The evening times., 1900-01-20
TO HONOR DR.. FURNIVALL.
4 Movement to Celebrate the Great
Scholars Birthday.

BALTIMORE, Jan. 2O.-Dr. J. W. 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-fifth anniversary of the birth
of Dr. Furnivall, the great English scholar,
in a fitting way. The formation of the
committees and their general purpose was
described last autumn, when Or. Bright
and Dr. c. L. Kittridge, of Harvard, were
appointed honorary secretaries for America.
The statement of the secretaries explains
itself:
DR. Furnivali will be seventy-five years
cid on the 4th OF next February, and il is
proposed that the congratulations OF his
friends take shape % in personal pres
ent. % in a Festschrift FESTIVAL book
and 90 in a public endowment. Dr. Fur
nivalIs fondness for sculling suggests a
boat as an appropriate personal present
For the Festschrift. 10 the contents of
which English scholars in both Europe
and America will contribute. Profs. Sksat,
I Napier and ker have promised their edi-
t0rial services These first two objects are
already provided FOR by nr. Furniyall 9
personal friends. For the public Jndow-
msut a public subscription is Of course
Necessary. Tbs endQwment IS to be a
frnd Which shall put The Early English
Text society on a firm financial basis.
America has been asked TO cooperate
with England in this tribute Of respect
and affect 1u 20 one q the most helpful.
devoted and unsclhish scholars of our
time The invitation is most appropriate.
for Ur Frruiyall's outspoken sympathy
win our institutions and his countless
fftors fo American scholars have endear-
I'D aim fo as ala Nowhere are his services
tO learning more generally understood and
auVrr..arrl than in America. Every
reader 1f Chaucer Acknowledges heavy
dsIf ot gratitude 20 the founder and di-
rector of the Chaueer Society Everybody
who uses the great oxford dictionary re-
members that without Dr. FurniyaIl il
never would have come into existence.
tuI these are but Two examples Of the
benefits which this sacrificing worker
has conferred on his generation.
To the Early English Text Society DR.:
Furnivall has devoted what may almost
be called the work OF a 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 moderate
price. The society has never had sub
scribers enough, however, to enable it to
work al the top of its speed, and it has
no permanent fund. The friends of DR..
Furniyall, 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.. Furnivail or their
sympathy with the project by giving what
they can"