Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-18
DEATH OF PROF. VALENTINE
sketch or His Career-Iiis studies Abroad
A Life-Work Just COMPLETED.


yesterday morning. This announce
ment will not only cause profound sor-
row among his numerous friends in
Richmond, but will be received with
deep regret in scholastic circles through
out this country aud abroad. Pro-
fessor Valentine was born in Richmond
April the Goth, 1928, and was the son
Of the late Mann $. Valentine. His
carly education was received at the old
Richmond Academy, where he was a
favorite pupil of Crozet. Later he be-
came the pupil of Burke. under whom
he devoted himself principally to
the classics. and at the age
Of sixteen was regarded as one
of the most proficient, if not
the most proficient. Latin scholar that
had ever been turned out by that master.
However, even at that time his studies
IN languages were not confined to the
classics. When mere boy he showed
great fondness, which subsequently
developed into positive genius, for the
modern languages. particularly Ger
man, and with his classical basis to
build upon he succeeded prior to 1860 in
mastering both German and French so
as to spesk them huently. This. how
ever, was far from satisfying his amhi-
tioE-was only to him the Threshold of
the great domain Of philology, ETY.
,,unl,ortr upI Ill shat th.-s ~
dies imply, which. later in life.
he made his own. and reyclled
in. DeSpiSng sham of every character
as he did. nothing short of a thorough
scientific knowledge Of the modern lam
guagcS would content him. and in April.
1860. he left Richmond for Europe in
order that hc might drink at the loun-
tain-hcads. His first stay was in Paris.
whence. after some months spent with
private German and French tutors. he
went to Florence. Here he took a
thorough course in Italian. From
Florence he went to Berlin with his
brother. Edward '. Valentine.
the sculptor, who had preceded
him to Europe. From the time
that Professor Valentine reached
Berlin until he left that city. in 1868,
his life was one of unremitting and en-
thusiastic study. He not only entered
the University Of Berlin, but supple
mented his course there with instruction
from eminent private tutors. At onc
time lie had three German master, DR..
Stadthageh. DR.. Lehman. and another
whose name cannot be recalled at this
momen,-whlc hi, instructor in the
pronunciation Of French was the private
reader to the Queen of Prussia His
work also embraced . study Of >an'crit
and Anglo-SaxOn. Nor did he neglect
art. a love of which and an appreciation
of which were inScparablc parts Of hi,
nature. While in Paris he had thr
advantage of the friendShipif not Of the
instruction OF Couture, and in Berlin
was in the studio Of Engclhardt. the
landscape painter. who. with a number
of professor Valentine friends. cOnNld-
cred hi> genius for painting to be as
great. if not greater. than his genius
tor language. He was IN thorough
sympathy with all that was beautiful
in naturC-ielt all that was grand and
poetic in nature. SO high an apprccia-
tiom had Engelhardt Of his artist
strength, and particularly Of his eye
for color. that lac urged HIM to send one
Of his in>, picture, to the BeI,m Expo
s,tion. The art examples he has left
constitute the promise Of what would
have been a noble career in landscape
painting had he chosen to pursue it.
On his return to Richmond. Professor
Valentine gave private instruction IN
modern languages Tor while frequent
ly to those who could not afford to pay
tuition fees. but in 1868 accepted the
chair Of Modern Language at Randolph
Macon College. He remained at that
institution three year, doing a work the
iathluluess and thoroughne,s Of which
Is abunGantly testified to by the careers
of many of hi, pupils. Subsequently,
he filled for while the chair of
Modern Languages at Richmond College
during the sickness of Professor Rho les
MaSSie. However, all of Professor
Valentines study and all Of his teach
ing were only preparation for what he
intended should be his llie-work, and
what, when published in fall, will be q
monument to his memory. For over
ten year, he had been engaged on a
university textbook entitled, Com
paratiye Study of the New lIigh-ocr-
man Language. Theoretical and Practl-
cal" What this signifies can only be
appreciated by scholars. but by them u
will be thoroughly appreciated. Sur
rounded by hi, extensive library. he
had literally lived IN this work. fire.
qucntly laboriug for twelve hours a day
for months at a time. Towards the
latter part Of l>N4 he had gotten his
manuscript into such >hapc-had en-
braced the result, of his study and re-
search in such compass aS to Justify
him IN issuing advance->hccto of part
Of the book for the criticism OF scholars.
These sheets he sent to eminent author
tiles in his line Of study in this country
and in Europe. inviting the most search
ing criticism. Professor Valentine )
life had illustrated, if ever man had.
this idea
".1Hissiv0 qooc4nc f"mtaa ~i''iD'o
sono dJUa'Ur
but no one can read the criticisms hI-
work called forth without feeling that
had not that life been cut short it, flow
would have been heard. There was not
a linguist or philologi>t. nor scholar OF
any sort. from Max Muller down. who
examined his advance sheets" that
did not give his work the highest endorse
mcnt, and the names Of those who did
examine them is legion. His little PAM
phlct- the form in which these sheets
are bounds a memorial tablet Gov
cred over with glowing tributes to III,
Genius craven by men whose names Will
ever adorn the records of scholarship.
But Professor Valentines attain
ments did not end with his knowledge
of languages ard Of art. There Is hardly
department in the field OF general lit
erature he had not explored, and which.
when he was drawn out Of his natural
modc>ty. he could not converse intclll-
L