Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-08-31

about nine o'clock, the advocate and /
went down to the prison, and the gentle
manly High Sheriff at once consented to
grant the interview, if Ruilotf was viii
ling. The doomed man at first refused,
as lie had done of late to all visitors, but
when told that was student and teach
er of Greek, he at once consented. He
approached the heavy laticed iron-door
and asked very politely if could remain
long enough to learn something of the
beauties ofhis theory of language. With
out replying, l turned to the officer and
asked if might be permitted to go into
the cell He said yes, and proceeded TO
unlock the massive padlocks. 1t was
long, narrow, granite built room, but
high, and furnished with plenty of light
and pure air As we entered, Rulloff ap
preached with two dilapidated chairs, and
with the most winning courtesy asked US
to be seated, and offered to relieve me of
my hat He sat down on his rude pallet
opposite me, aud told him that had
seen the criticism referred to above, and
that | had desired to learn how he had
acquired his knowledge of the old Ian
guagee He replied, with a smile, that he
had obtained it all by honest work; that
he had never been in a college or univer-
sity, but that from boyhood he had amost
intense interest in the beauty and the
strength of the Greek tongue. He com
planned that he had been laughed at by the
public as superficial scholar, and wanted
me to satisfy myself on that and then
hear what he had to say about the forna-
ton of language | replied that as we
had no text books | could not examine
him, to which he rejoined that many of
the classical authors he knew by heart,
and would try and repeat portions if l
would suggest where he should begin.
/ Thinking that something from the Memo
rabilia might be appropriate to his present
needs, / suggested the thIid chapter, first
book, where the sentiments of Socrates
with reference to God and duty in their
purity ant. eXaltation approach so nearly
! to Biblical revelation, and he at once gave
me the Greek Other parts of the same
some of the plays of Sophocles, he showed
great Familiarity with. Then, in order tC
show his thoroughness, he criticised tho
common rendering of certain passages
and he did it With such subtility and dis
elimination and elegance as to show tina
his critical study of these nicer points wa
more remarkable than his powers o
memory; III fact, should say that sub
tiliiy of analysis and of reasoning was tn
marked Characteristic cf his mind. Or
one or two passages of Homer, in partiC
ular, he showed great acutcness of crit
cism, and most thorough appreciation
/ Of the grandeur of the sentiment.
On one or two ren icnngs of Presiden
FELTON, he opposed most vigorously, ali
when supported the common version, Ii
quoted from vast range of classics t
confirm his view His theory OF langUag
t l can not enter upon here, for it is to
l subtle for the general reader. 1t is yer
4 original, is quite contrary 10 the estat
:. lished views upon cam parative philolC
l. gy, and probably will never be of an
! practical use. Most persons think him
t. monomaniac upon this, and certainly IA
!, enthusiasm is most remarkable. lie 5;
I lCr Il oh NV
e highest court to die on the gallows, an
D without word, or apparently though
n about his doom, he argued and plead fc
: his favorite theory as though he WEI
d wrestling for his life and was determine
: to win. He is anxious to have philol,
3 gists examine the manuscript of his wor
e He urged me to come with several sue
e men, and take time to see whether Ii
t theory is true. He asked my pardon fl
r the apparant dogmatism of the statemen
e, but said he felt convinced that this theol
a of language was special revelation
J. him, and that perhaps hundred yea
might elapsc ere it would be known agai
l. and then added, significantly, And yo
lr know that whatever is done must be dol
r quickly
r "In person this man is about midd
,e height, and of robust build, and is appa
a emily verging on fifty years-not at ;
the broken old man he has been rcpI
IS sented. He has singular face, not v
J. lainous or grossly sensual, nor is it scht
* arly The features are strongly mark
t, aud full of sinister meaning. 1t is a ia
IS, that you could not forget, and yet wou
t. not care to think about. His eye, viii
I'd is dark hazel, ] heard was the striki
OF feature, but it did not impress me so, pt
ee haps because it showed struggle and 81
IT fering The bad lines in his face to I
re were about his chin and forehead, and
er neck is very short and stout and heaN
rn In manners he is very urbane and natur
ad and he converses with great facility a
ed elegance His voice is mellow and pie;
as ant, and occasionally showed tones OF tt
r derncss. But, for all that, | do not
he lieve the man has any tenderness save
Id. language In looking at him you wo'
of never imagine him as loving any hum
ed being, and you would be sure that
II hatred would be implacable. He is C
as tainly an enigma and offers in himsel
Ike powerful argument against the theory u
education is alone sufficient to lead
ng true manhood Those who would thr'
ed out moral and Biblical teaching from {
es, systems of culture have difhcilt task
It'll harmonic their theory with such ch
ch acter as this. Here isa profound and I
OF preciative student of all that is oeauti
ng and glorious in classical learning wo
to ing for years as philologist, and wit
&c. zeal rarely equaled, and yet all the ii
i'm living life of crime as dark and terri
ng as any criminal in our land. de sho
he that true culture and true manhood {
ant nrlv he nv a deyelopment of the inc