Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-03-28

icate, and extensive this part of the
work became. This was not mechanical |
labor, but required judgment as well as
care. That the task was well per-
formed is obvious to every one who has
properly used the American Revised
Version.
But the most arduous service is now
to be mentioned; namely, that of proof
reading. This probably covered at
least eighteen months, and four or five
sets of proofs must be infinitely scanned,
and corrected, if necessary. All this
labor DR.. Mead performed, and did it
without any help whatever The num-
Der of pages in the Old Testament por
ton was over nine hundred, and all
these were inspected several times.
Now proof-reading, of the usual kind,
is exacting enough. 1t calls for great
care and taxes the eyesight. But this
proof-reading was exceptionally severe.
There was at least five kinds of type on
each page, and this variation was not
continuous, but interjected, as it were.
Hence there was a constant necessity
for adjusting the eye as well as eXer-
clsing the judgment. The result of
such strain, so long continued will be
spoken of later.
1t is not strange that DIR. Dwight,
who had much experience in similar
work on the New Testament, should say
to DR.. Mead, "You are doing far more
than four times the work of any one of
us New Testament Revisers." DIR.
Day very naturally expressed himself in
these terms: providence has raised
you up to do this great work" One
more task remained: namely, the prep
aration of Preface, and this was
written by Dr. Mead himself. 1t called
for tact as well as accuracy. 1t is
unfortunate that so few read this Pre-
face. Those who do so will at once be
struck by the lucid statements it makes
of the peculiarites Of the American Re-
vision of the Old Testament. 1t is both
comprehensive and compact, and those
who are aware of its authorship will
rightly regard it as a permanent me-
mortal to the man and witness to his
immense labor
But Professor Meads bodily health
was impaired by this excessive labor,
especially that of proof-roading. 1t led
in his case to eye-strain, which, as
eminent oculists now contend, affects
the general health, and particularly the
nervous system. His hearing also was
affected, and he became subject to at
tacks of dizziness. He had hitherto
been in excellent physical condition,
but was sufferer for years after the
completion of his work on the revision,
though for two or three years previous
to his death his health seemed restored.
1t ought to be known by all American
Christians that none of the revisers
received any pecuniary compensation.
Theirs was a labor of love. In DR..
Mead's case the self-sacrifce was
doubtless greater than in that of any
other reviser. He had no time for any
remunerative labor. He declined many
flattering offers from publishers anC
institutions. All this deserves to be
put on record.
1t may be added that after the ap
pearance of the Standard Version h,
was obliged to answer a multitude O.
letters, either sent to him directly o.
through the publishers. Many of then
called for replies that involved research
Others were the utterances of ignor
. ance and prejudice: and these were thu
8 most difficult to answer courteously.
An interesting memento of Professo
Mead's labors is in the Day Mission
, library, of Yale university, placed Their
before his death. 1t is a mahogan,
table, with circular revolving top fiv
feet in, diameter, containing min
drawers. 1t was DIR. Mead's habit t
arrange on this table the various book
essential to his work. Bibles in vari
, Gus languages, and books of reference
! placed one behind the other in radii
:. thus facilitating his comparisons. Hi
6 own manuscript was on small portabl
:, desk lying on the table in front of him
Frequently DR.. Day sat with him besid
:, this table. and on at least two occasion
= the survivors of the Old Testament con
pany gathered about it. The place i
. which it is deposited is appropriate
g since DR.. Day was the secretary of tn
- whole committee as well as of the OIL
Testament company.
After few years of rest and foreig
g travel, Professor Mead's health ben
f apparently restored, he returned t
n New Haven, where after a very brie
q illness from pneumonia he died, on tn
i, afternoon of February Is, 1911, havin
d just passed his seventy-ffth birthday