The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-10

about the latter. That he Is an honor- ary member of the Netherlands Society of Arts, Science and Literature. and a fellow of the British academy and that he was for many years president of the Pathological society, the famous body that, of course, originated the whole die tionary scheme. Also that he has been editor of 'The Academy and is the au- thor of many works whose titles. such as "The Story of the Goths," "The Mak- I ing of English "Caxton's Dialogues" and "Gamner Gurtons Needle besides the mention of articles in the "Encyclo- pedia Brittanica's and the Dictionary of National Biography, all reveal the pro- found scholar, Not to mention the fact that he has edited the portions of the Oxford English dictionary comprising E, F, G. L and NJ"
 But a mutual acquaintance told me that Henry Bradley's life was like an Ara bian Nights story" Prompt result. a re- quest to be allowed to call upon him, and the discovery that Bradley must confess that he had no relish' for being inter- viewed 'It Is less painful than having a tooth extracted" he wrote. "but it lasts longer. And the patient cannot. in the nature of things. have the benefit of anesthetics." But in the end Bradley i consented, and bade me come to Ox- | ford and do my worst.
 One discovers Britain's new lexicograph- | CT amongst stately surroundings, stately and historic ones. At the end or the ride from the station you find yourself In Broad street, flat cross in the road way of which indicates the spot where Ridley and Latimer suffered their mar tyrdom, while Cranmer looked on from his prison window across the way. And the cab drops you in front of three beau- tiful and obviously ancient buildings the central circular in shape, with balconies and dome, and those on either side 1.f1 fa, ing you atop of the Iron fencing Is long row of classic heads, IT in all, and ranged in a semi-circle. like nigger min- strels, the faces of which have been eaten away by a couple of centruies of wind and rain.
 The central building is the famous Shel- donian theatre, built by Wren partly as a home for the University Printing Press and now the scene of the annual con- memoration where Oxford degrees are conferred on eminent scholars and others. The building on the left, pillared and surmounted by statues, is the old Clar: endon building, which the famous peer of that name built with the proceeds of his History of the Rebellion It, in its turn. was for many years the home Of the University Press, now housed in modern building. and today consists of offices for various delegacies connect , ed with the university. And the last Of
 
 old Ashmclean building-so-called because it was built. in 1882. to contain the won derful collection of curiosities presented to the university by Elias Ashmole, and which is now occupied by the compilers Of the great English dictionary. and also | by the University School of Geography.
 Here Henry Bradley is waiting to well come us. At 6S he is the typical scholar. bearded spectacled, with kindly, good
 natured, contemplative eyes. and stoop- shouldered, with much bending over ! learned tonnes. A bit of shy man who
 warns gradually with talk but who is far from having lost his humanity in the
 library and who appreciates good stories
 and tells em.
 .So you consider that my history has been rather uncommon?" said he, this
 as we paced the paved courtyard at
 the rear of the Sheldonian theatre. Well, 1 perhaps 1t has!'
 q should like to begin at the very beginning" he went on, because l can
 thus explain things better. By acci-
 dent I was born at Manchester but my
 real home was Brimington. little place
 near Chesterfield, which we used to call
 the town with the crooked steeple' My
 father was flour-miller by trade, and
 had been fairly rich man. but had lost
 most of his means before I appeared upon
 the scene. I was a sickly child, but
 perhaps had somewhat acute intelli- gence. At all events I was said to have l read Robinson Crusoe' when l was years old When I was g attended a grammar school at Chesterfield. walking
 a couple of miles to get there, and con- | tinued to do aso until I was IA. That l was the whole of my schooling, but I had the advantage of a master who was
 a real genius in his profession and in addition one of the broadest men that l have ever met. As a result of his teach ing I got what was probably some l what remarkable knowledge of French,
 Latin and Greek, and thus was able to indulge and develop the keen interest that
 I always have had in words and their his~
 tory.
 | "When was 14 we moved to Sheffield. Soon afterward my mother fell i'll and was attended by a physician who proved a valuable friend to me. l was stili frail lad and he thought that country life was what I needed, so he appointed me half-tutor, half-companion to his own boy and so for the next two and halI years or so I lived at his place in the l country, always studying my favorite l subjects and taking long walks With my young pupil. Thirty-ive miles a day was just fair-sized tramp in our estima- tion.
 "Afterward I returned to Sheffield" Bradley went on, "and when I was H obtained my first real situation. Thls
 was a clerkship with a small firm in the hardware line-dealers in cutlery and other wares who, however, did cer- tain amount of trade in foreign countries remained with them until was 3S, de- I voting myself largely to looking after their foreign correspondence and. In the
 meantime, when was 26, married. "All the time, however, l was studying } in such time as I could, specializing al l ways in languages, particularly in Latn' Meanwhile, too, with perhaps foolish van } ity. I wrote an occasional article dealing with my speciality and sent it to some ! publication in London. publications such
 as The Academy. The Athenaeum, ana so on, and now and then was pleased