The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-15
TIE DISCOVERER OF TROY.
Recollections of DR.. Schliemann's Resi-
dence of Two Years in this City.
The Great Archaologist's Suit in the Indian
apOlis Courts for Divorce from His Rus
sian Wife-His characteristics.

the Indiana State Journal of April 0, 1869,
Is the official notice of a divorce fled by Henry
Schliemann against Catherine Schlemann. The
complainant was DIR. Henry Schliemann, the
famous archaeological explorer. and the circum-
stances surrounding the case are Of unusual in-
terest both from the fact Of the principal having
become so we'll known since that time, and the
DR.. SchIiemann and his wife, and the causes lead
Ing to the complaint
Mr. Oscar B. Hord. one of the attorneys of the
complainant, to whom DIR. Schliemann was well
known, il speaking of the case to Journal re-
porter, said 'sThe grounds for divorce, as stated
in the complaint as I remember it. was aban-
donment Mrs. Schiemann was Russian lady.
and was in St Petersburg with their children at
the time the divorce was granted She was q
devoted adherent of the Greek Church, and
wished to rear their family in it's faith Dr.
Echiiemann married her while merchant
in St Petersburg, where he carried on a
D cosmopolitan, and chafed Under the bonds of
any creed or doctrine that prevented the full de-
velopment of thought or the intellect. and wished
TO ba held subservient to no laws of church or
state. It was his desire to give his children the
benefit of broad and liberal education, such as
they might acquire by study and extensive
travel, and to this end he wished to take his
family with him wherever his fancy might
lead him to 60 His wife. being born and
brought MP in country where free thought
is little encouraged. and devoted to
the institutions OF her country and forms or her
church, and perhaps nothing of remarkable
woman, could not be induced to leave her native
land, and. moreover, insisted upon the children
receiving education under the guidance of the
Greek Church This. l think, was the real
cause of the separation. During the whole of
the proceedings DIR. Schlemann never dropped
word of disrespect towards his wife. and seemed
TO consider the affair as very unfortunate. DIR.
Schliemann settled upon his wife and children q
certain amount of property. sufficient for q lib
eral income. He hoped that after obtaining the
divorce he would be able to get possession of the
children, and give them 8 good. liberal educa-
ton.
IN personal appearance DIR. Schleimann was q
typical German, of low stature. heavy. closely
cut hair, which was inclined to stand in all
directions. an enormous head, prominent nose.
restless blue eyes, an expansive forehead, and
animation enough for ten men. he was regu-
lar steam-engine sort of man, and could work
twenty eight hours ont of the twenty -four
without fatigue. 1t seemed that he
was 4 always full of pent-up energy
that, was always struggling to get out
He never came up stairs like other men.
could always tell his step the stairway, for he
camesup in hurried, clustering sort of way,
with force that little belongs to the ordinary
climber of stairs We're you TO meet him on the
street he would attract attention from the ener-
getic way in which he hurried along. He was
possessed of unusual vitality and activity OF
mind, and was continually engaged in study or
the investigation OF some subject.
His attachments scholar were as rare as
they were remarkable for their degree of per
lection. He was master OF the German, English,
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Rus
sian languages, and greatly devoted to the study
OF the classics especially Greek.
Eat the time he was in indianapolis DIR.
Schleimann was deeply Interested In the study or
Grecian antiquities, and would frequently ex-
press his intention of making the explorations
which he has since made. He was firm be-
1iever in a real Homer and real Troy.
aud his recent explorations seem to confirm his
belief. He was remarkable In conversation. ana
enjoyed the companionship of friends although
he became but little acquainted IN indianapolis
He used frequently to call at the Office and talk
interestingly upon the subjects he had been Civ
ing special consideration. He invited me many
I never accepted his invitations, for,
think Of the excrucating position
in which a man would be who would be COM
PEELED to sit and listen for hours to the wild
specula:ions as it was considered then, OF a
theorst concerning the authorship of a collec-
supposed to have existed three thousand years
ago. or, if IL ever aid exist, had been covered up
for centuries. No matter how hard one tried TO
keep him away from this subject he would bring
&c forward sooner or later.
With all his learning he was yet modest. and
thought lightly Of himself as scholar l re-
member of his once saying that he had travelled
about too much to keep up his studies, and that
he thought that we professional men here in In
dianapolis were certainly much better scholars
than he as we had much leisure time. which
might be giyon to study. AS illustrating this
point, he once brought me a book of his, descrip-
tive Of his travels through some of the Grecian
States printed in French, and in which he
Stained to have discovered the home of Ulysses.
as seen by Homer. and seemed utterly surprised
at nv inability to read the work.
DIR. Schliemann was man OF considerable
wealth, having been engaged in some mercantile
business of considerable Importance in San
Francisco before he came to this city. Also, in
Fort Wayne, this State. While in Indianapolis
he made some Investments in stocks of different
railroad companies. among them being the
illinois Central, and owned some property in the
eity, aud perhaps still retains part of the In
vestments he made while here His residence
In Indianapolis covered about two years. Soor
after obtaining the divorce he returned to Eu
rope.