The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-20
TO HONOR DR.. FURNIvALL.
4 Movement to Celebrate the Grear
SchnInr,s HirIhhmN.

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-ffth 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 Dr. Bright
and DR.. G. L. KiJtridge, Of Harvard. were
appointed honorary secretaries for America
The statement Of the secretaries explains
itself.
DIR. Furnivall will be seventy-fve years
old on the 4th Of next February, and il is
proposed that the congratulations Of his
friends take shape CD in personal pres
ent, % in a Festschrift FESTIVAL book,
and CD in a public endowment. Dr.. Fur
nivall'S fOnduess 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 KeT have promised their edi-
torial services. These first two objects are
already provided for by Dr. FurniYalTs
personal friends. For the public endow-
ment public subscription is Of course
necessary. This endowment is to be a
fund which shall put tie 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 unselhish scholars Of our
time The invitation is most appropriate.
for DR. FuruivalIs OutspOken sympathy
with our Institutions and his countless
g.
ed him 10 as all. Nowhere are his services
TO learning more generally understood and
appreciated than in America. Every
reader OF Chaucer acknowledges a heavy
debt Of gratitude to the founder and di-
rector Of the Chaucer Society Everybody
who uses the great oxford dict onary re-
members that without DR.. Fu-nivan IL
never would have come into existence.
And these are but two examples Of the
benefits which this self-sacridcing 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 IT'S
publications are invaluable and IL is still
pushing ahead in It's task of making the
manuscript literature Of the old and mid
die English periods accessible TO all in
trustworthy editions and at q moderate
price. The society has never had sub
scribers enough, however, to enable il to
work at the top of its speed. and il has
no permanent fund. The friends OF DR..
FUrnivail, 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 viii 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 20
many persons who cannot afford to con-
tribute much. but who will desire 20 show
their gratitude to DR.. FurnivaI or their
sympathy with the project by giving what
they can"