The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-06
Brown Of Australia.

Brown Of Australia.
is surprising how very few = .
are capable of making lasting impress.
sions upon acquaintance. We meet
AMI greet great men, bright men, jolly
men, but straightway they are gont
We forget all about them except as
they may be recalled by some clrcun,-
stance entirely extrancous from our
personal interest in them. But Brown
Of Australia, OF whom n writer in the
Phipadelphia Press tells this story,
certainly seems to be one of the men
not easily forgotten.
A gentleman told me recently of ar
instance OF a peculiar unanimity Of
opinion among lot OF prominent
men on n question where one might
naturally expect to find q wide differ
ence of thought. The point Of agree
ment was as to the most brilliant
conversationalist whom the members
OF the gathering had ever heard. My
friend said: II was once sitting in the
captains cabin of tile steamship In.
diana of the American line, talking
with Capt. Sergeant of the many
prominent people be had had under
his charge during his lon, life on the
sen. nave had u great many inter.
est'nz people cross with me-" said the
captain. Statesmen. ACTORS, writer's.
professional men OF prominence md
men of the world who have s.s"
every part of it, but tire
most entertaining passenger ev.r
met was u lawyer from Mel
bourne, Australia. named Brown. He
was, without doubt, the most brilliant
conversationalist ! ever listened to-"
My friend said that the distinction
given this unknown lawyer struck him
us somewhat remarkable and caused
him to remember the name. lie was
still more surprised. therefore, when a
year later he heard Joseph Jefferson,
at II dinner given him in this city, ex.
press as his opinion that among all
the bright takers he had ever met in
this or any other country the same
prominent lawyer OF Melbourne was
the most brilliant. 1t was not that
he sud witty things every now and
again, but that his conversation was
one continual liow of queer conceits.
bright epigrims and bon inots which
came so easily and were no free from
bitterness or sting that they had q
charm and freshness seldom found in
the conversation OF professional ra-
contours.
Brown of Melbourne became a dis
tinGuished man in the eyes of the gen.
tleman. who had twice hear I'd his prais-
es sung by SO able critics, but he was
still to hear OF him again. One even.
ing several years ago, while dining
with the Savage club in London, when
byron. author OF the comedy OF "Our
Boys" w. S. Gilbert and other good
takers were at the table, battle of
words took place between Robertson,
the author OF School and Caste
and another gentleman possessing no
mean powers of repartee. NV friend
was greatly pleased with what he heard
and expressed his admiration of the
brightness OF the speakers to a gentle.
man sitting next to him. "Yes." said
the Enslishman, "they talk we'll, but
We mad queer chap here from the
provinces once that made them ali
look to their laurels. He was by long
ODDS the most brilliant fellow ever
heard talk. His name was Brown and
he came from Melbourne" 1t is not
unnatural for three people even Of
wide experience to agree on the same
novelist. actor Or singer, u". !. -.
me that the story was interesting, i
only rs q coincidence, and though
Brown Of Melbourne has not yet visit
ed this country.