The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23
ENGLAND's BLIND sTATEsMAM
what Professor Fsyvcett Accompanies with
ont Eye.-itis Work and Play.
Prom M Isydop tvoySf

Lawn. II is n brick structure. fiat faced and
round shoulderod. II Is not ill one is init
matry acquainted with the Lawn that III re-
decming textures become perceptiblc From
the rear OF the large ay-windowcd drawing
room stretches garden exactly the tenth Of n
mile long, n convenient promenade for Mr..
| Fawcett. who likes TO know how far he walks
eycry day. Qpen-air life 10 him nm essential
| strange tidings of man deprived Of his sight
| in the prime Of early manhood and thrown 10y
be- r ygns %islH ha mr. Fawc 0 WAS ba
| by nature for nm athlete, and that an athlete he
| chooses To remain. AS he rises from the i'm
menso arm chair in his snuggery his full height
becomes apparent. ms well as his massive
shoulders ana long powerful limbs. slnewy
m old shooting Ja tct, as a cherry voice with
pleasant Wcssex ring in Il bids the visitor well
| come In attire he affects the gentleman
| farmer and his massive boots denote the ardent
pedestrian. There is about Mr.. Fawcett n com
| pete absence of cocknoyism. and healthy ami
malsm not little remarkable when the gods
II il characteristics OF hnrd-hended country
bred lad that, after nm education at Queenwood
College in HAMPSHIRE and Kings College. Lon;
don. Mr.. Fawcett took hi, country tastes and
he gave evidence Of great mental force. he was
best known ms, nm athlete. Fond Of rowing,
found time To graduate as seventh Wranger
t,yenty-wp years aatg9i and later was elected
his degree he met with that accident which has
| exercised 50 powerful an influence over his
future career While out partridge shooting he
WIS shot in the eyes by one Of his companions,
and became instantly blind-not with partial
blindness. but with absolute insensibity to
TAI fibre Of Mr. Fawcett that no sooner had he
recognized that he was hopclessly blind for life
than he determined that " 1t should make no
difference" except perhaps that his career
should he political rather than legal,
Already entered ut l.incoln's Inn. no relin-
quished aftcr some thought n legal career
entirely, and. To- the amnzement Of his friends.
proceeded TO nctive political work. How COM
expense OF that ~ his friends Is now well
known; hut success could hardly have been
predicted Tor the blind young man. who, with
out money. connections. or political backing 81
any kind. came up to town on the death of Sir
Charles Napier. and. attended only by his see;
retary. took n committee room and proposed
TO the electors of Southwark that he
should represent them in Parliament, His
courage. however. made him many friends, and
he only retired from the contest when Mr.. Lay
ard was brought forward. Unsuccessful in his
made a second Mt Cambridge which. m well rs
gsubscapent venture at Brighton, resulted in
defeat. At the general election Of 1865 he con-
tested Brighton again and was then elected BY
3 large minority Again beaten nj Brighton in
1874. he was shortly efterward returned Tor
Political Economy at the University OF Cam
bridge post which he still holds,
| When Mr.. Fawrett determined that his ac-
cident should make no difference" he re-
ferred fully ns much to his physical as 70 his
that AS light was denied. air became all the
moro necessary TO him. and he has therefore
NOT tulN KEEP up MS interest III outdoor htnuSt-
day. when in Wiltshire his native air impels
him 20 take walks Of proigious length, Mrs.
Fawccu his amiable and accomplished wife
q sister OF Mrs Garrett Anderson and the
Misses Garrett. whose talent for decora-
remarkably good walker. but depends in tho
wilder parts Of Wiltshire entirely on her hus
bands knowledge Of locality. II Is minute re-
collection Of natural obIects-of clump Of
trees or huge boulder stone-enables him.
