New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
A HARVARD NOTABLE.
DR.. Palrrey in The Harvard Register.


The name of DR.. Popkn recalls to the mind Of ey-
cry graduate from the year 1915 to the year 1885,
the remembrance of man Of very marked and OF.
ten amusing peculiarites of manner and habit. but
venerated and beloved for the kindness OF his heart
the simple excellence of his character, aud the pro
foundness OF his learning. He was of the class OF
that day helped their way through college by serv-
ing as waters in eommons-hal1 Through the whole
Of the college course he was decidedly the 6nt
scholar Of his class; decidedly 1t Is said, that The
second followed him at . more than usually long
interval he was dstingu shed nc that time for pro
heierey IN the LANGUAGE which he spent most OF biz
days IN teaching oaE WIS not less eminent in math
enatics.
After his graduation be was three years tutor in
Greek. aad then entered ths ministry and was SET
tied July. 1873. over the Federal Street Church
in Beston. where be was the immediate predecessof
OF William Ellery Claiming. In this position be
remained little more than three years and then
resigned II, apparently IN mt OF morbid seif-dn-
trust. proteSSins himset unequal to the require
ments Of the place. He was aiterward settled IN
1904 in Newbury. and continued there till October.
1878 when he received and accepted an appoint
ment to = college professorship Of Greek. He filed
this office till 1926. when, on the resignation OF
Edward Everett he was appointed Eliot professor
Dr. Popkln WAS copstitutiOnally hypoch0ndriae.
This natural inirmity. which was said to have been
aggravated by disappointed affection together with
the self-distrust and ndsposition to society which
Is produced, vas the origin Of most Of his peculisf
ties. he lived an utter recuse in No. 70 Hoi-
worthy. Except in that room and his recitation
seen. His meals were carried to bin there. and
eaten in solitude. For exercise he kept the means
of saving wood in one of tie apartments connected
he would take horse aud chaise, and visit sister
who lived in ghbOring town. He never suffered
the slightest mistake to pass unnottced. An AZ
ton by free and elegant translation could not pass
muster with him. He would seldom interrupt echoia!
whilst reciting, but at the end-rubbing his shin al
the while and looking out of the window, In sOli
oquy which. they who would profit by. 1t were
obliged to listen for very attentvely-he would
carefully correct every mistake that had been made
and add such pathological remarks as his rare critical
learning suggested. His great simplicity seemed 70
expose hun to imposition, but they who counted on
it invariably found their match. he had generally
My classmates IN DR.. Popkin's entry kept cas
which used sometimes to wander into the Doctors
room: Once; when he had just filled up h n wSOS
went into it, and began to NEW. Soon tho gooa.
kind hearted man was. heard exclaiming foor
creature, poor creatureP and presently he yood Ss
gan to come down. l wish / could remember tnM
my classmate helped him pile up his wood agsn'
but. If he did so, 1t has escaped my recolIeens1
Among his many grotesque habits was that q 49,
yards of his doorstep. One Of the class seeing a.
returning to his room one day. told freshman ".
DIR. Popkin was very much disturbed by wnis ss%
ling. He whisted at the right time; and the 81
pertinent succeeded perfectly, to the great wonosc
ment of the simple freshman. But, notwithsnnoays
the great amusement afforded BY the good ola msus
peculiarities, bis manifest kindness and simple soo'
ness won for him universal respect and love "a.
1t was impossible to be much ACQUAINTED VIZ VIZ
him without becoming aware of his deeply regiohSs
character. How fur he had been influenced " .ns
liberal movement in theology, that Is, to wnss "a ca
tent his opinions had been modified by it, 90 10
know but certainly he could never have -
otherwise than liberal IN his feelings. he 1877
unwilling to talk about his opinions. Oace WA WA
brought to him theological difficulty with wnloa
was labor1ns. hs merely replied. Young H a9,
settled and forgot that matter long ago. Ruhh .s
his ministry. one OF those persons who think ~
cannot understand man till they sec HIN isee ~
with sectatan name. tried 70 mo ...ins
him of some time tho Doctor -, 49, 49,
IL You must give me o nane, you may CAL ~ ~
PopkinsiaD." Yet whom Dr. Kirkland wrote g III, IL
Ct Negbu,y xou are the very man re nee: :ss ~
taken l am orthodox .; TO which DR.. Kirkland ~
Joined, "We don't care about your orthodoxy W
want you to teach Greek" ....s. 4
DR.. POpkin was sometimes compared 70 800"
Dominic Sampson. The comparison efeues 4
thorough Misrepresentation Of bin. and does him sLs
injustice. The few points Of resemblance are suRS
cia merely, and cover bcs s:' pc s . q
uay DO was large and noble pstssfa y ~ a & s