The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-14

in their own languages During the wars
with Austria and France he was an
officer Of the army aid sanitary trains
in Berlin and conducted the first sanitary
trains into the enemies territory.
Such an extraordinary record of
achievement would seem 10 have been all
that was possible for one human even
in four-score years Of intense scientific
application. Not so with Virchow. In
the midst Of his manifold scientific re
searches he found time 70 interest him
self deeply in public affairs The failure
Of the liberal movement OF 1s48 and 1875
did not lead him 10 abandon his country.
In 1883 he became city councillor Of Der
lin, position which he held and never
neglecte, for more than forty-two years.
He was elected to the Prussian Chamber
as one Of the Freisinnige or Radical
party in 1867 and served in that body
continuously until his death In this
chamber he was for twenty-five years
chairman Of the committee on finance
and 70 a very great extent he himself
laid the foundation OF the present con-
stitutional budget system Of Prussia,
just as he is also responsible for the
German laws in relation 10 fishing which
he drew up or inspired when at the head
OF the German Fishing Association.
From 1880 TO 1893 ne was, in addition 20
his other activities. member of the
Reichstag. in which ne represented a
Berlin constituency until ousted by the
Social Democrats characteristically
stupid performance in view Of the
Virchow had conferred upon mankind in
general and his countrymen in 1x.rtic-
ulsr and in view OF his liberal political
opinions. Il was chiefly owing TO him
that Berlin has become one Of the health
lest cities in the world. Under his direc-
ton an ample supply Of pure water was
obtained, while his advocacy secured for
the city a model system of sewage and
sewage farms. Nearly every hospital in
Berlin bears traces Of mis- initiative or
great museums dedicated TO the educa-
ton OF the public and were either entirely
created OF greatly enlarged BY him.
notably the chronological and Patholog-
ical Museums. But If the Social-Demo-
Gratis were blind to these things and to
the enormous advantages resulting from
his being in the Reichstag. Berlin hss
again and again marked its sense of its
overwhelming and everlasting obligs ton
to him. as by giving his name to the
enormous new hospital now nearing
completion.
Professor Virchow was a most valuable
legislator. While not an orator he was
an able aud effective speaker, who never
failed TO grasp the situation under dis
cussion in all its bearings. On his feet
virchow was exceedingly calm and delib-
crate and was never carried away by
passion and his spokan sentences. scarcely
distinguishable from his written ones.
are clear forcible. logical and convincing.
None held the privileges OF the represen-
tatives Of the people so dear as this man
Of genius Nothing which came before
the Chamber or Reichstag was Of too
slight Importance to merit his interest.
He was always listened TO with the
deepest attention. particularly when he
spoke on the 'Kultur Kampf." a name
invented by him which has become part
of the language and is row the only term
used 10 describe the contest between reli-
gion and the state.
With Bismarck. man Of virchow's
liberal views was naturally at swords
point. and few, if any, of his opponents
worried the great chancellor as much as
this indomitable and magnihcently cOUra-
geous scientist. So bitter indeed. became
their differences that Bismarck chsl-
lenged him TO duel. A combat was.
however. prevented by the intercession Of
friends. but the controversies between
the two form some Of the most interest
ing passa ges in Bismarcks life and are
given very considerable space in the
biographies OF the chancellor. In 1887
Virchow paid for his radical.sm by being
deprived of the rectorate OF the Univer-
sity of Berlin. in which he was, how
ever. triumphantly reinstated in 1892.
Naturally this punishment, for which
Bismarck was largely responsible. was
as little able TO affect Virchows views
and the vigor OF his language as had
been his removal from his lectureship at
the beginning of his great career
In person Yirchow was Of less than
tho average stature and OF very winning
and attractive manners. His expression
said one Of his students recently. is
that Of extraordinary courage: his atten-
ton once drawn TO you. YOU feel as If
he were fixing you in focus on the object
glass OF his microscope But there was
nothing unfriendly in this gaze. Indeed,
his manner frequently deserved the ad-
jective charming. particularly at the din
uer table, and on special occasions and
few great men have been distinguished
by Ike modest and unseldshness- His
worldwide travels gave him additional
breadth OF mind and recognition Of the
aspirations and achievements Of other
nations which was quite free from any
narrow bias OF nationality. When he went
20 England in 1SSs TO lecture before the
Royal Society Of Medicine his speech was
most generously appreciauve Of the lab
OTIS and achievements Of English scien-
uac men Indeed. he may De said 10 have
taught the English to value the forgotten
rarne Of ellison. while IN Italy he in
formed the Italians OF their debt 20
MorgaggnL For America and American
inspirations he always showed great in
terest. understanding and appreciation
although he never visited this country.
The celebration q his seventeen and
eightieth birthdays were marked events
IN the history q science Even royalty
was constrained TO recognize the intel
lectual eminencs 81 this unConquerable
political free-thinker. Few men. 4 any.
have ever enjoyed such international
acclaim as came 20 this Intellectual giant
and king Of science on those occasions.
and 20 Few men has IT been given 20 DO
SO much 10 uplift their fellow-men and
10 add 50 much 20 the sum of human
knowledge we now oTer our saiuta-
tlons 70 Claude Bernard on his entrance