ago, twenty mounted heads, ten of which were said to have a spread of seventy inches or more!

The price in New York or London of a pair of moose antlers with a wing expanse of seventy inches or more varies from $200 to $500, and fully-mounted heads with such antlers bring from $100 to $200 more, provided they are well mounted and in perfect pelage. The collector who can "point with pride" to a pair of moose antlers exceeding seventy inches in spread can well afford to rest from his labors, so far as Moose are concerned.

With but very few exceptions, the really big moose heads have been killed by Indians or white "professional" hunters. So rare are such heads, even in Alaska, no gentleman sportsman can hope to take out a license for two Moose only, and have the luck to fall in with a genuine giant on short notice and according to law.

No matter how much the scientific side of horn collecting may appeal to a lover of big game, no collector with red blood in his veins can resist the desire for rarities which springs eternal in the human breast. Things of great rarity always are more interesting than those which are common; and the spice of every collection is found in the specimens which are either unique or at least very uncommon. It is but natural, therefore, that everyone who begins to form a representative series of big-game horns should sooner or later succumb to the inevitable, and go chasing after rarities. Nevertheless, in view of the fact that an interest in horns is usually only a phase of paramount interest in their wearers, no collector need apologize for the weakness of rarity seeking.

In viewing a collection of horns, one always desires to know which are its greatest rarities. The eagle-eyed collector soon knows without having asked. To my friends who are interested in the examples that have come into my possession, I take

pleasure in pointing out the horns of Père David's Deer, the Suleiman Markhor, the Takin, Littledale's Sheep, the Black Sheep, the East Siberian Moose (Alces bedjordia, entirely devoid of palmation), the Kenai Caribou, and the Chilian Guemal. The Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) is a large goatlike animal, with some points of resemblance to the bovine antelopes, and it inhabits the Tibetan slope of the Himalayas. It is as large as a yearling buffalo, but “it does not appear that Takin ever have been killed by English sportsmen, and specimens are very rare in collections." (Ward's "Records of Big Game," fourth edition, 1903.)

Up to this moment, by perhaps nineteen horn collectors out of every twenty, horns are priced and valued by their length and size, rather than by their symmetry and beauty. This is about as wise as it would be to select men and women on the same basis. I once heard of an astute individual who proposed that buffalo heads be judged. by the size and spread of their horns, the "record" to be held by the one with the largest horn measurements, regardless of pelage.

In horns, size is indeed a factor of prime importance; but it is by no means the only one to be considered. Full account should be taken of texture, symmetry color, and general perfection of form. Some collectors pay high prices for "freak" antlers. A few such specimens, by way of illustration, are not bad; but carried beyond one decimal place they are (to one man at least) an abomination. Why collect misshapen horn monstrosities any more than misbegotten books, pictures, and statues?

Indeed, it is quite time for horn fanciers to admit that in the selecting of horns there is something to consider quite apart from the dictum of the tape. At present the tape is a fetich that often obscures the true principles of horn selection.

I

STUDENT DAYS IN EUROPE

HE advantage of being born in a year of so round a number as 1800 is that the events of a lifetime and the dates of their occurrence are readily related to each other. In 1800 George Bancroft was born; in 1817 he graduated at Harvard College, at the age of seventeen; in 1891 he died at the age of ninety-one. The intervening years were filled with activities of great variety and importance. The following pages will be devoted to extracts from the profuse journals and letters written during the four years of his early European study, 1818-1822.

It was an act of pioneer adventure for any young New Englander in 1818 to go to Europe to round out his education. Bancroft was not the first of the pioneer band, for Edward Everett, George Ticknor, and Joseph W. Cogswell were his seniors in point both of years and of foreign study. Bancroft's opportunity to go was no mere gift of fortune, but a direct result of the capacity for scholarship revealed during his college years. His father was the Rev. Aaron Bancroft, of Worcester, a minister of slender means and large family, well known as the author of a popular life of Washington, and as a leader in the Unitarian movement which rent New England Congregationalism asunder. His son George must naturally have made his own way at home, but for the interest taken in his intellectual welfare and the infant cause of American letters by President Kirkland, Edward Everett, Prof. Andrews Norton, and others. His own appreciation of what was done for him is generously expressed in a letter to his father from Berlin (October 20, 1820) from which the following sentences are quoted: "From the earliest years of childhood, from the moment of entering with you the chaise

OF

that was to take us to Exeter, I have met with benefactors and friends. The benevolence of an uncle whom I delight to reverence and love, assisted me in the years of college life, and as I was entering on more advanced studies under narrow and discouraging circumstances, I have been enabled to visit the first universities of Europe. This is heart-moving and exalting. Encouragement, such as I have received, must give a new impulse to exertion, and I feel as if something more than a moderate degree of usefulness may hereafter be justly demanded of me. When I return I shall be willing to serve in any station, to which those, to whom I owe so much, may think most suitable for me."

