The New York herald., 1878-10-31
OBITUARY.
CHRIsropHER r. ROBERT, FOUNDER OF RoBRnr


CuRIaroPHER n. ROBERT, FOUNDER OF ROBERT
COLLEGE, coNsrANrINoPLE.
Christopher R. Robert, merchant, Of this city, and
formerly president OF the Delaware and Lackawanna
Railroad, died in Paris Sunday morning last oc-
topsr 81 at the age Of seventy-seven years. While
IN this city he was chiefly known a prosperous
business and unassuming Christian gentc-
man His nsme is household word among tns
Christian races OF European and Asatic turkey as
the munihcsnt founder OF Robert College, near Con-
etausnople, will live In history beside the Har-
wards and Psabodys. Mr. Robert Was native OF
Long Island having boon born 10 lS0l near horichos
aad Bsllsporl For most Of his life be engaged In
business in Front street az . dealer In cotton
and sugar under the firm OF Robers
Williams, and lattery under his own
name as No. 81 Wator street. He had from
youth taken active interest In many religious and
philanthropio associations, especially in the Home
Missionary enterprise II Ia related Of him that be-
ing q Gaiena, Ill. in 1879, he was Impressed By
the religious dsstitution OF the In that region
that he applied to the Homo Missionary Society 10
send missionary thither, chiefly, II not wholly, at
his expense. From that slime dated y connection
Of than forty with that society, OF which
hs was long the treasurer. lie was also much inter-
ssted Ia promoting thO education OF young mon tor
ierianl and contributed literally Tor the maintsn:
o students Auburn and Beloit serntuares, 10
whose endOWme0
amounts. He founded the German church Rivinglon
street, New York, and supported its pastoral wcrk
tor many years annual expense oil some 81 600.
He aiso founded ana entirely supported Tor years
theological seminary on LOOKOUT Mountain, Tenn
when at ConstanIinopie conceived the desgn OF
establishing some institution Tor the scientific ano
literary OF the Christian races Of Inc kast
Fortunately he found The requisite counsellor in
Rev. DR.. Cyrus Hanp, tho eminent missionary, than
whom no possesses more accurate knowledge
OF the past and present condition Of Turkey. Tho
college was fouudcd at picturesque village
Dr Hsmi,n, ana in 1885, without consuIation
with the founder, the name OF Robert college
,ns,.!n n.s s..a o. ssssse eS College hss
complished great things Greeks, Armenians Bul-
soos expectation the Buirarians were the race ~ho
derived largest advantage ana exhibited the greatest
esssntially different from American coicgea Five OF
the professors are Americans, the others being
Armsnians, Buigarians and even Turks the ins!ltu-
Sioa being sectArian 10 It's character Many
Of the young men VINO arc now prominent
In The organization OF Bulgaria were educated At
this Institution, which has cost Mr.. Robert above
S200 000 which he has probably still urther en-
dowsd by his will. Since 1874, when tho health OF
Dr. HAmltn compelled MIN 70 return TO this country,
the president OF Robert College has been Rev. Dr.
George Washburn, OF Middieborough. Mass, Ter
mcriy missionary Consta IL n0ple, and son-in-
law Of Dr. Hamiln. Tho number Of Bulgarian aud
other students has naturally decreased during tho
peace : brilliant future may confidently b. predicted
for this Insulation Mr. Robert sailed for Europe in
August last VISIT the Paris Exposition, and had
engaged passage NJ the time Of hts unexpected
death. He leaves wife, three sons ana daughter
who u married Of Mr.. H. X. Corning, and 10
now In Switzerland. IL Is expected that romans
si Robert will be brought 70 this city for inter.
msnI
DAVID LANG, LII. D., SCOTTISH ANTlQUARY.
DR.. David Lang, Librarian OF the Signet Library,
Edinburgh died al h,s residence at Portobeio, Edin
burgh, morning or the 18th inst, aged eighty.
six years. BY his death Scotland loses not only an
eminent author and ansiquary but the principal link
Hotv and NJ hap
greatest author Dr. Laing the patriarch OF Scot
Nsh literature aud, with The exception ol Mr. J.
