The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-30
PROFESSOR HERMAN B. BOlSEN,


home near Princeton, N. j., removes from the
ranks of teachers a man in many respects most
remarkable. The son-in-law of DR.. L. A. Wyhc,
so long professor i'll the State University at
Bloomington, and himself for many years pro
fessor of modern languages in the same institu-
ton, he became widely known throughout Indi-
ana. But those who knew him the best were
the most astonished at hiserudition, his indomit
able energy, his invincible enthusiasm, and his
wonderful capacity for new requirements, espe
cially in the department of language. Though
a German by birth and coming to this coun-
try perhaps not earlier than at the age
of twenty, he acquired mastery over the En-
glish language such as is rarely accorded even to
a native. Quick, ardent, earnest enthusiastic
thorough, he was rare teacher, and could en-
kindle wonderful enthusiasm in the souls of
his pupils and always secure their respect He
did not know how to spare himself. He served
as torch whose fame never burnt low. Ex-
tremely nervous in his organism, and clear in his
perceptions, he sometimes, possibly, expected
more Of his pupils than he ought; yet he encour-
aged them, and bore patiently with all who
seemed to him to be anxious to do their best
He knew well how to sweep away from the path
of his pupils the useless encumbrances. He
smplfed their work and told them how to study
and yet he drilled them most thoroughly.
Talking with him, some years ago, about his
early experiences he told two which always
seemed to me most remarkable and most indica-
tive of the man l think 1 shall narrate the
main facts about as he gave them. He remarked
to me that his first school consisted of 600 pu-
pills. Seeing my amazement, he went on to say
that when he first came over he had found him
self in Minnesota, if lam correct, where were
several either German or Norwegian communi-
ties, each unable to support a school, and yet all
combined could do so. Buying horse for $50,
which took the larger part of his surplus, he
would make the circuit of those communities,
teaching school day in each of them,
riding six miles or more every evening to the
next station, and finally returning to the
starting point by Saturday night. l have often
thought of that first experience of his in for
eign land at the age when but few boys have
thought of leaving their homes, even for a short
trip. Teaching thus for several months, he fl
naily took another school, in what place do not
remember, but / think it was subscription
school. At this time he was not much of a be
lever in the use of textbooks So he caused the
whole four walls of the school-room to be black
ened from floor to ceiling, and on these he would
put the daily lessons. He would arise at
o'clock to put this work on the board using lad
ders for the upper surfaces His school enlarged
and pupils came from miles, until they numbered
far above hundred, and with smile he
recounted how he had to stand
to those children as teacher and
doctor and nurse until his extraordinary eXer
tons compelled him to stop, and he took little
trip up the Missouri among the Indians to re
cuperate l think he read Latin with perfect
ease, and Greek almost as readily. During
little walk once taken out in the country near
Bloomington commenting on the value of chill
Il 1ln1 e
language, he proceeded to quote to me with per-
feet ease long passages from the Had in Greek,
of which he said to me he could repeat several
books He was "a master of French. and could
read Spanish, think, and was also acquainted,
| am sure, somewhat with Italian How much
more than this | am not aware. And yet, as
versed as he was in language, he seemed to think
he had better acquaintance with mathematics,
which chair think he held for two years in the
State Normal at Terre Haute under President
Jones. And those who have heard him give in
structions in mathematics in county institutes
would hardly doubt his word. Then too, he was
great lover of nature. He loved with an earn
| est love her woods and fields, her flowers and
fruits. Walking with him one day in Cambridge,
Mass, through the little woods that border or
cover the grounds of Harvard University, he
told that he knew the leaf of every plant that
grew north of the latitude of Washington in this
| country Asking him how many he answered.
about five thousand. So, walking behind him, 1
would, from time to time pluck leaf asking eg
as 1 put the question, 50 quick
and sure the answer would come
One leaf presented him was from plant
which seemed to stand alone without support.
! sit is a creeper," said he But" l said, lit
stands alone" ''Look there" he answered, and
Immediately pointed to the same plant creeping
| Justify over some support. And one of his
friends told me once that it perfect treat
| to hear him take a single clover blossom and
show forth its beauty and point out its perfect
adaptation to its work. SO he took me, on that
hot 4th of July TO Harvard and through the
beautiful country of Mt. Auburn, seemingly UNI
wearied by his long walk, in order that he might
crafty his friend, and little conscious, ALSO that
ere the grass should grow again kind nature,
whom he loved. would as lovingly deck the
mound which would mark the spot of his last
repose. During the last year Professor
Boisen acted as one of the sub masters
i'll the Boston public schools. His school
was one of the hardest in tn city.
1t was, however his own choice. He had been
offered position in a more aristocratic commu-
nifty. but he preferred to be among the little
children of that polyglOt community which
makes that part of Boston the most dangerous
in the city
But was informed that he was most success
full. One of the assistant supervisors Of the
Boston schools-Mr. Metcalf-told me he was
the finest teacher of English he saw, and at
that time he was engaged in the preparation of
a course of language books for use in the public
schools.
He had been unwell, but was feeling better,
though somehow dreading to go to his work in
Marthas Vineyard. where he of the di-
rectors in the summer school; but he was look
ing forward with eagerness to the work he was
about to enter upon master of one Of the
schools established on the Rugby plan, in u little
village a few miles from Princeton, n. j., and
through the benefaction of the late John C.
Green. He was full of charity and sympathy
for the poor and oppressed In his opinions he
was independent He seemed naturally to ally
himself with what he considered the weaker