MINUTE ON PROFESSOR ALLEN.

On the 4th day of August last died suddenly, in the full vigor of his maturity, Frederic De Forest Allen, for for seventeen years Professor of Classical Philology in this University.

He was born at Oberlin, Ohio, on May 25th, 1844, of old New England stock on both sides. The house of his grandfather in Mansfield, Massachusetts, is still occupied by members of his family. He was graduated at Oberlin College in 1863, and after teaching some years he went to Leipsic to continue his studies, where he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1870. On his return home he taught in Tennessee University. A brilliant paper which he read at the meeting of the American Philological Association in 1871 attracted the attention of several members of this faculty, notably of the late Professor Gurney; and in 1873 he was called to our University as Tutor in Greek. In 1874, however, he became Professor of Ancient Languages in the new University of Cincinnati. From Cincinnati he was invited to Yale University in 1879; and in 1880 he accepted an appointment to our own University as Professor of Classical Philology. This last position he continued to occupy till his death, with the exception of the year 1885-6, when he had leave of absence to be Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

During his whole professional career he was engaged in investigations in the field of Classical Philology, the results of which are scattered through classical journals, transactions, and other periodicals in this country and in Germany. His longest and most important work is on Greek verification in inscriptions. A little work of his entitled "Remnants of Early Latin" is also a valuable contribution to science. He also entirely rewrote Hadley's Greek Grammar. At the time of his death he had on hand an extensive work on the Scholia of Plato; but he needed another year abroad for its completion. He was also engaged in the study of Greek and Italic religions, for which work he had a peculiar fitness; and, had he lived, he would have soon made contributions to the History of Religions generally which would have thrown light on many doubtful points in that science.

But the best and most productive of his efforts were given to this University; and he contributed as much as any single man to the establishment of our Graduate School. He had a rare combination of qualities, both of mind and of temper, to make him a superior teacher of advanced pupils. For him classical learning was no mere accomplishment, a pleasing ornament for a man of letters, but an important branch of Anthropology, giving insight into the mental operations and intellectual and moral growth of ancient peoples. To him literature and monuments were records of life, and were to be interpreted by that and in turn themselves to interpret it. He said once, laughingly, that we called the Romans ancient, but when they were alive they thought themselves as modern as anybody there was. If he was discussing the etymology of words, he had no fine spun theories, but considered always how the minds of the people amid their surroundings worked in their habitual thought to make words.

So he was constantly an indefatigable investigator. No tradition, however generally received, was a sufficient basis for knowledge. He must have the ultimate facts, or he was content, as he used to say, to leave things unexplained.

Having a confidence in his own judgment which might seem to some almost obstinacy, he had no pride of opinion whatever, and no one could be more tolerant of others' views, or more ready to receive suggestions and evidence. Knowing well the nature of all investigation, his views were always in a plastic state. Whatever conclusions he reached were only working hypotheses to be altered by the next discovery. He had also an infinite patience with even the errors of those who wished to learn, and great acumen in discovering the exact misconception that caused the error. His style of exposition was con cise and clear, with a certain quaintness proceeding from a delicate sense of humor so subtle as hardly to be recognized except by his intimate friends. He added to these qualities a remarkable saneness of judgement. No theory, however plausible, could run away with him, and his advice, which was freely given, was marked by a steady and comprehensive soundness. His friends of every age, as well as his pupils, were wont to consult him on all sorts of subjects, with the certainty of getting illuminating and safe suggestions.

These qualities, combined with the geniality of his nature, and his sympathy with his fellows, made him one of the best teachers of mature minds we have ever had, a personal type and example of what a Graduate School should be. Our School will long retain the impress of his scholarly nature.

He had also a very keen taste for music as well as knowledge of the art and skill in composition. All this was of very great value in the study of literatures, whose whole poetry was based on that art. It was only through him that our Latin play in its ancient form became possible, and the music was all his work.

The influence of such a person, however retired his life and however hidden his activities, is incalculable and can not but be lasting.