The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-06-02
Anecdotes OF the Great Student OF
Church History.
From the Chicago Post

tory" was as remarkable for eccentricity
as he was for erudtion. A Chicago
artist was formerly an attendant at
Neander's lectures, and he narrates
some curious incidents of the disting-
uished scholar. Many We're attracted
TO his lectures at the Berlin University
as much by the amusement afforded in
his singular personal appearance and
odd, grotesQue manner, as by the elo-
ouent instruction that poured from his
lips in a strong, rapid, unbroSen flow of
language. He was short and slight in
| figure, and had strongly marked Jewish
features, with bushy eyebrows that
! looked like a heavy moustache above
the small dark eyes which glowed under
excitement in their deepest caverns.
He was always carelessly dressed and
usually had his pantaloons thrust into
the tops of his boots. At the hour of
his lecture he would hurrieoly rush
upon the platform. take his stand be.
hind the desk, rest his elbows upon it,
and with his opening sentences COM
mence series of curious plunging
movements back and forward, which
never ceased until he had done speak.
! ing. At the same time his fingers would
be employed in picking to pieces
quill with which some one took care to
provide him. tearing it up with an APP
parently instructive method in his mad
ness, for the instant the last bit was re.
duced TO the smallest possible fragment,
he would abruptly dart from the room,
and the lecture and quill were ended
together.
. he toll ;,,%0 ~ 90
! fixing his eyes throughout the discourse
upon the spot left vacant by button
upon the coat of a poor student, whose
custom it was to sit directly before him.
But it Glanced that one night the stu
dents landlady replaced the missing
button. The next day when Neander
had taken his position before the class
and opened his lips 70 speak, he sud-
denly paused, bewildered, perplexed,
confounded. The blank spot on the
students coat where his eye was accus-
toned to find rest. was occupied by
button The old association was pain
fully interrupted, and he was unable to
command his thoughts and utter them
in speech until the student had cut off
the intrusive button and restored the
accustomed target TO his rigid gaze.
His habit OF abstraction was so great
that he had very little consciousness of
what was going on around him. The
book he was reading. the thought he
was meditating absorbed his mind to
the exclusion of ali outward circum-
stances. The maiden sister, who for
years was his companion and house
keeper. and who gave him that watch
g,,1 Il, II,
generally accompanied him to and from
the University. in order to insure his
safety during the passage. She would
take him by the arm u if he were a
helpless urchin. and lead him along the
street 10 his destination.
ON one occasion. however. he hap
pened 70 be unattended and heavy
rain was pouring as he left the Univer-
sity. Catching up broom which stood
where he had deposited his umbrella,
he elevated it above his head and strobe
off oblivious of the torrents which de-
luged him, and of the students who
followed to laugh at the strange specta.
Gle.
When about TO take up his residence
in Berlin. Neander. requested friend
70 secure him lodgings nea" the Univer-
sity, for the sake OF convenience and
the economy of his time. On the first
morning of his installment in his new
home. the friend in question called and
proposed walk about the city during
the hour preceding his lecture. At its
conclusion he babe good morning to
Neander at the door Of the University
The same friend called again few days
90 Il l.,;, i -
had not procured him the desired lodg-
ings in the vicinity Of the University !;
too much Of his time was consumed in
the walk back and forth. Ny God !!
Neander, how could you be nearer 2"
exclaimed his friend. pointing through
the window TO the building which stood
opposite Poor Neander had been daily
traversing the circutous route he had
taken on the morning of his arrival,
and thus had wasted an hour of his
precious time reaching the University
across the street.
Invitations were once issued to a
grand party to be given by Neander
The evening arrived, the guests assem-.
bled. the rooms were full, but where
was Neander? There arose great in
quiry which increased to anxiety. and
at length led to an agitated search in
every nook and corner of the dwelling
At last Neander was discovered perched
on top of Que of the book cases in the
library. buried in a folio volume. He
had climbed up some time in the after
noon to consult the work. and losing
himself in its pages set down on the
spot. forgetful of everything. a SER
want came in. removed the step ladder,
lit the gas and opened the room, which
gradually filled with company. All
this had transpired beneath him with.
out disturbing Neander or bringing him
to his senses. Like Sir Isaac Newton
and many other eminent thinkers. he
had no power to bring himself to bear
upon the world except through books.
IT Is SAID that the Princess of Wales
is looking thin and worn, and that her
lovely face is so full of sadness as to be
pathetic. This face may yet tell against