PROFESSOR'S ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 12

PROFESSOR'S ROMANCE.

Thomas Okey, who, at the age of G7, has been elected into the new Professorship of Italian at! Cambridge, was apprenticed to the basket-making trade in 1805. He was born in Spitalfielda, and after lie had served Ilia apprenticeship he was in business as a basket maker in Wontworth -street He. was a great admirer of Mazzini, and it was his enthusiasm for the great Italian statesman which first aroused his interest in Italy. About 40 years ago he began to travel on the Continent, working at his trade as he went, and in this way lie journeyfed in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, learning the languages with great thoroughness as he passed through the towns and villages of the various countries. He continued to work as a basket-maker for several years after his return, but in time he was able to give it up and become a teacher of languages. Fired' by his success, Mr] Okey instituted a traveller's club at l'oynboe : Hull, by menus of which trips on the Continent were arranged for other working men who showed themselves capable of profiting by them. Mr. Okey is one of the greatest living authorities on the Italian language and on Italy's art treasures. Mr. Okey knows the history and whereabouts of practically every picture of any note on the Continent. His memory is remarkable." Besides his knowledge of modern European languages he is a pood Greek and Lati scholar.