New-York tribune., 1893-12-10

guages: then he was sub-libraran Of the Bod.
leian Library; then Fellow OF All Souls: ana
then, twenty-five years ago. brand-new chair.
that Of Comparative Phiology, was created for
him. which he soon made one Of the most im-
portant and distinguished In the whole UNI
versity f-t
Professor Miller, as has been said. was un-
acquainted with the English language when
he went to England. But he found the mastery
OF It an easy task, and most OF his books have
been written In It, Nor is mastery of IL too
strong a phrase. He has for many years ranked
among the elect few who, in speech and writing
use this language with perfect charm and grace
and lucidity: and withal. with commanding ana
convincing force. His English literary style ia
indeed. the envy and despair Of most English
men themselves His lectures and addresses
delightful to listen to- and he enjoys the
distinction OF being the only layman who has
That noteworthy incident occurred in 1875. when.
on invitation Of his friend Dean Stanley, he
delivered from the lectern OF The Abbey pow
erful sermon foreign missions.
At about this time-December /. 1S75-he ~.
signed the chair of comparative philology.
though he nominally still holds It, the active
duties being performed by deputy professor.
In his letter Of resignation he gave striking
summary of the results of his vast intellectual
''at the end of this academic year have served
the university for exactly twenty-five years.
have just finished the work Of my life. the editio
prlnceps of the text and commentary Of the
oldest of the sacred books of the Brahmans,
the Oldest book Of the Aryan world This first
brought ME in 1916 to England where alone !
could nave 1OunQ all the IidnuscIlptS HeCcS-
sary for that undertaking, and where after
ward obtained, through the liberality OF the In.
dian Government. the pecuniary means required
for publishing the largest Sanscrft text ever
published in Europe 1t was in order to be able
to stay in England to superintend the printing
Of this work that I accepted the duties OF Q
professor In your university, and IL tell you
that In addition to my professional duties !
have had to print at your university press wnat
would amount TO q volume Of about 500 pages
octave Of pure Sanscrit, In every one OF the last
tWpnfy-6yp will DprhaDS be less SUR
prised that begin to long for some rest. Though
the most difficult part Of my work Is now nm
ished. there still remains much to be done. have
published the first volume only OF my transla.
ton Of the Sacred Hymns OF the Brahmans'
and there are seven more to follow Inere -
some other work. too connected with this, the
most ancient and most important monument OK
Sanscnt literature. which, If life and health are
spared. / should like to finish. This l could
not hope to achieve If / attempted TO discharge
at the same time as have hitherto done. the
duties incumbent on a professor or comparative
philology in this university. duties which
seem to me TO consist, not only In giving
certain number Of lectures, but in keeping well
abreast Of the rapid advance OF this young
science. I had therefore to choose between
Sanscrit and comparative philoogy, and great
as will be the sacrifice to myself, believe !
shall best fulfil the wishes Of my friends and
best the interests Of science II, during the
remaining years Of my life. I again devote my
undivided attention TO the ancient language
and literature Of India.
The task thus set for himself has occupied
gave In 1873 the first course Of the famous Hib-
bert lectures, and has contributed much to con-
temporary literature. Nor have his labors been /,
without formal re e.ogntion. Cambridge and Ed- =
inburgh made him IL ID. The French lnsti.
tute elected him Foreign Member The King
of Prussia gave him the ancient and illustrious
Order, pour lie Merite." Many other institu.
tons and governments have similarly honored
him. And only this year the Sultan opened 10
him libraries in Constantinople to which no
stranger had ever before been admitted. enter.
taned him at his palace gave him the gold
medal of the highest order In his GIT; ana oe.
the women's Order of the Chefakat
At Oxford Professor Muller occupies the
charming residence in Norham Gardens that was
built for Professor Goldwin Smith. and occu-
Here, says a visitor, the ilustrious Orientalfst
works in an airy library, with bright morning
light and amid a legion of books. AS he rises
from his mahogany writing-table one cannot
help noticing that he has rugged on to 1t a jury
something or other of different material ana
color from the desk itself. So very unusual -
such an appendage that persons of only ordinary
curiosity smitten with desire to know
what 1t Is for. No very long acquaintance with
Professor Max Muller is necessary to find this
out. Holding the first rank as an Orfentalist, a9
a philoogist, and a picturesque and elegant
writer. he is naturally proud OF his inventive
GUS engine Is a movable rest for the right arm.
fashioned to contend against the advance or
that peculiar weakness Of the forearm whfcn
sooner or later attacks people who write a great
deal and is known as "scrivener's palsy"-an
aftliction which accounts for much OF the ieg.
ible scrawI written by men OF great mental
power. This affliction. however, Professor Muller
keeps free from. and despite the vast volume or
his writings remains a stranger also to stenog-
raphers and typewriters And at seventy years.
OF age he is ready to adapt to himself the words
Of Paul Jones. and say, II haNe only begun to
work." t.,s