The times., 1898-08-14
GeOrg Ebers, EgyptoIcgist and RO-
q nance Writer

The death Of Georg Ebers will doubt
less revive the popularity Of some of his
books which were especial favorites TWEEN
~ years ago with American readers. 1t
has been noticed that with the death OF
an author and the biographies of him
and the anecdotes about him which are
sure to appear at that time, there is al
most sure TO be a revival of interest in
his books. Ebers' second and most popu-
lar work of historical fiction, ''Uarda, a
Romance of Ancient Egypt" appeared
in 1877, and found instant popularity not
only In his own country, but IN America
Until that time he was hardly known to
the American public at ALL and few
people were aware that he had reached
the age Of forty, and made for himself
a considerable fame as an Psychologist,
before he began work IN the realm of
fiction. So little was his personality
known in this country that at one time
an absurd rumor was started, and went
the rounds Of the newspapers, that
''Georg Ebers" was the nom de plume
OF woman. His books were read with
none the less avidity because their au-
derful vividness with which they repro
duced the atmosphere of old Egypt made
the land OF the Pharaohs a reality TO
readers who had had only the mistiest
notion of it before.
Next to the historical accuracy and
educational value of EberS work his
fame rests most securely on his plots.
Ede knew how to construct a plot as in
tricate as q Chinese puzzle and as fas-
cinating as a game of chess. There are
three novelists who can draw a striking
character TO one who can construct
good plot. But after all, Ebers' fame
will always rest as IL should on his work
as an Egyptologist. His Egyptian his
torical novels were his most remarkable
achievements in the line of fiction, and
his contributions to archaeology were by
no means small
The New York Tribune published the
most comprehensive of the many brief
biographies of Ebers. II is as follows:
George Moritz Ebers united in himself the quail
ities Of distinguished Egyptologist and OF pop
ular historical novelist. Prof Ebers was horn in
Berlin, Germany, March !, 1897. His father,
banker, died before the birth Of his son, and the
son received his early instruction from his moth
er and subsequently, studied in Froebsls school at
Keilhau. Later he attended the gynnasiuns Of
kottbus and Quedlinburg, and finally matriculated
at the University OF Gottingen as a student of
law in 1s56. But serious illness two years later
obliged him to rellnquish jurisprudence and take
up the study Of philology and classic and ORR
entail archaeology. In 1889 he attended the Uni
gersity Of Berlin, where he devoted several years
20 the study Of Egyptian languages and paleon-
tology.
Completely recovered from his illness. he now
visited several of the larger European museums
where he revelled in the magnificent collections OF
antiquities Returning to Germany in 1865, he be-
came lecturer at the University of Jena a place
which he retained until 1865 when he was ap-
pointed professor of the Egyptian languages and
archaeology. In 1869 he made an extensive Jour-
Dey in Egypt, Nubia and Arabia, by way of Spain
and Northern Africa whence he returned to the
fatherland after absence of fourteen months
10 accept the professorship Of Egyptology at the
University of Leipsic, place which he occupied
TIL his retirement in 1889. Apart from his scien
fifc services his thesis on obtaining the doctor
Rte, ''On the Twenty-sixth Egyptian Dynasty end
his larger work on Egypt and the Book Of
Noses" and his Scientific Journey to Egypt -
1869 so, were the cause of his promotion to that
chair.
The winter Of 1s72-'7s again found him In
Egypt where he made several valuable discoveries
Of which the scroll known as the Papyrus Ebeis
was the most important, and deserves especial
mention. complete description and interpreta-
tion Of this celebrated papyrus appeared In two
volumes in 1872 and made its discoverer famous
Although its contents relate TO medical subjects
into the language and culture Of the ancient
Egyptians.
In 1876 Prof. Ebers had severe attack of pa
ralysis, which prevented him from walking. To
this illness the further development of his literary
activity Is mainly attributable for since the state
OF his health incspacitated him from pursuing
more serious studies, he sought and obtained q
means of recreation and agreeable occupation in
imaginative composition. This was the origin Of
''URrda, Romance OF Ancient Egypt" his sec
ond work of fiction, following IAN Egyptian
Princess" the former appearing in 1877, and the
latter in 1864. His other novels include ''Homo
Sum- Qs7s), The Sisters QssO), 'The En-
peror and the Burgomasters Wife, Qss1), "Only
a Word" f1SsS), t'Serspis' 0ss5), 'Margery''
(Iss9), per Aspers'' Qse2), Cleopatra" (s9i),
t'In the Fire Of the Forge (1s95), '1n the Blue
Pike" 1se6), Barbara Blomberg' C1S9D and
"AFachne" (lsos).
But Ebers did not devote the latter years of
his life altogether to the writing OF ronances.
Among his later works on Oriental subjects were
Through Goshen 10 Sinai'' Qs72), Egypt, De-
srfptiye, Historical and Picturesque" Qs7s), and
Palestine, Descriptive, Historical and Pictur-
esque'' QssI, written in collaboration with Gu
the. He also published in 1856 'Lorenz Alma
1adema; His Life and Work. In 1898 Eng
iish translation of his autobiography appeared,
Hith the titles STORY Of Ny Lie"