Payne Colier, who three years his senior, the
patriarch Of British literature In general. II 10
Interesting fact that tho venerable gentleman who
has Just was only four younger than Byron
vas oil the age with shelley and our years the
senior of Keats During its whole thirty
eight years ho secretary to the Bannasyns
Cub, founded by Cir Walter Scott In 1923. and was
the the greater number Of It's very valuable
publications DR.. Laing tho second son Of Mr..
William LLng, bookseller, whose shsp ~ the
head OF Canongate, Edinburgh, and after
ward as No. 40 South Bridge street. WAS
. favor,te resort oil tho Scottish Hteraa at
shs beginning OF century, appears by passages
IN Lockharss volume. s'Peers Letters 10 His Kins-
folk" and other gossipiDg publications OF the
David Was born 1872, educated Al the Cansngsss-
busgh school, and ior snort timo as tho Ednburgh
Univsrsisy, and acquired his lifelong passion Tor
archaeology by ..burrow,ng among the old books
which formed the patornai stock trxdo." He nat
nrAiy became hrs fasher's assistant, and from 1S26
his partner the 1rm OF "Wihiam aud David Laing"
which did . very extonsivs trade all scotland,
but especially with the university towns. NJ. Lang,
Es.. the nrst Edsoburgh bookseller who dealt 70
any considerable Continental books and in
way OF business the younger partner had
70 mako = visit TO Holland. where he bought vast
of Plant nd lxevi adj and
other masterpieces OF the early vpograpncrs-
HIS extensive book lore soon brougnt hiM INTO
and when Scott, In lS22 established The Ban nasyno
Cub. tor the reprLtDg Of rare old tracts, AZ first
unn q membership oi thirty-oEe, subsequently in-
rsAssd 10 loo, the position Of honorary secretary
''al out forced upon him" by SIR wallor. Oi
ll6 publications 0l tho BannatyDe Club tsw
sent press without doep Indebtedness 10 the
sArning taste Of Mr.. Laing. Even before The
tablishm OF the cub no mad edited "rhe select
Remains Of tho Ancient Popular Poetry Of Scotland"
ps22 small 4to) only los copies having
~ nro in November, 1924 No also edited on his
Dwn account, IN limited numbers. Various Piscse
sEary Hs.ricai Tales' tis2el, and .'lhe Poems u
wniiam Dunbar" e voI,.. is34-66l Among the
..Ths Aistoi,s and Lie Of James tho ssxt'' lS25,
John spaidins's "Hislorie OF the 1roables aud
n vola, 1929; John ROLAND OF Daikeiths 'ssevcn
Sagss, In SCOTTISH Mstre'' QS37) and Robors
Babies asLettcrs J0urnss l037-l662 70 vols,
isll-2), he clossd the ssries with vsums
entitled sAdvsrsars' consisting OF notices Illus
Nntlvo OIL tie carrier Issues. " men, III foOrunfy,
lS0l club resolved to close It's existence and he'd
hs nnai meeting, he rocsivsd from the hands OF tne
Sss I scott 90 sSsI
By smbematic figures OF History, Poetry aud Music
q memento oil hts long and honorable connection
with society. White stfil young man Nv. Laing
was elected 10 the Scottish Society oil Antiquarss
us2ll, With which he had an almost lifelong oniciAl
connection, acting fifteen years treasurer tor
tvo secretary, Tor twenty years ~ ioro'gn
sssrssay. aud Tor moro tnan one term as woe prcs.
dent. As treasurer rehabiiitsteu the museum Of
the society, extrcang II IRON deot by personal adj
vancss oi meDey. Hls papers. chiefly photographed,
be found volume 0f tne socteiy's
s'Transactions," aud did much to amend, rscty and
sdd 10 the authentic materials Tor abe history
uf Scotland. He the chief odtor OF
the "ArcD4oioglca Seotica' "a voIs.D contain
Ing the soclcty's procssdings from 1850 20 1861,
wbsn . commenced 0u tho eOmpio-
Mon n bis hftseth yssr OF membership IN February.