Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-03-25
A Mysterious Scholar.

Cincinnati papers of last week men
toned the mysterious death at Covlng-
ton, Kentucky, of a stranger, supposed
to be Pole, who had been lodging for
a few DAYS at an inn in that town. The
only facts known, or, to speak more pre-
cisely, the only statements made, were
that he appeared to have no acquaint-
ances in COvington that his bearing
was that of a man of education and re-
finement that he occupied a room
which could only be entered by passing
through one where another guest of the
house was lodged that when last seen,
on Monday, the Sth inst, he was sup
posed to be intoxicated that he locked
himself in and remained there for two or
three days, no one caring to disturb him
or make inquiry into his condition and
that when the door was forced, Wed
nesday, he was found lying across the
bed paralyzed and speeches., with roll
of greenbacks stuffed into his mouth,
and soon after died. An autopsy showed
that the organs which would have been
most affected by habitual drunkenness
were in a perfectly healthy condition,
and il is reasonable to suppose, therefore,
that the appearances thought to indicate
intoxication were really the preliminary
symptoms of the disease of which he
died. This man dying so forlornly
among strangers was gentleman OF
superior talents and very unusual &C
complishments. His name was Nj. +. j.
Sobieski. lie was q native of Poland, J
sAEiSH iie1SaS l~-S atsFSdfahs1e ih AlSs AAs1ss1s
nearly thirty years ago, where he soon
established in collegiate circles the repuA
tatiOn of a man of great and varied
40 70
one his previous history, we do not know.
but, to the students at least, there is an
air of mystery about him which, with
his really profound scholarship and gen.
eral accomplishments was very fascinat-
ing. The professors recognized his at
tainments, and he was on intimate terms
with some of them, especially with the
then professor, now president, Porter.
He also had access, so far as he chose to
avail himself of it, to the best society of
the city. Since Mr.. SObieski left New
Haven in 1854, he seems, from CORES
pandenCe found among his effects, TO
have been connected at different times
with several of the smaller colleges.
There was also found among his papers
the manuscript of an elaborate work on
English accentuation, which seemed to be
ready for publication, and which shows,
it is said, mastery of the intricacies of
English pronunciation, in its history and
present practise, highly creditable to any
one, and very remarkable in a foreigner.
He had been lately in correspondence
with President Porter in regard
to the publication of this work.
In a letter of recommendation
among Mr.. Sobieskis papers President
Porter said that after an intimate ac-
quaintance of eight or ten years, he had
mo hesitation in pronouncing him one
of the best teachers and most highly ed
ucated men" whom he had ever known.
A man of whom this could be said by
one so competent to judge surely deserY-
ed happier fate than to be a professor
in an embryo college at a salary of seven
hundred dollars or to die alone and friend
less in wretched tavern in Kentucky.
Worcester Spy