The Washington times., 1903-10-30
Most Eminent Man of
His Race" Suffers Apo
plectic Stroke.
ALL HOPE IS ABANDONED
Once Stood Trial for Slander
ing Prince Bismarck, But
Was Acquitted.

BERLIN. Oct. 30. = Prof. Theodore
Mommsen. the eminent German jurist
and historian. had an apoplectic stroke
today and cannot survive many hours.
Prof Mommsen's illness has monopo-
Iized public attention. II is regarded as
a great national calamity. The pro-
fessor was working on a treatise of
julius Caesars death when he was
taken sick. lie had just enough
strength to call for aid. was placed in
his bed. and has since been unable to
move.
All Hope Abandoned.
His son. who is a ProgressIsr mem
Der Of the reichstag. when seen this
morning. said:
My father is unconscious, and has
been in that state Tor twelve hours.
We have abandoned hope"
The Kaiser has ordered tnat bulletins
of the professor condition be rushed
TO him. An example OF the mans mental
activity was given a few days ago.
when he said: Except for my eyesight,
i feel fresh and vigorous. 1 have much
work still to accomplish
"Most Eminent German"
The stricken professor has often been
termed the most eminent German of
the present day. His work in history
and law has been of the best. and he
has won an enviable name for himself
throughout the world The professor
has lately been showing the weaknesses
of old age and his friends have felt for
some time past that he was failing
physically, although his wonderful mind
remained as clear as in his best days.
u
down by a carriage, and. though he
there Is little doubt that they were TO a
large degree the cause of his apoplectic
stroke today.
His Early Career.
Prof MoHrnsen was born IN Schleswig
November 30 1S17 From earliest boy
hood he showed a love for books, and
his career at the University OF Kiel was
a most brilliant one. After graduating
from that institution, he travelled for
three years. On his return 70 Germany
he wrote numerous articles for the
-Schleswig- -Holstein Journal" which he
conducted In 1850 he was made a
doctor of laws.
Having been dismissed from his po-
sition of professor OF laws, Leipzig. or
political affairs, ne was made titulal
professor of law at Zurich in 1852. al
Breslau in 1854, and at Berlin in 1858
In 1873 he was made professor of juris-
prudence in the University of Leipzig.
Tried for Alleged Slander.
On June Is. 1852. he was tried at Ber.
lin for having. in an election speech
slandered Prince Bismarck He was ac-
quilted. The decision was appealed and
on April z, 1883. the imperial high court
OF appeal at Leipzig finally acquitted
the professor of the charge.
He has written numerous Learned
works. has edited magnificent wori
on Latin inscriptions. published by tn,
Prussian Academy of Sciences. He il
- s-Vn in countries outside Of Ger
his Earliest Inhabitants o.
published In 1853. and Hi
( Rome, published in 1862 II
King Of Italy conferred on hin
I'd Cross of the Order OF SIS
and Lazarus.
dis English Admirers.
OF the light in which his work
tf held in English literary cir
obtained in 1880 when the pro
magnificent library was de.
Y fire. Immediately a number
iglish admirers took up a sub
and presented him with Sc
classical and historical books
81. England
on the occasion Of his seven
thday, a congratulatory ad.
yned by siXty-two professors
fllt to him by members OF tn
y of Oxford.