The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20
IN DIR. FURNIvALL'S HONOR.
A Movement to Celebrate the Great
Scholars Birthday.


BALTIMORE, Jan. 19.-Dr. ]. ". Bright,
director of the Johns Hopkins department
of English, has Just issued a statement
OF the decision reached by the English and
American committees working to celebrate
the seventy-ffth anniversary Of the birth
OF DR.. Furnivall the great English scholar,
in fitting way The formation of the
committees and their general purpose was
described last autumn, when DR.. Bright
and Dr. C. L. Kittridge, of Harvard. were
appointed honorary secretaries for America
The statement of the secretaries explains
itself:
"Dr. FuTnivall will be seventy-fve years
old on the 18th of next February, and 1t is
proposed that the congratulations OF his
friends take shape % In a personal pres
enr t2) in a Festschrift FESTIVAL book,
and go in a public endowment. Dr.. Fur
nivalrs fondness for sculling suggests a
boat as an appropriate personal present
For the Festschrift. to the contents OF
which English scholars in both Europe
and America will contribute. Profs. Skeat,
Napier, and Ker have promised their edi-
toriaI services. These first two objects are
already provided for by DR.. Furnivall's
personal friends. For the public endow-
ment a public subscription is OF course
necessary. This endowment is to be a
fund which shall put the Early English
Text Society on firm financial basis.
America has been asked to cooperate
with England in this tribute OF respect
and affection to one Of the most helpful,
devoted. and unselfiish scholars OF our
time. The invitation is most appropriate.
for Dr. Furnivall's outspoken sympathy
with our institutions and his countless
favors to American scholars have erdear-
IL I'll
to learning more generally understood and
appreciated than in America. Every
reader of Chaucer acknowledges heavy
debt OF gratitude to the founder aid di-
rector of the Chaucer Society. Everybody
who uses the great Oxford dictionary re-
members that without DR.. Furnivall 1t
never would have come into existence.
And these are but two examples OF the
benefits which this self-sacrificing worker
has conferred on his generation.
ITO the Early English Text Society DR..
Furnivall has devoted what may almost
be called the work OF lifetime. Its
publications are invaluable, and it is still
pushing ahead in its task of making the
manuscript literature of the old and mid
die English periods accessible to all in
Trustworthy editions and at a moderate
price The society has never had sub
scribers enough, however. to enable it TO
work at the top OF It's speed, and 1t has
no permanent fund. The friends of DR..
Furnivall, therefore. believe that no more
fitting tribute to his public services can
be paid than such an endowment Of the
society as shall ensure the continuance
OF its work The endowment is not the
concern of scholars alone, but OF every
body who is in any way interested in the
English language and English literature.
1T is believed that the amount of the
American subscription to this birthday
fund will be commensurate with the oc-
casion and the object. Some large sub
scriptions are of course looked for. But
it is hoped that the plan will appeal to
many persons who cannot afford to con-
tribute much, but who will desire to show
their gratitude to DR.. Furnivall or their
sympathy with the project by giving what
they can"