New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-16
THE PHILOLOGISTS.
CONVENTION AT HARTFORD.

Observation-Disclosures OF PROFESSORS OF LAM.
GUAGEs-THE ETHIoPIC MANUSCRIPT AGAIN
TENDENCY TO MIX Els WITH AS-BLowlNG HOT
AND COLD WITH THE SAME BREATH so FAR As
WORDS ARR CONFERENCE.-THE POLITICS OF THE
ANCIENTs.
fFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE'l
HARTFORD, July l4.-Far removed from the
buster streets OF Connecticuts capital city ana III
portion OF 1t where the march OF modern improvements
is yet painfully recent hill apart stands the build
ing known the Public High School As this letter mas
specially with verbal nicetes and those who nave
made a study Of words. am carefully accurate III 'he
statement that the building Is generally spoken OF oy
the townspeope as the school," not the schoo-house
Perhaps the prove the opening wedge for the
discussion OF the subject within walls for the walls
themselves contain the inscription as the people nave H.
the If it be may DO said to present lse
at threshold As yet there are no trees arouhu 'he
building and its exceedingly composite architecture Ill
which stone much sandwiched between bricks Is no.
where by foliage In the shadow Of this pile
found considerable sprinking OF professors awaiting
the hour OF meeting OF the American Pathological AS
ISOLATION. I'm not that they were not more III
terestng easy!attitudes onthe grass than aerwa Ia
the sra backed seats OF the lectureroom Their
angles we're not SO visible STILL think should have
known from their general appearance that these were
prncpay college professors and given to the pursuit OF
languages There are plenty of exceptions to the rule
but II is nevertheless fact that the disciples OF modern
science are rotund than those who devote them-
selves to dead languages should never nave MS
taken this for a scientific meeting
Tho American Pathological Association Is not one OF
the largest professional bodies in point OF numbers
doubt whether the membership reaches 3OO and there
are some names on the printed list which have seen
mentioned in THE TRBUNE's obituary department But
the roll comprises OF sufficient emncnce TO make up
for any lack of numbers The attendance Is regarded
as larger than usual for tho first day Of the session
Among those who came earliest were Emu burritt'
whose popular title Of the Learned Blacksmith is worth
more than any degrees which colleges can besow;
President Catel Of Lafayette College SIR. John SWIM
ton the Row Dr. Schaf, Prof. Tyler OF Amherst, and
Prof Whitney Of Yale, dear to readers OF TRIBUNE
extras and not looking at all like student Of Sanskrh
without much DELAY the meeting was organized, With
the President Prof Francis A. March OF Lafayette COT
lege In the chair Prof Samuel Hart OF Trinity college
being the efficient Secretary In these associations al
most everything depends upon the energy Of the secre
tary If he takes things easy the whole business
drags In the present case that officer was prompt IN
presenting his report Of which the principal feature was
the announcement that the following persons were
| elected members OF the association
Prof Stephen g. Barnes of Iowa College; Mr.. Thomas
Davidson, ST. Louis M. \. Oswald. savannah; PrOI.
John L. johnson. University Of Mississippi Prof. Joseph
Milliken. Miami University Prof H. C. Mltcncl ~ De-
Baptist Theological Seminary OF Chicago; Prof Phip
schah d. D..UniOu theological Seminary; MI EDWARD +.
stewart, Easton, Pa; Pres. James C. Weng COlumoiah
University Washington, Prof J0nn Williams W nIte
Baldwin University, Berea, OIIo,
| He also mentioned that NJ Abel Hoyelague OF Paris
"a presented the Association with copies Of several Of
| his pathological publications.
The Rev. DR.. William Thompson OF the Theological
Seminary Of Hartford, delivered address rendering
| the hospitates OF the citizens. He mentioned how
ever mat owing TO absence from the city during the
Summer months many private families whose mansions
| would at other seasons have been opened to these
| guests were unable to take them to their homes
The Hon. Joseph Ii. Sprague, Mayor Of the city, well
coined the Association in an Informal speech He
greeted the members his civic capacity and also as
chairman of the Citizens Committee. He alluded to the
prosperity Hartford citing In evidence or the fact
that present population $1,000 included an increase
OF per during tie unusual depression OF bus
ness interests IN the past year. He mentioned among
the attractions of the city, its Institutions OF learning
and places Of historic interest Prof March replied on
behalf Of the Association, expressing their thanks ana
statug that students OF phlloogy took special inter
est in Hartford being the headquarters Oh the STUDY
OF the aboriginal languages of America here too were
the earliest efforts for the ameoraton OF the CONDITION
of the deaf aud dumb and as matter OF woe interest
I'm the chief OF language. here were some OF the
| largest publishing houses OF the country
Prior to the formal reading Of papers Dr. Charles H.
Brigham Of Ann Arbor. Mich, presented the Ethiopic
manuscript found by laborer near railway station at
Jackson, Mich This was alluded to last Spring In The
TRIBUSEs report OF the proceedings Of the Oriental So
cety 1t supposed to have been lost by some traveller
who has probably procured it Abyssnia or possibly
at jerusalem and brought 1t to this country Ii is sup
posed TO be copy by Abyssinian monks OF lit
urgy IL Is about six feet long, aud contains several
curious Illustrations OF the rite OF communion as prac
ticed in Abyssinia. An irreverent member made the
suggestion in default OF better explanation OF its dis
coyery that IL had been carried to the West by flock
OF wild geese and dropped by u Michigander
Prot Trademarks opening paper created more amuse-
ment by his dry remarks nterspersed throughout its
reading than would have been anticipated from SO un
Interesting theme the sound OF vowel The essay
OF Prof Fowler the common origin OF words OF oppo
site and varying meaning excited great deal OF inter
est, Dr. Brewers Latin manuscript gave an Insight
into the politics OF bygone centuries showing that
officials behaved then better than now, although
maternal government was carried beyond bounds
which its warmest present supporters anticipate.
MUTATION OF AN ENGLISH VOWEL.
BY s. s. HALDEMAN, PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE
PHLoLoGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNsYL-
yANA.
The somewhat rare Celtic vowel of in fat
occurs In Irish and Welsh, aud when present in Eu
ropean dialects it Is probably due to Celtic influence
in Suaban and in It's French nasal form in Ii does
not necessarily occur In the same word where
IL "a present, for the Irish word cat "a
md ~