The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-18
languages; at 20, twenty; at 22 he passed
Into the land of the great departed,
Into the silent land

languages; at 20, twenty; at 22 he passed
Into the land of the great departed,
Into the silent land.
He undertook, in his thesis before the
University of Paris, to dispute in any Of
twelve languages-Hebrew, Syriac, Ara
bic, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian,
French, English, German, Flemish and
Slavonic. Whatever exaggeration may
be in the accounts concerning him, this
thesis shows that he did not fear the
test in many languages.
Ireland had, and still has, some lin
guist OF high repute. In Donegal in
1869, was born James Junius-who after
wards assumed the name OF Toland His
name is associated with Deism, into
versant with more than ten languages,
Sir William Jones, an Englishman, who
has gained merited renown as an Ori-
entalist In his time, also, citizen OF
Dublin, William Marsden, distinguished
himself considerably. DR.. Adam Clarke,
distinguished among dissenting divines,
and one who knew several tongues, was
another Irisllman, being born at Mag
herafelt, county Derry. Matching Admir-
able Crichton was "Donal ma Creme or
Donal ''of the Sum-" his universal ac-
complishments are sung by bard in
Irish. He led the fashions, and shone as
host, doctor. peace-maker, head-breaker,
swimmer, goal-player, shoemaker. black
smith, tailor, weaver, potter, glazier, boat
builder, and saddler. So the song as
serts, and concludes:
All airs, pure or garfield that ever was
warbled
By harpers or singers,
He had on his fingers;
Greek Erse, English, Latin all these he
was pat in,
And what you might term all
O'erwhelmer in German!
Cardinal Mezzofanti's is a name which
must be regarded as the browning glory
among names OF celebrated linguists. He
was born at Bologna. in 1774. His father
carefully attended to as it was possible
under the circumstances. The young
Merchant had the good fortune to meet
with school in which were several men,
bcrs OF the suppressed order of the Jes-
uits, who had been missionaries, and thus
had among them the means OF imparting
to him the rich fruits of their linguistic
experience.
Cardinal Merchant was particularly
distinguished from the common run OF
linguists, by the correctness and huency
with which lie spoke languages, and even
dialects. He not only knew, for instance,
the English tongue, and spoke it with
the ease of a native, but with Lowland
Scotch. and the dialects Of Somerset
shire. Yorkshire, and Lancashire, he was
equally conversant. 81, OH one occa-
sion,' writes an English gentleman,
when going to the Vatican library to
visit Merchant, took with me an Eng
fish family who were most DESTROYS Of
being introduced to him. Merchant
demonstrated good humoredly with me
for bringing people to see him, as il lie
were worthy OF being visited, but he re-
ceived our party with his labitual polite
ness. The gentleman whom intro
duced. begged as a favor that he would
tell him how many languages he could
speak. I have heard many different ac-
counts. he said, but will you tell me
YOURSELF
after some hesitation, Merchant an
swered, We'll, if you must know, I speak
iorty-five languages He then begged
lis to excuse him, and called one OF the
librarians to show us the principal curl-
osities Of the library. On our return we
found him seated with young German
artist, who he told us, was going to
Constantinople. I am teaching him
Turkish before he goes he continued,
and as he speaks modern Greek very
WE'LL use that language as the means OF
my instruction. l had the honor OF Civ
ing some lessons on modern Greek to
your poet; Lord Byron, when he was in
Bologna"
Byron has written OF him thus. GIN
general do not draw well with literary
men, He then excerpts. Scott Moore
Shelly, and continues, as to others: 81
don't remember a man amongst them
whom ever wished to see twice, except,
perhaps, Merchant. who is a monster
of languages, the Briareus OF parts of
speech, walking polyglot and more
who ought to have existed at time OF the
Tower OF Babel as universal Interpreter.
He is indeed marvel-unassuming
also Hc says he tried him in all the
tongues i'll which he knew single ex-
clamation, 'and egad he astonished me
even to my English