Evening star., 1915-07-25
American Murderer Helped Write Oxford Dictionar

1851, transferring his headquarters
and staff to Oxford. where the making
of the dictionary has gone on ever
since. And so, with these necessary
well be deemed incredible We're it not
abundantly authenticated.
1t was Sir James Murray's custom,
whenever he was ready to start on a
new word. to send it out to all of his
army Of volunteer readers. who forth
with supplied the earliest possible
quotation which they could discover in
which the word in question was used.
When this had been going on for
some time. Sir James discovered that
some of the most valuable quotations
that reached him, together with some
of the most scholarly comments there
upon. were forwarded by one who, be-
cause that is not his name shall be
Crowthorne, small village in Berk-
shire. This contributors identity puz-
zled Sir James more than a little, the
more so as he soon came to realize
that the latter's knowledge of the sub
ject of philology could not be far be-
hind his own, if, indeed, it were not
superior.
So much did Sir James esteem the
mysterious DR.. Blank, in fact, that
whenever he had completely finished
his analysis of the history of any one
word ne was in the habit of sending
the full notes connected Herewith to
his correspondent in Crowthorne for his
final revision. which more often than
not was productive of some important
addition or exceedingly Illuminating
criticism or other comment.
For many months this went on.
Eventually. SO much did Sir James feel
himself and Oxford University in the
debt of the mysterious savant, regard
ing whose social status the distin-
even guess, that he one day ap-
preached the university heads and
pointed out that it would. so he con-
sidered, be graceful and we'll merited
act on their part if an invitation were
sent to the Berkshire savant, asking
him to be the guest of the university
for week. during which time every
possible honor should be paid to him.
The powers-that-be at the university
readily agreed, and the invitation was
sent. In due course a reply was re-
ceived from DR.. Blank, in which he ex-
pressed his deep appreciation of the in
vita ation. which he described as the
greatest honor ever shown him, but re-
GREETED profoundly that it was impos-
sible for him to accept it. This reply
came as considerable disappointment
to Sir James. Murray, who had looked
forward with keen pleasure to hob
nODDlng with mis- unknown COllea que,
who, he now surmised, must be a poor
man. unable to bear the expense of the
proposed journey.
Accordingly. on behalf of the univer-
sity, Sir James wrote once more. ex-
planning that. if the question of ex-
pense was the stumbling block, DR..
Blank was to understand that their
invitation began on his doorstep and
ended there, and that all parties con-
cerned hoped sincerely that he would
not deprive them of the privilege Of
entertaining him.
The doctors reply came promptly.
He stated that the reasons which made
1t impossible for him to visit the uni
versity were not financial, but physical
ones. He added, however, that, as it
would give him the keenest pleasure
to have an opportunity of making the
acquaintance of Sir James. he begged
that the proposition should be reversed,
and that Sir James would be his guest
for day or two, and this at as early