of love,
should not awaken return of love in ours
When we think of what this great and good man
was permitted to do for the Church, it should ill
us with gratitude to Him who in ascending on high
gave such gifts unto men" When we remem-
Der that he died at the early age of fifty two years
Just when the fruits of long, intense study and
of amazing mental powers had begun to ripen,
and consider how great, how rich the ingathering,
had he been spared to the years of his venerable
father, the loss seems irreparable. But infinite
wisdom knew what was best, and while thankful
for this gift, we should be content that it was
transferred.
The work of the biographer should not be left
unnoticed; and yet no extended remarks seem ne
cessary. We have, in fact, been so absorbed in
the subject as to forget the manner in which it is
presented. And perhaps this is as high an enco,
MUM as an author can receive. The impression
was, indeed received at first, that the evidence il
Illustrating the various qualities of this extraordi-
nary man was accumulated too much. But upon
second thought this impression is removed. DR..
Alexander was man so peculiar in his character,
and so wonderful in his endowments, that we do
not grow tired in hearing what great number of
competent contemporaries have to say about him
each presenting some fact, or some view not given
by the others These have been skillfully wrought
in, as occasion offered, and with happy effect
The labor of digesting this great mass of testi-
mony, and of Intervening notices of cotempora.
neous events casting side-lights upon the main
subject, has been one which can never be appre,
ciated by those unacquainted with it. In our can
did Judgment the work of biographer is neither
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