New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
WILLIAM CORY.
A MAN OF GENIUS.
YET ONE WHO HAS HARDLY LEFT MANI
From The BOOkman.


Devonshire stock. From his father. formerly In
the Navy, he inherited a fervid patriotism, which
held England to be the noblest and most generous
of nursing mothers.
He was educated as Kings scholar at Eton.
and went on in due course to Kings College.
Cambridge At that time Kingsnlen were debarred
by statute from entering for the Tripos examina-
tons William johnson. probably the best man
OF his year, was awarded the Chsncelors medal
for an English poem in ls43, the Camden medal
for Latin heXamcier poem and the Craven bch4l-
arship in SJ4 became fellow of Kings. and shortly
afterward went back TO Elton aS Q master.
though preeminent as a scholar and composer
in Greek and LATIN he wa S also an accurate and
ence. Indeed, he was examiner at Cambridge tor
the moral science Tripos in 1852 and 1888, and
was offered, believe privately, the professor
ship of modern history in 1850, on the death OF
Sir James Stephen.
To the general public be is best known - the
author Of lonica," volume Of verse published
in 1891. Most of the poems, however, contained
in publication, had already been printed in 1859
title. and had for some years been fetching
considerable price at book sales. The second
of these volumes is additionally curious from the
stops, spaces being substituted OF the additional
poems the limitations of Horace had seen the light
In magazines, The poems are characterized BY
culture and a. refinement that require, as 10
were, an initiation to understand. The book,
being what it is, could hardly hope to appeal tS
wide circle Some selections p.,i from hGniGa
poetry was to him as parergon, as to Heinz
= sacred plaything. lie never dignifed it into
William Cory was the author In more recent
years of book in two volumes, entitled "A
Guide to Modern History" The book is brilliant
but eccentric. Many pages are mere strings Of
epigrammatic illusions: IL is the kind OF work that
is impressive in quotations. but disappoints further
reference. Besides this. he contributed an essay
% L. obi anti cd Esao m a
Liberal Education" which contains essays by
Professor Henry Sidgwck, Professor Seeley, Arch
deacon Farrar and others; this Is by far the
William Johnson's genius; it deals with the ed.
ucation of the reasoning faculties but for ifg
insight, poetry and suggestiveness, might DO read
with pleasure by readers totally without tech
ncal interest in the subject.
He contributed few pagee-the character Of
Dr. Hawtrey-to Mr.. Maxwell Lyte's History o.
Elton College" passage that deserves place
in any anthology of English prose for fts In
sight and pathos, its mastery delineation of
But it was as a teacher and talker that
| William johnson most impressed himself on his
generation: there are many among very dis
as Iord Ro S pp ord Haiax, Mr. Edward
Lyttleton, Mr.. Alfred Lytteton and Mr.: Julian
Stqrgis, who attribute the first quiclSening. not
siasm. to him. Yet, William Johnson can hardly
be described as successful general teacher; in
the first place. he was not good dscpnarIan,
though, on the whole, dreaded by the boys for
his powers of penetrating irony. It was a di:
vision of from fifty to sixty boys, in a small and
dingy room, that q teacher, whose every third
sentence was an epigram, whose lectures, had
they been delivered to university audience
would lave ATTRACTED professed students an9
with enthusiasm the best hours Of the best years
of his life.
sturdy legs, book held up close TO his eye, he
would comment, lecture, question, to the perpetuaf
delight and encouragement Of the few who were
wise enough to feel what q teacher they had,
and sensible enough TO secure seats close TO
| him; OF what was going on in further corners
of the room, as long AZ the boys kept thsif
peace, he was almost totally ignorant, occasionally
| fiingng a book the nearest volume at hand, II
a boy was either lagranty unoccupied or sus-
piciously absorbed.
His short sight was almost phenomenal. I'm; Inc
was blowing, a1de, the impression that il was
on his head, is probably epocryphal, but certainly
I characteristic.
Tie would watch the school CRICKET matches
themselves so strong that no one else coqld so2no
them, with the added aid Of binocular glass. For
the games themselves though. no athlete, be
was enthusiast, connected they are 50 closely
! with the spirit and honor Of the school. Il
cheer the games / cannot play he wrote IN
Ionica": and again after defeat in CALAMITY
contested match at Lords, in an exquisite little
poem, never published hut well known to hia
contemporaries, he wrote
I'D rather have the lads that lost.
So they be lads like ours
How to be patriotic without being insular,
how 10 he political without being local, was
constant occupation, lie was fond Of quoting
ton of property those who in political sedition
could be proved 10 have taken neither side. He
graspcd the paradoNical principle that human
nature must be educated into sympathy by antlp-
athy, that party spirit the only guarantee
for public spirit: and 1t was this feeling that
0NylaI of vel
and sea Once, it is reiatcd, an old soldier found
his way into William Johnsons pupil room,
tale about the battle of Balak!ava. What regi,
mcnt? ' said johnson. The 18th HussarS'
What WIRE you doing at 10 80 on the morning
of the 18th -?' The man thought for moment
and then made statement Right, said john
son, and handed him half a. sovereign. Tho
counterpart of the story Is that another tramp
ment; the same cateclism cnsued; the tmposter
fatered; he was promptly elected with sharp
physical reminder " tell the truth. Again, It
Is told OF him that he went ID Plymouth TO visit
/ friend in manofwar. The sailors who were
rowing The gig looked with good humored con-
tempt no the little landsman, wrapped in cloak,
swinging the tide; but their feelings rapidly
gave way to respect, and respect to amazemelA
when il transpircd that the stranger not only
knew the position in which every one, of the
aforesaid hulks lay, but the engagements they had
seen, and the names Of their commanders His
pupils will not forget the face with which he
would look out into the street, when the stately
music OF the Guards going past Brats
the British Army he would say. But he was
no mere lingo sentmentalist. IL was as certain
that Cory would take an original view Of any
question as it was chat njnety-nine out Of
hundred people would take the commonplace
view And yet lie saved from being para
doxical by his extraordinary accuracy. Never
was any one so indomitablc in an argument He
had the facts az his fingers ends, and withal all
the downrightness and the humor of his great
namesalSe: hut he had not often to use the butt
end of the pistol because the pistol seldom misses
fire.
In 1871 he left Eton, changing bis name to
Cory his accession 10 some small property,
er's estate of Halsdon, where he also married;
his wife and only son survive him. We may