New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-27
RULLOFF, THE LEARNED MURDRpp,
INTERVIEW OF PROF. MATTER OF hNrrppsr 40,
LEGE-HIs ACCOUNT OF THE PRISONER W.
From The Sprlngd>h Prpalyt,as


LEGE-HIs ACCOUNT OF TIE Ic,Isoyyp WI
From The Springfield Rcpus't1s
My visit was not one Of idle curios;,v g.
one OF my colleagues In the College fad shown me- M.
some SOME months since; criticism Of RtloTs-wnhss
Years ago, when he was In the state Prison =,
ton ~ " upon parts Of Prof Tayer Iewiss eS
,ntnre %, one OF Patos dialogues which had warmly
about O'Clock, the advocate and I went doun
on9 prson; and the genemanly High Sheriff al ono
The doomed man at first refused as he had done %, E
10 an yisors, but when told that was student ss
teacher OF Creek he at consented he approase
the heavy latticed iron door and asked very
couu Ielnan long enough tolea something Of the lean
ueso1 bs theory Of language Without replying Itns
10 the onlcer and asked if might be permitted 70 ~,
the cell lie said yes and proceeded TO unlock fbe m
sye padlocks 1t was long narrow granite bail, ,n
but high, and furnished with plenty Of t aS ooin'
AS we entered, Ruloh approached with two dianiSaaa
chairs, and with the winning conrresy ask VA "a
be seated and offered TO relieve me OF NV hat no ~,
DOWN on ms rude pallet opposite me- and told him tai
mad seen the criticism referred 10 above and thar "a
desired to learn how he bad acquired his kpowed -
the old languages. He replied with a smile thar he 10
college or university but that from boybood he Ia
had most intense interest I'm the beauty and the repb
OF tue Greek tongue lie complained that he had been
and wanted me 70 satisfy mysei on that, and
then near what ne had to say about the for
text books could not examine him, Vt ch he reoneS
that many Of the classical authors lie kng by heart and
would try and repeat portions IL wOulk suggest whers
he should begin Thinking that somk hing from tie
Memorabilia might be appropriate to his resen nj needs
suggested the third chapter first book there the SENT
mens OF Socrates with reference 10 od az dnt in tbi
paTy and n d1 l SIe approach 50 Biblical
of the work. we'll the niad Of Homer and some
Of the plays OF sophocles he showed gat familiarity
WITH Then in order to show his thOrOughness he cr
esed the common rendering Of certain passage and bs
did it with such subtety and discrimination and
elegance TO show that his critical study OF
these nicer points was more remarkable than his
powers Of memory in fact | should say that
the marked characteristic of his mind On one or two
passages Of Homer IN particular he showed great acute
of criticism, and most thorough appreciation OF
the grandeur OF the sentiment One two renderngs
OF President FELTON, he opposed most vigorously. and
when supported the common version he quoted from
range OF classics to confirm his view. His theory OF
language cannot enter upon here for II is too subtle for
the general reader 1t is original Is quite contrary
TO the established views upon comparative pmology and
probably will never be OF any practical use Most per-
sons think MN mononladG upon Is anu oer tlRy
his enthusiasm Is most remarkable lie sat there IN hs
chains Just sentenced by the highest court 10 dle on tbs
galows, and without word, or apparently Thought
theory as though he wrestling for his life and waa
determined to win. He IS anxious to have philologiss
examine the manuscript Of his work he urged me TO
with several such men, and take me TO sec whether
his theory is true He asked my pardon for the apparent
that this theory OF language was special revelation 70
him. and that perhaps hundred years might eapse ere
il would be known again. aud then added sgnlfcanty,
And you know that whatever Is done must be done
quickly" In. .,A. -.
NJ robust build and is apparently yerng 80 years OF
age not all the broken old man ne mas Deeh repre-
sented He has singular face, not yllatus OF grossly
sensual nor is it scholarly The features strongly
marked aud full OF sinister meaning IL Is race thas
Won could not forget and yet would not care to think
about His eye which Is dark hazel, had heard was
the striking feature, but 1t did not impress me so per
hans because it showed struggle and suffering Ihe pad
lines i'm his face TO about his chin aud iorehesd
and his neck is very short, and stout ana heaVy, IN
manners he ia very urbane and natural and he conVeses
with great facility and elegance; HIS voice Is mellow
and pleasant and occasionally showed tones OF tender
ness But for that do not believe the man has any te
derness for language In looking at HIM you woau
never imagine him loving human being, and you
would be that his hatred would be impacable. lie
H. certainly enigma, and offers in himst II powerful
argument against the theory that educaohis alone sum
Gent lead to true manhood. Those who would throw
out moral and Biblical teaching from systems Of cul
ture have a difficult task to harmonic their theory with
such character as this. Here is profound and appre
catve student Of all that is beautiful and glorious In
classical learning working for years phologis and
with a zeal rarely equaed; and yet all the time living
life OF crime dark and terrible any criminal In
our land lie shows that culture and true manhood
can only be by development Of the moral sense, and
that educate the heart as fast as we educate tho