The New York herald., 1871-04-24
RULLOFF, THE LEARNED MURDERER.
Ills Interview with Professor NIathcr. of AM
herst College.

Ills Interview with Professor NIathcr. of Ann
herst College.
Professor Mather. OF Amherst College, gives the
Springfield Republican, the following account OF q
visit 10 the murderer RulloI IN his oell:--
The visit was not one or Idle curiosity, for one OF
ny colleagues IN the college had shown me, some
months since. criticism OF Ruof's-writien years
ago, when he was IN the state Prison at Auourn,
\. T., upon parts OF Professor rayler Lewis edition
OF one OF flato'5 Dialogues. when had warmly In.
terested me In his scholarship.
TIE next morning about nine O'Clock. the advo-
eaie and Went down 10 the prison, and the gentle
manly high sheriu al once consented 10 the inter-
view, II Kullon was willing. The doomed iuan at
nIst refused, AS he nad done OF ate all visitors,
teacher OF Greek ne at once consented.
he approached the heavy lattlced iron door
ana and asked very pohteiy II ! conld remain
long enough 10 learn something OF the beauties
81 bis theory OF language. without replying
terned TO the officer anu asked II i might be per-
mitted 10 go INTO the cell. He said yes anu pro-
eeeded 10 unlock the massive padlocks. Ii Was
long, narrow, granite buit room put hign and iur-
n.shed with plenty oil light ami pure air. AS we
entered Rullon approach a with Two diapidated
chairs and with the most winning courtesy asked
us 10 be seated and ohered 10 relieve me o my nat.
lie sat down on his rude pallet opposite me and
t~ld nim that 1 mad seen tAe crucish referred 10
above aud tnat nad desired to learn now he mad
acquired his knowledge Of the old languages. He
replied. with smile Ihat lie mad obtained II all by
honest work. thar he had me- er been In college or
university, but that from bo1 hood he had III ost
intense interest IN the oeauty aud strength OF the
Greek tongue. lie compalled that he mad been
and wanted me 10 satisfy myself on that, ana
Then hear what he had 10 say ABOUT the formation
OF language. ] replied that a we had no text
books could mol examine nlm, to Mhlcn he re-
loined that many OF the classical authors he knew
by heart, ana would Try ana repeat portions If
would suggest where he should negin. Thinking
sbat something from the Memorabilia might be APP
propriate 10 his present needs, | suggested Ine
iDiru chapter first BOOK wnere the Sediments OF
Socrates wnh reference 10 God ana duty In their
parity ana eAallaion approach so nearly 10 1ioical
seveiaton; and lie at once gave me the Greek.
oLher paris OF Inc same WORK, as Wei "a the Had
o Homer ana some OF the plays of Sopnocles, he
showed Sreat familiarity with. Then, In order 10
shsw his horoughness he criticised the common
reilder4ng Oh certain passages, and ne dld II
with such suotlety and discrimination ana
elegance as 10 snow that his critical study OF
these nicer points was more remarkable than
his powers OF memory: III TACT, shoud say that
sustiety OF analysis and OF reasoning was the
marked characteristic oil MS mind. ON one or two
passages oil Homer, IN particular, he showed great
acuteness oil criticism, and a most thorough appre.
citation ol the grandeur OF the sentiment. One or
Two renderlngs OF President FELTON, he opposed most
vigorously, and when supported the common ver-
sion he quoted from vast range OF classics TO con-
Lrm his view.
his theory OF language cannot enter upon here,
tor II IL 100 subtle Tor TIL general reader IL Is very
erglhai is qulte contrary TO the established views
upon comparative phology, ana probably will
never De oI any practical use Most persous think
MN monomanlao upon THIS, aud certainly his en-
thuslasin is most remarkable. lie sal there III his
chains Just sentenced Dy the highest court TO die ON
the eallows. and without word, or apparently a
thought, about his doom, he argued and plead for
his favorie theory though ne were wrestling Tor
h.6 lie, anu was determined 10 win.
lie was anxious 10 nave phloluglStS examine the
manuscript Of his work He urged to come
with several sucn men and take time 10 see whether
hh theory is true. lie asked my pardon Tor the
apparent oogmailsm OF the statement ogt said he
telt convinced that his theory OF language was Il
special revelation To him and that perhaps hundred
years might eapse ere IL would be known araln
and then added, significantly '.And YOU know that
whatever Is done must be done quickly
III person this strange man Is about middle height
ana OF robust build, and Is apparently yerglng on
my years oI age not at all the broken old man he
has been represented. He has singular iace not
Vlianous or grossly sensual, nor l. IL scholarly. lhe
features are strongly marked and full OF sinister
meaning. lt Is lace thai you could not forget and
YET would not care TO think about His eye, whica is
dark hazel, had heard was the striking feature,
but IL did not Impress me So perhaps because 1t
showed struggle aud suffering The bad lines in
his lace 10 me were about his chm and forsead aud
MS neck Is very short ana stout and heavy.
IN manners he is very urnane and natural, and
ne converses with great facility and elegance. Ills
voice Is mellow and pleasant, ana occasionally
showed tones OF tenderness. But for all that do
mol believe the man has any tenderness save Tor
language In looking at MIN Won would never
Imagine MIN as loving any human beng. and you
would be sure that his hatred would be implacable.
He Is certainly an enigma, and oilers In himself
powerful argument against the theory that education
alone SUFFICIENT 10 lead 10 true manhood. Those
VINO would throw out moral and Biblical teaching
from our system OF culture have difficult task 10
haTinoniZe tnelr theory with such character as
Sins. Here Is profound and appreclative student
oI all that Is beautiful and glorious In classical
bearnlng, working Tor years as a phiologist, and
Win zeal rarely equalled, and yet ali the time
aVing life or crime as dark and terrible as any
criminal in our land. tie shows that true culture
and true manhood can only be by development Of
the moral sense ana that must educate the heart
a. last as we educate the head, or our knowledge
may only Increase our SIN.