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DECEMBER, 1898.)
IN MEMORIAM GEORGE BÜHLER.
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P.S. - While I was writing the above, a newspaper came to my hands, in which a Vienna correspondent reported rumours circulating in Vienna as to a voluntary or violent death of Hofrath Bühler. The correspondeat added that indeed no tangible proofs of either the one or the other hypothesis are forthcoming, and that Bühler's nearest Vieana friends "deny most positively the very possibility of a suicide committed by Bühler from ethical or philosophical motives" - and surely they are right. Whoever has known Bühler ever so slightly, must certainly arrive at the same conclusion. I knew him for nearly twenty years, since August 1878, and from that time to the very last I have had frequent intercourse with him both personal and by letters, and I venture to assert most emphatically that with him "a tendency to the negation of the pleasures of existence" or any kind of Buddhist mysticism is entirely out of the question, and the hypothesis of a suicide is absolutely groundless. Nor is there any foundatioa for the hypothesis of a violent death, of a crime, it being entirely uncalled for in view of the facts which have come to light. Boating was Buhler's favourite sport, and he often liked to practise it, particularly after hard work. Already on the 7th of April he had made an excursion from Lindau, and after his return in the evening was seen engaged in cheerful conversation with other visitors at the Hotel. On Good Friday the 8th he was induced by the beautiful spring weather to stay one day longer, "in order to make a longer excursion," as he was heard saying. After having drawn up a telegram to his wife, Come to-morrow,' which was afterwards found in the Hotel, he startel in the afternoon in one of those long and narrow boats, the Oars of which lie so lightly on the outriggers, that they are lifted even at a great dis’ance by the Wash of a steamer, if they are not held tightly as soon as the waves approach. Now Bühler was seen from the banks rowing forward and backward for some time on one and the same spot after 7 o'clock in the evening. Next day the empty boat was found floating on the lake with one oar, while the other oar was found at some distance from it. In the opinion of experienced people living near the lake it is highly probable that he lost one oar, which he tried to secure again, and in trying to catch it he, being a stout man, fell overboard. By this natural and simple hypothesis the terrible accident becomes perfectly plain and intelligible.
A CONTRIBUTION ON BÜHLER.
BY PROF, F. KNAUER (KIEW). In the case of Bühler I hardly know which to admire most: the greatness of his learning and mental power, or the greatness of his mind and character. I do not think I can honour his memory better than by quoting a few extracts from his letters addressed to me, and by adding an account of an incident which shows the great scholar also as a man of rare hunan qualities.
On January 2nd, 1891, he writes :-"I think, we shall before long become acquainted even with older temples of the Brahmans. The excavations of Mathura, Ahicchatra and Sravasti will no doubt considerably modify our views about the religions of India."
On March 3ri, 1898 : --" The [London] Congress was one of the finest and most successfnl. A great deal of useful work was done : some of the papers were very important ; Cowell's speeches the most important of all."
On June 6th, 1893:-"The work (Mánavagrihyasútra ) is one of the most ineresting of its kind." And with reference to new discoveries :- "The brutal facts are now demolishing the finest theories concerning the age of Sanskrit literature, which a so-called criticism has derived from inner' reasons. But what we have learnt until now is only the beginning, we may look forward to far more startling discoveries, and I am afraid, of all that has been considered as the correct thing during the last forty years not much will stand the test of time. Our salvation is in the pick-axe and the shovel ad in paying more attention to Hindu tradition."
On June 22nd, 1898:-- "The worthy Bhattjis never cared much for the state of their Mantras; they always felt like that famous priest who baptised nomine patris filice et spiriti sancti, and it did not matter in the least. The Samskara has its effect with a nonsensical Mantra just the same as with
