New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
RTCkERT THE POET.
MAN MULLER'S RECOILECTIOES
From Cosmopolis.

From Cosmopols.
II had strong. personal liking for Rickert. 1t
might be excused. He was really AN Eastern poet
ricn In color. but equally rich In thought. His
rnnslations of Oriental poetry. sanscrit. Persian.
away ones breath by the extraordinary faithful
ness and marvellous reproduction In German OF
TO be possible once. and only. whether In
Persian; Arabic. or sanscrit, may have been in,
regard for the poet. but for all that. i should
strongly advise all who care for poetry. and for
German poetry. TO judge for themselves and not
10 be dishcartened II they do not strike gold on the
first pages they open.
n number OF the most eminent men in Germany
TO Berlin Berlin by Itself is attractive. and It
in Germany had chosen the South. rather than the
North. for their residence. The Brothers Grimm,
TO Berlin by large salaries, and among them was
Rtckert not so much the Oriental scholar as the
misgivlngs, and announced lectures Arabic.
Persian and other Oriental languages. But ne could
little Landgut Neusess. near coburg. and thither
he felt so strongly drawn during the summer that
ton for leave Of absence during each summer.
This was mos graciously granted by the King. but
during particularly scgere winter This too was
granted though the Minister ventured to say:
But my dear Professor, If you are always absent
during the summer semester. and now ask for
leave OF absence during the winter semester also.
when do you mean to l.cture? Nor vas this all.
When J. called on the professor to enter my name
for his lectures on the "Gul!stan. a Persian poem.
broad shouldcred giant whom the Duchess had de-
scribed 10 me. He wore a long dressing gown. and
his hair was hanging wildly about his temples.
Why do you want 10 learn Persan?' he said 7
huNb% explained M: reason EFT is no use your
know Arabic" To this I was able to reply that j
had studied Arabic for year under Professor
not to be foled He wanted to get away to Neusess.
bni at the same time TO be able to satisfy the
lecture You know" he said tres faciuni col H.
lesnm. ! cannon lecture for one" This
que'ie. so ! bowel ana went into the highways
and hedscs to secure the help Of two commones.
once more in his den. All three OF US told him that
we were most NOS. ANXIOUS to D., Learn. Persian.
scholar lie was then called Paul B5ttichsr' but
ne Is best known by his later name. Paul de La,
IN uncommon accumulation Of knowledge. When
first with a very good grace; but he soon be-
came most delightful We were really working
son OF his Old friend Wilhelm Miller. nothing
could exceed his kindness to me At first he often
confessed that he had forgotten his Persian. but
with every week 1t seemed 10 come back to him.
Nothing more was said about Neusess and the
fields and meadows and woods that he had to de
sert for our sakes Whatever may have been said
about Ruckert AS professor he was more useful
fessors who year after year read their lectures
large admiring audiences.
Il cannot teach you Persian" he used TO say 81
can only tell YOU and show you how to learn it.
learned everything know by myself and so can
We Will work together, but that Is all [ can
do" 1t astounding TO see how this giant had
worked all by himself No one at that time thought
for instance. OF studying Tamil He showed me
he had copied and added himself He had studied
Chinese too He was far advanced In Sanscrit and
Zead. and In Arabic ard Persian he had proba bly,
read more though IN his own way. than many a
learned professor. Such honest student as
Rtckert was could do more good TO his pupils I'm
one hour than others By a whole semester OF lect-
urinR. And this Is the secret OF the success OF
German professors. They take their pupils into
their workshops. they do not keep them standing
and gaping the show window. Thus the i'm
mense advantage which English universities enjoy
IN being able 10 combine professional with tutoriel
teaching II made up to certain extent by the de-
yoton Of German professors. who give lp their
time I'm their semnares and so-called societies for
work md do wish be simply crammed for
examinations They make friends OF their pupils.
their pupils proud 10 do much Of the drudgery
work for them. while they remain for lie their
grateful pupils and aftcrward their LOYAL col
leagues After tenn was over, there was OF coursr.
no holding Ruckert In Berlin. but he invited me To-
him AT Neusess which few years afterwarl
| did
There found the old man working In his farm
yard like real peasant pitchforking manure into
his cart, and carting II OF 10 the fields. He
delighted 10 see me- and when he had washed his
ands he came into his study to shake hands. ard
gagged Rickert scholar with whom couli
DISCUSS any question quite freely Even II one had
To difcr from him. he was never offended ny
tradiction When he could not agree he used 10
say I'VE VIII leave this for the present. and dis
II another time