Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-01

laws established long before Abraham left
Cr Of the Chaldees
President Pickering In. that same address
conEra atulated the society that two or three
American students were then residing IN
Germany. that greatest repository OF learn
ing. becoming acquainted with the sanskrit
lar guage. lie looked forward with much
pleasure 10 the time when American col
leEe students could have the benefit of ln-
struction in Sarskrlt by native American
scholars. Today the American colleges
ard universities would not defer even to
Germany with respect to their knowledge
OF this ancient mother tor que Of mo Ayrsn
races. Il Is also fact worthy OF note that
the only college in the world devoted ex-
clusively to the study Of Sanskrit is con
Quoted By American teachers and American
money in Ceyion. one OF the most erudtte
linguists In the Buddist world. n mastrr
both OF sanskrit and OF the sacred Pail
lar guage. was formerly barber in san
Francisco, and although his English stin
bears the unm'staknble stamp Of his erst.
while surroundings. his perfection in Orien-
tai languages makes his position as the
abbot OF a Buddhist monastery secure
The second president OF the society was
Rev. Edward Robinson. elected in
ls4i The active membership Of the society
at that ti1e included such men as Edward
Everett. then president Of Harvstd; rh,o
dcre Dwight Woolsey, president Of Yale
Theodore Parker. the eminent divine; Noe
Webster the great lexicographer. an,
Caleb Cushing New England's most astutc
politician. The honorary membership in
cluded the names Of many Of the great
European professors. and, most notable OF
ali, Sir William Bell who had but re-
Gently founded the great Calcutta institu-
ton for the study OF the 400 languages Of
Hindustani
DR.. Robinson had been. in lSll. the di-
rector Of the earliest considerable Ameri-
can archaeological research expedition. His
book, biblical Researches in Palestine
Mount Sinai and Arabia" had marked the
beginning Of a new epoch Of research and
study with relation to the history and Lam
guages of the peoples mentioned in the
Bible. Under Or. Robinson's leadership the
society prospered exceedingly and soon be-
came recognized as one OF the most useful
scholarly societies In the world
Its great progress is indicated by the
fact that its journals show in it's earlier
years lectures delivered and papers read
treating the most elemental features Of
oriental languages. while in recent years
whole series OF papers will discuss the use
Of a single word in some language dead
for 1000 years
feature Of the present meeting in Bal
timore will be an address to be delivered by
Prof. Edouard Meyer, the German exchange
professor, who is in America as a result
OF the agreement between the German
emperor and President Roosevelt This
fact is, in Itself a striking commentary on
A..
ing the lifetime of this society.
Although the society always has been
composed Of learned linguists, its member
ship is not limited to protessed Orientalists,
and any person who Is interested in the
Orient and its languages may become a
member. 1t has also a section devoted to
the study of the history of religions. and
this section is also open to any who may
be interested in the subject, For all this
llberality, 1t remains a fact that the society
is composed almost exclusively Of persons
whose interest is that OF pure scholarship.
There is a movement 70 bring about a
material broadening OF the scope Of the
society by means of a campaign TO popular
dze the study OF living Oriental languages
for political and business purposes. The
rise of Japan to a place among the Great
Powers, the awakening OF China and the
increasing participation in western affairs
by Oriental peoples make it imperative for
business men and dlplomatists to pay closer
attention to Oriental studies The United
States government maintains a corps of
student interpreters at Toxic and Peking,
something not needed in any country speak
ing an Occidental language. If the colleges
would ground young men fitting for bust
ness or diplomatic service in the Chinese
and Japanese languages, much could be
done to increase the American prestige in
the far east. The colleges, or course, are
willing, and the American Oriental society
is more than willing. to assist. What is
needed is the public recognition Of the i'm
portance OF this branch Of education.
The American Oriental society during the
sixty-eIRht years Of its life has collected an
invaluable library relating to Asiatic, Afri-
can and Polynesian languages This library
is deposited at Yale university and is
available for the use OF all students. Annual
meetings are held in Easter week at diff
fersnt colleges and universities. The meeing
in Baltimore today will be one Of the larg-
est ever held.
RY FREpBRIO J. HAsKH.
TomorroW|'6rand opera"