Manhart editing

[Wallace Chafe]

I met Paul Manhart at the BAE in the early 1960s, and I feel that his 
reputation needs a little polishing at this point. He was a serious 
individual who realized, much to his credit, that the huge amount of 
material left behind by Buechel should be made generally available. He knew 
he was not a linguist, but he went ahead and worked hard on doing what he 
could. I'm not sure why he didn't receive more help with the second 
edition, but I wouldn't blame him or his "advanced age" for its 
deficiencies. Rather, he should be celebrated for passing on to us 
Buechel's remarkable heritage. Saying "De mortuis nil nisi bonum" (I 
believe the word is "nil") suggests a repressed desire to be derogatory, 
which I think is uncalled for.

That's my two cents worth.
Wally