Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/227

 Rh IN MEMORIAM: DANIEL GARRISON BRINTON.

, whose loss has been so deeply felt by the scientists of both hemispheres, was, both as an investigator and a man, one who had the marks of genius thick about him. Born May 13, 1837, he died July 31, 1899, after a life counting full two-score years of literary and scientific activity, secure in fame and beloved by all who knew him. Seldom has it fallen to the lot of any one to serve so well, by his personal talents and social abilities, the science to which his energies were so continuously and so consistently devoted; the "science of man" has never had so genial, so human, an apostle. The present writer, his disciple and pupil, from frequent correspondence and personal contact, takes this opportunity of paying tribute to this man of science and man of men. Of charming personality, gifted with eloquence and wit such as few scientists, unfortunately, possess, knowing by experience of the deep things of life, sympathetic and encouraging to the younger and less talented who sought to follow in his footsteps, broad-minded and world-searching in his quest after truth, Dr. Brinton will remain for all time one of the most remarkable figures of the century now almost to an end. Dr. Brinton's death, in all probability, remotely at least, was due to the old sunstroke at Gettysburg, from which he never fully recovered. Of the early education of Dr. Brinton, the present writer is unable to speak, from lack of accurate information—this sketch begins, therefore, with his academic career.

In 1858 young Brinton received his degree from Yale University, and the year following saw the publication of his first book, "The Floridian Peninsula, its Literary History, Indian Tribes, and Antiquities" (Philadelphia, 1859, pp. 202, 8vo), in which appears the promise of his later genius, even of his special linguistic investigations. For in this volume—he spent the winter of 1856-57 in Florida—he was the first writer in English to call attention to the Timuquana language, and showed himself already acquainted with Hervas and other authorities of the older day in comparative philology. Though destined to become a physician and afterwards a soldier, the book published when he was twenty-two really foretold the man to be.

Two years after, he became Dr. Brinton, receiving his diploma from the Jefferson Medical College, and the next year was spent in European study and travel. When he returned to America the great war between the North and South was well under way, and in August, 1862, Dr. Brinton entered the Federal army as acting assistant surgeon, and in February of the year following was commissioned