New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-03
THE MASTER OF BALL1OL.
PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES BY AN En-
STUDENT OF BALLIOL.

NJ ,ss, had inst passed the entrance exami-
nation to the College and the custom was 10
call upon him. ] was shown into his drawing
room where the Master was standing upon the
hearth-rug with his back to the fire. He was
of medium stature. He wore an evening dress
suit of shiny broadcloth. ill-ftting and OF old
fashioned cut low linen collar much cut
away and white dress tie. His hands were
loosely folded in front of him. His head hung
forward and his eyes rested upon the fioor
and in that perspective beneath broad fore
head looked small.
AS entered. the Master slowly raised MS
full dome-shaped head l remember expecting
10 see him straighten his body, but it stayed
bent as If in an acquired stoop. Though he
looked for a moment straight at me, his eyes
seemed half closed. their lids full and heavy
The nose, aquiline and much curved at the
tip with nostrils set rather high. The mouth
small; the lips thin and compressed. The chh
was short and recedng, as If drawn down by
a marked fulness of the throat. The forehead
and crown of the head were bald. but at the
sides and back the snow-white hair was thick
and wavy and, brushed out from the head ana
slightly back offset the fresh, pink complexion
There were slight wrinkles across the forehead
and at the corners of the eyes. The cheeks
were full and the flesh heavy and somewhat
puffy. emphasizing the lines from The nostrils to
the mouth The eyes were kindly and bore
sleepy expression, but felt that he was closely
scrutinizing me.
felt at first more like intruder than n
visitor The Master did not come forward TO
greet me, but waited until had come to MIN,
then awkwardly thrust out his hand with
bovish manner and let it drop from mine almost
before l had time to grasp it. The first few
minutes of my visit were disconcerting. The
Master seemed to forget my presence HIS
head again dropped on his chest and he stared
at the carpet. CHANGING up once or twice as
If waiting to be addressed l tried to persuade
myself that the awkwardness of his welcome
came only from an extreme shyness. l did
learn this later But there always lack
of ease in his greeting though his manner be-
came warmer and more genial and the grasp
of his hand firmer though never prolonged.
At length he spoke. He welcomed me 10
the college formally. Hoped that would. as
he put it, "enjoy my stay" and was sorry there
was no room for me in college. He would
see that was we'll advised in my choice of
lodgings Was 1 fond of rowing and foot
ball? He said nothing about work.
His voice was thin and weak. 1t had a
husky quality and pitched in high
falsetto His enunc:ation was not clear and
was disigured by a habit of tasting his
words as it were before uttering them, with
nervous slipping Of the lips. He spoke in
short sentences and delivered them uneveny.
his voice rising in pitch though It's strength
faded.
Presently the Master again thrust out his
hand, and knew that was expected to leave
/ was not sorry, but no sooner had the door
closed behind me than hoped might soon be
asked to open it and walk again into his pres
ence. l walked down the broad staircase.
al and
out into the inner quadrangle of the college.
Looking I'D at the window of the room l had
lust left l saw the figure of the Master framed
in its gothic arch His hands still clasped
in front and his head bent forward. He
smiled family when our eyes met and, turn
ing quickly. moved into the room. / had heard
that one of the most alarming episodes in the
life of an undergraduate was breakfast at
the Masters When I informed that he
would be glad to have me breakfast with him
felt that. if il were ordeal, 1t would be an
interesting one. l of ten or twelve
undergraduates at his door, Our were
not announced and it was not necessary. He
called us each by he shook hands. We
went at once into the breakfast ROOM Our host
told us to "sit anywhere Grace said.
Then came q trying silence, broken by the
Master asking if we had everything wanted.
and answered in chorus. The conversation
gradually became general l was seated near
the Master. / asked him question and his
answer started a somewhat one-sided CONVERSE
ton that is memorable to me. He spoke of
music and said he would be glad to have
use his piano. l afterward played to him sew
eral times. We were always alone He would
sit with closed eyes. buried in deep armchair,
walk from end TO end Of the room.
He touched upon boating, cricket, etc. and
bociz ha ir,po of
stimulus to work The breakfast over
Other breakfasts followed We found that
conversation was seldom sustained by him. and
subject rarely suggested for discussion. He
wished to do the talking. He severe
critic of ones views. and his criticisms were
made with sharpness that would startle one
who had seen only the softer side of his nature.
The Master of Balliol was unfair to himself
He courted adverse criticism. 1t came how
ever. almost Invariably from those only who
were unable to disregard peculiarities Of man
and speech which dsngured a delicate and
refined nature He was a careful observer and
an earnest student Of those around him. In
this he was rather aided than hindered by his
extreme. almost boyish shyness. With it he
carried apparent distrust. There lack
Of warmth and gcniality in his ordinary inter
course with men. curtness OF address which
left him only when he Of their friend
ship. He but rarely made an advance: it must
come from you.
The Master preached TO in the College
Chapel the Sunday after my arrival. In the
pulpit elsewhere he wore the broadcloth
dress coat and waistcoat. and over it his long
full-seeved ID. c. L. gown. His voice sounded
strangely within the Chapel walls The i'm
projections in his speech and faults Of delivery
were brought into prominence but there was
an unusual softness in the quality of his voice
He spoke gently and almost sadly. His hands
as usual were casped: only or twice
parted to lay his palms softly on the open book
before him in gentle emphasis. The Master has
been criticised for his lack of simplicity. and
accused of an overbearing manner. The fol-
lowing. one OF the many anecdotes told of him.
would show that ii was not always so.
An undergraduate of New College, seated at
The window of bis room on the ground 10 or. saw