With the financial provision secured for him by President Kirkland, with letters of introduction to German scholars, and with what proved to be a rare personal power of forming and sustaining relations of friendship with his elders, George Bancroft sailed from Boston, June 27, 1818. His destination was the University of Georgia Augusta at Göttingen. The reader need not be reminded that the experiences related in the ensuing passages befell a young man between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two.

One of his first letters written in Europe between his landing and his arrival at Göttingen was addressed to the friend to whom seventeen years later he wrote: "It was your advice to our excellent Kirkland, which carried me to Germany; it was your letters which made me friends there, taught me how to keep in the ruts, and how to profit by my opportunities."

instead of the spring finds me actually on my way to Göttingen, & to you may I look for advice to regulate my conduct & studies? The important question with me is, How can I pass three years at the Georgia Augusta to the greatest advantage? The first object should be the general improvement of the mind & the second the acquisition of good learning. My course of studies must also be regulated by the expectations & desires of my friends at home, & by a consideration of what will most contribute to rendering me useful on my return. The wishes of Dr. Kirkland, so far as they are expressed, would be superior to all other considerations. These, however, he has never very fully communicated. In his

letters which he has given me for Professor Eichhorn, he observes of me that "his friends wish him to attend especially to Philology, the ancient languages & Oriental, literature, that he may thus be qualified to pursue theological studies to the greatest benefit, to give instruction as any opening may occur & invite, & become an accomplished philologian & Biblical Critic, able to expound & defend the oracles of God." Dr. Kirkland has also told me, that I must not give my time so exclusively to critical studies as to unfit myself for a clergyman, since it is at least doubtful whether the University will ever have occasion to demand of me any services.

The primary object of my studies must

therefore be, to gain the three ancient languages, & I hope that a few hours, won from leisure & repose will give me such of the modern as are worth the labour of acquiring.

One thing I must confess with regret. When in college I had no idea, that I should ever be able to devote my life to literary labours, & the classics did not obtain so much of my time as I could now wish. Of Hebrew I knew little beyond the letters, & cannot read with ease the higher Greek authors.

The kindness of my friends places at my disposal $700 per ann. At Göttingen Dr. K. assured me, that $500 or perhaps less would place me in a respectable & comfortable situation for the year.

If you have leisure, & are willing to lend me your counsels, I pray you, believe I do not fear labour, nor am I fond of expense. I wish to live an useful life, as I believe I shall a happy one.

On the 14th of August the young student found himself in Göttingen. The next morning he presented his first letter of introduction. "I found Mr. Benecke," says the journal, "the Patron in chief of all students who speak English only, to be a friendly man, of about fifty, under whose auspices I found myself two days after established in my little dominions. [A letter to one of his sisters describes his two comfortable rooms "in a fine wide street, the first in the city," his simple fare and manner of life.] Under his care I study the German Language, spending an hour privatissimé each day with him; and it was at first quite amusing to me to see how careful he was in observing the second when the hour had elapsed, and how uneasy and even disturbed he is when I am rude enough to stay a moment beyond the time. I must rise and fly at the instant, when the hand of time is on the point of the hour, even if in the midst of a line, aye, or of a long word."

The presentation of letters to Gauss, the astronomer, and Blumenbach, the physiologist, took place within a few days. By each the newcomer was hospitably received. Meanwhile the diary records diligent reading of Schiller and Goethe. "I am only more & more astonished at the indecency & immorality of the latter. He appears to prefer to represent vice as lovely & exciting

sympathy, than virtue, & would rather take for his heroine a prostitute or a profligate, than give birth to that purity of thought & loftiness of soul, which it is the peculiar duty of the poet to raise, by connecting his inventions with the actions of heroes, & embodying in verse the merits of the benefactors of mankind."

This evening again

August 30.. have I been with Prof. Blumenbach and family. They are kind to me indeed. The Professor spoke of Goethe. He (Goethe) is a large stout man of about seventy, fond of amusement & mirth, fonder of eating & drinking, and notwithstanding his love of good company & good living, possessed of a great deal of majesty & form. Beside his works in poetry & belles-lettres, he has written on mineralogy, on botany, & lately published a very voluminous work in three vols. upon optics. The object of this treatise was to annihilate Sir Isaac Newton, & his theory; but, alas! it fell stillborn from the press, excited no attention, gained not even one opposer, call [ed] forth not one refutation. The reviewers bestowed only five or six lines upon it, lamenting that men would write books on subjects about which they are profoundly ignorant. The poor man, who had hoped to crown his fame by this, was wofully disappointed & mortified.

