The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-25
QUEER OLD PROF. MOMMSEN.
Likes Good Dinners, Reads and Re-
members All Sorts of Things.
London Telegraph.

Mommsen is not at all a gourmand, but
as fine taste, even in the matter of food,
is always to be appreciated, may say that
he is rather gourmet, and is not obliviouS
of the food he is eating. | remember his
telling me once that he had not enjoyed
his evening because he had so much diff
Guilty in suppressing his desire to tell the
lady of the house what mistake she made
in not giVil g her guests the leaves of the
artichokes, as well as the fronds. rather
think that the enjoyment of dinner, or
criticism of it. when he is out, is part of
the thoroughneSs of MommSen'S character,
for l have noticed that at home he eats
not eat at all if his family were not always
on the outlook, and coaXed him to do so;
but if he is out to dine, he pays attention
to the business on hand. AT the first din
ner at which | met him he asked me sew
eral things about modern English writings,
and noticed that he was great admirer
of Bryon in fact, believe he opened the
conversation with a quotation from Don
JUAN and asked me for the context. Sub
sequent conversations with him have put
me into state of establishment; his reading
is so vast and his memory the most wonder
full: He not only remembers the things read
in his youth, or quite lately, but all things,
from whatever time; he seems capable of
pointing his memory, as it were, at any
thing which has come across the path of his
brain.
Nobody wants telling that he is an inces-
SAINT worker and as such rises very early
up at 5 o'clock ready to work on a cup
of cold coffee put ready for him over night.
In his personal requirements he IS the
most modest of men. and by no means
breakfast with his wife and five daughters
still at home, and he likes everybody to be
there. One young lady who was staying in
the house not infrequently not up to
time. This neglect did not escape his no
tice. 1T is pity you can't serve your year
in the army" he remarked; you would
learn the difference between 8 and $50. .
He can be very cutting in his remarks
sometimes. but they are always tempered
to the shorn lamb, though the full-grown
can. The Berliners, who dearly love their
little jokes, tell many a story of his absent
mindednesS, and he has even been credited
with not having recognized his own little
son and with having asked him his name
preparatory to requesting him not to make
quite so much noise in the public tram car
in which he was going to town from his
home in Charlottenburg; and 1t IS anthem
tic that he put his first baby into the waste
paper basket one day and covered it up be-
devoted to children and has had plenty of
opportunity for ndulging in this taste, as
he has still twelve living children, and a
younger generation Is rising
About o'clock In the evening he comes
downstairs to join the family circle. often
carving a vase of flowers or a single bud,
which he places before him, taking 1t up
from time to time to admire and smell.
He loves flowers, and knows all about their
Municipalities and fragrance. During the
evening with his family he works. but at
the same time he attends to all that is go
ing on around him. taking part also, in the
general conversation. His recreation con-
ssts in reading fiction, and invariably
characters of the books, scrutinizing them
with the utmost Zest. MOmmSen's rule in
ali things is: whatever thy hand tindeth
to do, do it with all thy might"