Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-07-09
Won RANKE.

\ recent American visitor thus de
scribes visit to the late Won Ranke. the
great German historians
never shall forget the moment when
the door opened and Ranke stood on the
threshold. He looked liked an appari-
ton stepping down from the middle ages
IA perfect specimen of the medieval
philosopher whose life had been spent
among folios and in pursuit of the elixir
OF life. DIR. Faustus could not have been
more truly pictured by Goethe. A long
loosely hanging gown covered his enact
ated body. bent with sheer weight of
years. Great. flowing white locks still
hung in clusters upon his shoulders the
face which, when young. was cleanlv
shaver. covered with a hoary beard near
ly concealing the shrunken features.
"Where is the gentleman:" uttered his
feeble voice, as his faded eyes sought Inc
in vain. advanced upon this and CON
graduated him upon the completion of
his 9Oth year. Laughing. he thanked
me. and. showing me seat. refused to
take one himself till | was settled-gal-
LIANT even at this late day
And you are from America" he be
gan. YES, it is a great country. and
certain of one of the grandest futures
man has ever seen. And how i, my
friend George Bancroft: | knew him
well "a ambassador. and was sorry when
he left for home. Since then have
known none of his successors | receiv-
ed "A letter from him upon my birthday,
containing notification of nv election
a Il member of the American historical
society. ! accepted the honor. contrary
to my rule. out of Difference to him. lie
was often at my house when here We
received regularly then. but among the
friends from afar and near. none was
more welcome than your great country
man. get so many letters from Ameri-
ca asking for my autographs many using
most diplomatic devices to nveigle me.
do not answer them. cannot.
should have little else to do. All my mo-
ment- are precious. When read a pa
per and write Il letter feel it j. my duty
To devote the remainder of nv leisure
time to history. hear translation of
my works has appeared in California;
That is remarkable. hardly fancy that
it teens with merit. California j. "A Won
derful land-for gold. but backward in
the cultivation of the muses.. Ny work
] inp h1ur- - in T.,
Like all your good countrvmen. YOU
would know great deal. but I'll tell YOU.
| work uninterruptedly from 10 o'clock
/ till about this time lit was nearly -.
then rest till 10 o'clock i'll the evening
and remain III my desk four hours. retir-
| ing at in the morning" | Interrupted
linn moment to express surprise
at this and vouchsafe the comment
that such dissipation would be i'll
furious To young men. Young men,"
he continued, laughing heartily. dis
trust midnight oil : it is their scarecrow
a ilamlet's ghost to their very fancy.
But age is governed by other laws.
Gold for the one is dross for the other
Midnight is my friendliest hour must
use the moments Providence allows me.
and he thankful for the privilege Daily,
when the weather at all permits, take
my walk of two hours duration. | do
not like To drive: it is too tedious and in
active. This enables me TO work eight
hours day without fatigue. which its
neglect would certainly prevent. My
writing days are past the pen trembles
in my hand Bur that is insignificant.
Two secretaries are kept busy reading,
copying and consulting. | give them
little time to idle, Since the publication
of my English history | have written
little with my own hand. Strange to
say, many of the books thus published
have been accepted with greater pleasure
by the critics and public than those care
fully revised. | can only explain this
| by believing that one is less dainty. 80
10 speak. and more natural; less intlu-
enced by form and more by fact. of
course, must be careful in my manner
of lite-a little indiscretion is paid with
great price. have never smoked, but |
still enjoy good glass of wine and feel
its eXhiaration. Thank God my nights
are free from sleepleSsness. otherwise
could do but little. My house." look
ing about the room, you will probably
think unpretentiouS and small, bur have
lived here 10 years, and must die within
its walls. cannot decide to leave. The
sun never shines in my study, and that
is n ointment to my old eyes. The 3d.
600 volumes in my library. catalcgued
ami references marked, could not be re-
arranged in the few wears that lie be-
/ tween me and the grave"
They have some bright pupils in the
/ TyngSboro schools. At the examination