Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-08

| library. Ills single, but distressing weak
ness, was his eyes, which had been perma.
nently damaged by the labor of decl.
phering Greek dispatches when he
was United States Minister ut Con
stantinople. He interested himself long be.
fore Mr. Gladstone did in the suilcrings OF
the Christian subjects of the Sultan, and paid
dearly with permanently diseased eyes foi
the enthusiasm which led him to cx.
plorc original documents relating to the
subject
lie seemed so entirely engrossed with the
business of the consulate at Genoa, that
could not for the time connect him with the
man whose lectures on the English language
| had read with delight. And / may add
that, during an acquaintance of six years,
always found Mr.. Marsh transacling public
business with a zest and thOroughness that
lett one no room to realize that he spent one.
half OF his life in study. In those days he
rose at very early hour, not later than five,
and did his days work in the library before
the day began in the Legation.
lie had received me in the library on that
first visit, and had before him some proof
sheets of his Second Series of Lectures On
the English Language. AS soon as could
venture TO divert our conversation from the
consulate, told him how much profit | had
received from the first series of lectures
lie replied that ! was one in a small audi
encc-judging from the limited sale of the
book; and added that they were first deiv-
cred in Boston to about dozen people, ouly
one OF whom(a woman, by the way), under
stood them. How literally this was true,
have often wondered. For came almost at
once upon striking contrast between the
tone of his conversation and letters, and that
of his printed writings, In the former he
was the best of gencralizcrs-an left out all
the qualifying terms. In his writings he
was never able to get in enough modificrs to
satisfy his scrupulous accuracy. lie had n
solemn respect for cold type, as if he com
pretended that he would long be quoted as
an authority on the two subjects, to whose
study he gave the greater part of his life.
But in nvcisatlon or in n letter, his vigor-
Gus and sparkling personality got a fair field
Tor their expression. ! have bundle Of
letters written by him in hot haste, often in Il
kind OF fury against SHINE folly, which seem
to ne to be yet warm and wrathful. Look
ing over these notes am conscious again Of
my strong belief, during those years, that if
MIR. Marsh had put his personality into liter
aturc, he must have been the most popular
writer of his age. Probably no other man
of such abounding intellectual vitality has
ever so completely eifaccd himself in his
literary work. lie wrote and rc-wrote,
revised and re-revsed, because he was al
ways seeking to perfect n record of "frozcn
facts Twenty years after that first inter-
view in Turin, | found Mr. Marsh in his
study at Rome, revising the same book
Second Series of Lectures on the English
Languagc-making haste, he said, to com
plete the revision of his work while he
might. fear that he did not finish; for
SIXTY days later he ceased to live
Ills library in Italy consisted chiefly of the
literature OF his two subjects. That half of
ii which related t, "Nlan and Nature"-the
tile OF the first edition of his work-or "rhc
Earth as Modified hy Human Aclion"-the
present iillc-arcw very rapidly after 1862.
There are thirteen pages of the photography
IN the edition oi 1917, and the new edition
soon to appear will probably have several
more pag's 5 devoted to the Autographed
list. But MIR. Marsh did not Confinc himself
to books he visited and inspected most of
the European regions where the action of
floods caused by the destruction of forests
could be traced. | rcmcm or the enthusiasm,
with which he seemed charged on his return
iiom two such wGarisome journeys. He had
chased some precious !ucts into II corner
among the NcSgcs or the Alps, and the chase
and capture filed him with II delight which
made his talk rich in power and inspra-
ton.
have said that Mr. Marsh gave the great
er part of his studious life to two subjects ;
so lar as the public knew he not adventurcd
into any other field. A few friends knew
that, in 1876. he published through the
llarpcrs an anonymous book emitted "Mcdi-
@val and Modern Saints and Miracles" This
exposure of Romsh iollics of belief and
practice was not IL sapdasli performance
| !. N il mt Of
al observation and bibliogruphical studies.
remcmcmber that he touched upon the sub
jcct with characteristic vchcmcncc the first
time that dincd at his table in Turin.
cannot recall an expression Of his that evci
showed any interest in theological questions
bu, he was the most intelligent and vigorous
Protestant have ever known lie began /
collect books relating to Marioary many
years ago; and when he informed me, in
the strictest confidence, that he had written
the book on Saints and Miracles, he added
"For every statement in the work have in
my library the best and fullest authority; >
and when saw him in Rome, last May, Ii,
said: 81 fear that shall not live to Ic
wise this book; but have accumulated
II mass of Information that is not USED
in it, and | could make it ter
times stronger than it is" The bibliograph
ical list in the edition Of 1876 covers nearly
three pages, but from my recollection of the
mass ot books and pamphlets which ITS
author had collected on the subject, think
the list might easily be made three times AT
long.
Mr. Marsh did not coniine his Hospitality
for knowledge 10 the subjects on which Ii,
wrote. lie had to the last n keen appetite
for information, and he was a most Jealous
searcher for facts Of all sorts, A Gcnocs,
professor wrote II book in which he referred
to the ancient slate quarries of Lavagna on
the Riviera of Genoa. had not yet cut the
leaves of my complimentary copy" before
| received note from Mr.. Marsh quoting
certain statements from my Genocse friend,
book, aud charactcrizing them rs 'astonish
ng and probably untrue" The subject OF
Slate at once became the topic of CORES
pondcncc, at the end Of which had learned
that Mr. Marsh knew all about the history o
slate, and that the Gcnoese historians state
ments ON the subject were astonishing anC
untrue"
As aman of affairs Mr. Marsh was tn,
most prac,ical.ot men. Interpretation OF
political forces was fine and keen, and wheI
such subjects came to the front, he seemed
to love the very air where political battle
! ragged. lie had a sublime impatience al
, through the war with its dreadful and tor