when informed Of their presence. to know ex-
aptly how Ia steer This ia the more CurlOlH
Mr.. Fawcctt has not what IL commonly called q
good memory-if the, faculty OF learning things
10y rote be- accepted as n correct gauge OF
strength. To learn dozen lines OF poetry so
~ 10 repeat them without effort is" he viii say
" n tremendous undertaking for me-" Yet in his
speeches on Indian finance he has made II evil
dent that he can sustain an argument based on
ana Illustrated by. facts ana figures without ap-
That he should take long walks accompanied
by his wife is, however. far less extraordinary
Than many OF his other outdoor feats. When
at Cambridge he rides every day with one
the side OF him. but unattached." The long
strips 81 grcensward by the side u the Cam
trians generally and by Mr., Fawcett in partic-
ular When he makes W his mind for long
ride he reveis in the turf Of Newmarket heath ;
and II IL pleasant sight to SEQ the grave pro-
lessor ~ political economy in his blue specta-
Giles. mounted on good, steady weight carrier
taking cantcr over the two middle miles, and
eNulting in every draught OF that bright koen
air for which Newmarket has no rival Mr.. Faw-
cett often follows the barriers on clever hunt
or. and on these occasions. as on others
requires only the aid Of a friend TO ride near
him. In open weather he may he seen pulling
s,roke-oar in the Ancient Mariners boat
manned by grave Fellows and tutors quite con-
the member for Hackney. In hard winters he
INDUCES in another amusement OF moro
swanlike' kind. He is q rapid and powerful
skater. and loves long skate over the frozen
fcns. or longer spin on the Cam to Ely and
back. Not only does he enjoy those vigorous
exercises for tho muscular exertion they re-
quire from him. but sympathzes largely with
NE open AT enloymgnts OF others Perhaps no
in the college boat than he and he rarely misses
the contest of the rival Blues on the Thames
On thcss grand oerSsi9ns Pc Is nearly always
csted heart and soul in the struggle.
At Trinity, Hall he is completely at home,
wandering about the Hall and It's beautiful gar
dens without guidance, knowing every turn
and nook and corner. He is ever alive to de-
scriptions Of natural scenery, and listens 10 the
remarks Of art critics on picture exhibitions
with tho keepest pleasure. He Is especially
anxious that Mrs Fawcett should see all the
art gal crics, and waits anxiously for her well.
Judged remarks on their merits Precludcd
ploits to an occasional ride with the barriers
ana TO salmon fishing; and 50 eager a iishor is
he that no has, landed many q salmon within
twelve hours OF making an elaborate speech IN
the House, He will not wait Till he can escape
70 Scotland. but dashes of by fits aud starts TO
Christchurch. ." A thrty-two FOUNDER within
range of the House Of Commons is too good a
thng 10 be missed he says, in his full, strong
voice; they are such primo fish. No little
oneNo annoy you; only hne fellows in rare
While ut the Lawn Mr.. Fawcett works hard at
his Parliamentary work, sitting sometimes on
rs many as three Committees. An early riser,
ho takes stroll in the garden, and then. having
despatched his breakfast lights his iavorite
pipe aud listens patiently while his secretary
reads the Times and the DdUU Ne1rs. These
with the later FGH Mall Gazette, from his daily
newspaper reading. except on special occa-
sions. when all the great dailcs" are care
fully read through and compared. Then come
correspondence and more pipes. Blue books,
and perhaps turn NJ some literary ork-such
rs his now publish book on " Free-trade and
PrOtcction.' while that was on the stocks-his
secretary writing from his dictation. The man
uscript thus produced he carefully revises with
Mrs. Fawgett. and then has done with his work.
rs his wife correcs tho proofs, He Is always
accompanied tn the House lay his secretary
one OF his many friends giving him an arm to
his seat Just below the ganRway
MIR. faw'ett extreme heartiness Of tone and
checriness OF manner are probably Inherited
from his mother lady who conveys no idea Of
old age. Although venerable by the mere count
OF years. this fine old English gentlewoman is
as hearty ana energetic ns her son. Few men
are happier in their relations than Mr.. Fawcrtt.
His bllthe old parents cheer him: he IL happy
IN tho possession Of an accomplished wife; and
his daughter, now growing apace, adds 10 his
happiness. There Is also another member Of
the family 10y no means undeserying of notice.
As the Professor tells OF the last lusty salmon