The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-04

Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was descended from
John Stanley, brother OF the first Earl OF
Derby. John by his marriage with the heiress
OF Alderley. founded another branch OF the
Stanley family. whose representative was cre-
ated baronet by Charles II. at tho Restora-
ton The sixth baronet married Margaret
owen. helress to the estate Of Penrhos In
Wales. and the eldest son OF this m arriGse. Si-
John Thomas Stanley. was raised to the peer
age in 1889 as Lord Stanley OF Alderlsy. His
only brother was Edward. the future rector OF
Aderley and Bishop Of Norwich. and the father
of the subject OF this biography. by Catherine.
q daughter of the Rev. Oswald Leicester rec
tor of Stoke. 1t was in Alderley rectory that tho
third child OF this marriage. Arthur Stanley,
was born in December. 1915. He was
a boy OF an extremely sensitive and
nervous organization. In which an ex-
cessive shyness alternsted with a sin
gular brightness and charm OF demeanor. For
a long time he seemed to observers outside OF
his family circle to suffer from an amount OF
constraint. reserve. and difficulty in expressing
his feelings which he never fully overcame
until the death OF his father and brother
forced him to make efforts which were eventu-
ally successful. An organization and temper
ament Of this kind scarcely fitted him for the
rude life OF an English public school. Never
theless. no was sent to Rugby in January.
proposed. but the influence OF Augustus
Hare. who was about to marry Mrs.
Stanley's sister. had turned the scale In
favor OF Rugby whore DR.. Arnold had been
installed as head master In 1923 Tho new
boy was but little moro than thirteen. and II
Is interesting to learn what impression he
made on one OF his contemporaries at the
school. Mr. ii. q. Allen recalls that his gen
eral appearance was feminine and obtained
for him tho passing nickname OF Nancy dur
ing the short time before no got into the ith
form. His manners were as gentle as his ap-
pearance indicated. lie was shy and timid
but full of vivacity when accosted. and it was
soon perceived that his attachments and pow
ers rather exceeded than fell short OF the re-
port Of them which had circulated among u.s."
As a matter OF fact young Stanley was pro-
NOTED to the fifth form with such raDidity that
in six months he had attained to exemp.
ton from tagging. IL was not to be ex pected
that the biographer could present great
many extracts from the Rugby letters. but he
quotes enough to show that they constituted a
prolonged series of pictures which owe their
freshness and fidelity To the fact that they are
not drawn from memory and colored from
later experience, but were sketched on the
spot. Taken altogether. these letters depict
the vain efforts OF the writer to throw himself
into the ordinary pursuits and amusements of
schOolhoys. his intense and growing Avidity
for fresh information and ideas. his shrinking
from the cOarseness and vice that stain school
life and the reserve and shyness OF
his sensitive nature. which were yet so
combined with high breeding and . charm
Of manner and appearance as TO save him alike
from rough usage and from all imputation
OF eoneeit or pedantry. The letters also reveal
the writer's early attraction and growing de-
Votion TO his teacher. DIR. Thomas Arnold who
during Stanley's school days. reached the
height OF his unpoDularIty in other circles.
and who, even at Rugby, was as yet far from
having won the affection and reverence which
he afterward inspired. They likewise show
young Stanley TO have been keenly alive to his
ineapacity for games. which debarTed hi N from
the readlest road to influence in the world Of
a public school. TO his heiplessness Of feet and
hands which might naturally provoke the
rldiculs, II not the horse play. OF youthful
critics. and TO the shyness which iso-
lated him from the compAnionshlp Of
his schoolfellows. His efforts to con-
uusr these shortcomings were only par
TALLY successful Nor were his ineapsclty for
games and his bodily unreadiness counter
balanced In the eyss Of HIS schoolfellOWs by
such q general accessibility and expansive
ness Of temperamsnt as often secure for a
boy wide share Of popularity In the early
part OF his Rugby career Stanley was singu-
larry friendless. ressrylng his confidence for
the one or two boys with whom he felt in SYM
patty. II Is from tradition rather than actual
observation that his portrait Is drawn In
school DAYS At Rugby" for Stanley was a
good deal senior to Thomas Hughes. How little
Stanley knew about school life was shown when
the book lust named came cut for he remarked