The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-02
AS A JACKIE.
James Taft Hartford Has Gone to the
Front


Author.
There are many scholars In the navy.
and at least one college president, Rev.
Allan d. Brown, LII. D., president of
the Norwich, VT, University, who is a
commander on the retired list and on
duty at the Charlestown navy yard, but
there is but one man in the forecastls of
an American war ship who possesses a
record for brilliant scholarship and Is
known the world over as a writer and
educator.
This man is James Taft Hatfield pro-
lessor of the German language and litera-
ture in the Northwestern University, who
has obtained year. leave of absence and
enlisted in the navy as an ordinary sea-
man. At last accounts this remarkable
man, one of the greatest students in the
country and recognized by the most emil
nent philnlogists of Europe as one of the
best Germanio scholars in America, was
scrubbing the decks of the auxiliary
cruiser Yale. lying at anchor of Norfolk.
His pay is $40 month.
10 say that Evanston and Northwestern
universities are proud Of this distin-
guished recruit to the ranks of the volun-
teer navy is to state the case mildly. But
the whole country, when it learns Of his
extraordinary sacrifice, will pay him
homage.
And why nots That scholar of his
di stinction-one speaking and writing
five languages, including. Hindoostanee,
and occupying high position in the ed
ucational and literary world-should en-
list in the common ranks to follow the
flag in time of war is extraordinary
civil strife generation gone by.
1t has been known from the day the
present war was inaugurated that Profess
scr Hatfield was deeply interested in the
situation, and that he considered the war
a righteous one for liberty and humani-
ty. He encouraged the formation of a
company of students to volunteer for SER
vice, ana in other ways did what he
could during the early stages Of the war
to arouse the patriotic feeling of all with
whom he came in contact. Early in May
he decided to go to the war himself, and
q little later, having finished his years
work at the university, concluded all his
and obtained leave of alb
sence from the university authorities, he
took the examination for the navy in
Chicago. He then went to Pittsburg,
Pa, to bid goodbye to his WIFE, re.
turning few days later to complete his
enlistment.
On Thursday, June 9, detachment of
the Illinois naval reserves marched
through the streets of that city on their
way to Norfolk. The last man in the
ranks, going voluntarily to become a
jackie on war ship, was the
university professor, writer of textbooks
and linguist of international fame. Clad
in natty uniform, he marched proudly
along, and, so far as personal appearance
indicated, might easily have passed for
the commander of the detachment.
The academic history of Professor Hat.
field is remarkable one, especially when
it Is borne in mind that he has not vet
reached his thirty-ninth year. AS given
by Professor Henry Cohn of the North
western University. assistant professor in
German in that institution, it is as fol.
lows:
A. B., Northwestern University, 1888,
A. NJ, Northwestern University, 1886;
Phi. D., Johns Hopkins University, 1890;
Student of Sanskrit, Canning College,
Lucknow, India. 1884; Professor in Rust
University. Mississippi; Principal Mo-
Cormack school, De Funiak, Fla, 1885;
graduate student and fellow of Johns
University, 1SS7-90; student
of Bonn and Munich, 1890;
professor of German language and litera-
ture in Northwestern University, 1891.
From June /, 1896, to the autumn of
1897, attended lectures in the universities
Of Berlin, Gottingen, Leipsic, jena,
Geissen, Tubingen and Oxford.
A column of space would hardly suffice
In which to make the merest mention of
the publications Of Professor Hatfield. In
addition to those already referred to there
are fifty Others including his master
piece, "Der Rittmeister Won Alt Rosen,''
written in German, with copious notes
in English, and of which an eminent
authority had said. sit is more accurate
and satisfying than Gustav Fryetag's
original, upon which the work is based.'
AS showing the wide range Of Professor
Hatfeld's mind may mention his re-
markable work, "1he Ausanasadbhuta.
MI" edited, with translations and notes,
from the original Sanskrit manuscripts;
his "Glockenguss zu Breslau," "Eras-
mus on the Right Pronunciation of Greek
and Latin, - "James Russell Lowell, a
Leader in American Culture Tin Ger
man text), "John Wesley's TRANSACTIONS
Of German Hymns" 1.-The Minister at
Ulm" and "Church Music.
And this is the man who has put aside
his life work for time, parted from his
devoted family and enlisted for the war
as a common sailor. Similar instances
may perhaps be cited, but they are rare,
indeed.
Professor Hatfeld's mother, a woman
Of rare culture and the finest ideals, re-
Sides in Evanston She JonEad with wits