New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-20
PROFESSOR MoMMsEN.
RecOllectiOns of Him in His Family Life.
From The Pail Mall Gazette.

From The Pail Mall Gazette.
He was an ideal German professor; a true
German patriot; model father Of family and
domestic man; true and loyal friend. There
was nothing Of the dusty pedant about him.
He could be savagely sarcastic to those who
were strong enough to bear IL, but in society he
was as suaVe and pleasant causeur as could
he selected anywhere. His mind was a store
house OF Information for his reading had trav-
elled over vast fields, and he had a wOndrous
memory.
Whatsoever thy hand indeth to do. do il with
al thy might" was maxim that Mommsen ad-
Nocated, and age did not interfere with his
powers Of work His friends were alarmed for
him when his valuable library destroyed by
ffe about twenty-five years ago. The deceased
" as then sixty years OF age: but he got
ever his trouble ana began again. one is re-
minded Of Moltke who. at the age OF seventy.
logan to plant trees on his country estate at
Creisau. in Silesia. Mommsen was as fond OF
flowers as Moltke was OF trees. Almost every
morning when he came down to breakfast at \
o'clock he carried vase Of flowers or 2 single
bird with him, which he admired and smelled
during his meal.
Up to within seven or eight years ago Momm-
sen used 10 get Up every morning at o'clock
and work IN his study tin \ Then he would
go 10 the dining room ana have brea kfast with
his family. He was the father OF sixteen chill
dTen IN al, or whom twelve now living
Some Of them are married. one daughter to Pro-
fessOr ~Jn MilamOWitz- M0llendorf This di-
minutive little man. with his emaciated frame
and silver locks reaching TO his shoulders was
The last would have expected to be a friend
Of children: and yet IL so. They reveIled
IN MS company, and sought II. Nevertheless
when he was preoCcUpled. he could not recognize
his own offspring one day. when sitting In the
tramcar on his way from Charottenburg a
little boy near him disturbed him by chatterinR
loudly as he was reading, according TO his
wont.
What is your name, yOungster?" he said in
a sharp tone intending tc scold him: and 10 his
surprise the boy pronounced the word "Momm-
sen" II was not TIN then that the professor
became aware that he talking TO his own
son. Earlier IN life he pushed his infant who
had been confded 10 his care in his study, into
the waste paper basket, and covered him up
With papers.
Mo7nrsen was a lover Of punctuality. Break
fast was served at o'clock sharp in his house
young lady staying with his daughters rarely
appeared at table al the appointed time. One
morning he turned upon her: 1t is 3 pity you
cant serve your tine IN the army; you would
learn the difference between eight and half
past" Obviously. Molnmsen as q patriotic Ger
nan had good reason for commanding univer
EaI serVice-if for Lothing better. in order that
the young men should learn punctuality.
The late professors recreatiOns were enjoyed
az home. He was truly domestic. He
great reader u hction and perused novels with
as much accuracy and attention as books Of
great depth Of learning. II was a relief and
pleasure 10 him 70 analyze all The characters OF
his novel OF an evening he used 10 work with
his family in the drawing room, and could al
ways follow the train OF thought or the general
copgeTsa=oH-