I

Madame B., in whose hands I had put Prof. Frisbie's Inaugural Address, expressed great and real satisfaction with the work, particularly admiring & approving the remarks upon the German writers. had, during the week, received a letter of introduction to Prof. B. from Mr. Everett, which was charmingly written. They applauded it to the skies, & Fräulein B. insisted that it was sehr göttlich.

September 9.

This evening I for the first time visited Prof. Dissen, so celebrated for his learning & genius. He is a short man, extremely near-sighted, wonderfully learned, very kind & obliging, & has offered me his good counsel, whenever I shall need them. He spoke of my countryman Prof. Everett. He (Prof. E.), when here, set no bounds to his industry. He allowed himself no more than six hours for sleep, & devoted the whole of the day to study. At first he employed some time with the Oriental Languages, but afterwards devoted himself almost exclusively

to philology, & became exceedingly learned. Besides this, he had a vast number of acquaintances in Germany, & during the vacations, he visited the principal cities, particularly Weimar, Dresden, Berlin, &c. He also used the very best instructors, sparing no labour or expense in improving his mind & acquiring good learning.

September 13. I have seen Eichhorn today, for the first time. He is old, yet stout & hearty; very strong built, of fine proportions, broad shoulders, tall enough, with a fine open countenance, goodnatured in his manners, & familiar. He reached me his hand very cordially, enquired particularly about my accommodations, and the manner of securing the best and bade me come & see him very often. He enquired about the system of studies I must pursue, & on my stating my wishes on this subject, he invited me at once to attend his lectures, & promised me the best place in his lecture room. He spoke of America, that she was now making gigantick strides in improvement, & added with a wink, that she was much dreaded by England. He repeated his invitation to visit him very often, saying he was well acquainted with the American gentlemen who have resided here, particularly with Mr. Everett, for whom he has the highest regard.

October I. I have been for some days a regularly matriculated student of the University of Göttingen. On the 22nd of September I obtained my Matrikel. The process of procuring it is very simple. The doors of the University stand ever open; & all are invited to the rich banquet of learning. Nothing is necessary toward becoming a member of the institution, except to give your name, your country, the occupation of your father, & the studies to which you will devote yourself; on this being known, a paper is immediately handed you, by which you become entitled to all the privileges and rights of a citizen of the Georgia Augusta. At the same time you shake hands with the Prorector, by which form you are understood to promise that you will obey the laws of the University. There is particular mention made in the Matrikel of duelling, of directly resenting an injury, instead of appealing to the proper authorities, of the preservation of a good character, & pure morals, of the associations called Landsmannschafter, & of ap

pearing always in decent clothing. The fees amount to about one Louis d'or. The present Prorector is Consistorial-Rath Pott. He appeared particularly pleased on my declaring myself an American, and pointing to the name last entered in his book, which happened to be the name of a Grecian, bade me notice from what distant parts of the globe there were representatives at Göttingen. He then very particularly requested me to visit him, adding that he should have then detained me to hold a conversation with me, but he was involved in business and duties of his office.

October 2. . . Behold, I have seen a wonder! A learned woman, modest, & who once might have been handsome; a learned woman, Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, & one of the best informed men in the place.

Old Slüzer,* who died some ten years ago, was a stern republican abroad & very naturally a tyrant in his own house. (He wrote a very admirable book on the coins of the Russian Empire.) Well-this man married-his wife became pregnant, he was mightily rejoiced, felt sure it was a boy, boasted of the circumstance to his friends, & destined the young man in his own mind for a scholar. His wife was brought to bed, & behold, a little miss came to light. The Professor, however, nought intimidated, still clung to his resolution, & determined to show the world that a woman could master the classics as well as anyone. He accordingly educated her completely as a boy, employing her constantly with her books. As she was really possessed of a vast deal of mind, she made great proficiency, & he determined that she should join the University. This she actually did; attending lectures, going like the rest of the students with her portfolio under her arm, and differing from them only in this, that she was exceedingly handsome, & wore petticoats. Her conduct, however, was so perfectly pure & modest, that she never received the least indignity, nor was her character ever impeached. After becoming in this [way] uncommonly learned her father said she must take a degree. This, too, she did, acquitting herself undoubtedly with great honour in the latin extemporary disputation & of course received, bona fide, a doctor's degree.

* Presumably August Ludwig von Schlözer, 1735-1809.