New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-29
THE BRITISH SCIENTISTS.
A FEW OF THE PROMINENT PEOPLE Al
THE TORONTO MEETING.
LORDS KELVIN AND LISTER OLDER THAN THEY
YOUNGER - CHARACTERISTICS OF

LOOk-slR WILLIAM TURNER AND Mk hh'''
YOUNGER - CHARACTERISTICS OF
OTHER FAMOUS FOLK.
TO most OF the Yankees ard Canadians who at
tended the recent meeting of the BRUSH Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Science. in Ioroh'o
the personal appearance and pccnliariues Oh Inv
great men from over the were matters OF al
much interest az the facts ana opIiio"S
which they contributed
Lord Kelvin held the post Of honor al receptions
and hanquets and in the groups OF d'stheus"'"
people the Stage at various meetings ana iec'
ures Of general Interest. Although his beard ana
hair were white. lrs keen eye. rudy countennncc
happy humor and vigorous intellect made it am
cult TO believe that he had attained the age oil
sevcnty-three years. When speaking he turner
from side to SIDE with great frequency, and II r'
stood before 4 table. he almost sure 10 lean
over slightly. resting lis outstretched finger ups
upon it, These remained almost stationary. even
though his body swaycd about them continuously
lie spoke hcsitatinsiy at times. even when much
in earnest. evidently seeking with great care lof
the right phrase or word In this latter oftort ne
was always successful. There was nothing IN MS
appearance that suggested the fop. but he was
more observant Of the small convcnionalities OF
dress than most OF the elders beside him. Lord
Kolvins wife and a niece Mrs Mcdonald. accom-
panied him to several OF the scientific meetings
and all OF the garden parties that he attended
Mrs. Mcdonald. like her husband. IL much inter-
cstcd in economic science. Lady Kelvin Is hand
some woman. with excellent conversational powers
and attracted much attention Although Lord
Kelvin has engaged in great variety OF re-
searches. and invented several different instru-
ments the one thing in his career which was
chiefly emphasized In all the speeches relating to
him the share he had in making submarine
biography success.
LORD LISTER AND THE WOMEN
Lord Lister. too. fats to show his real age
which is plump seventy years. His hair is not
white. 1t is merely gray. Unlike the other
septuagenarians (and most OF the sexagenarans)
present he discards the full beard and wears only
side whiskers of the regulation John Bull type
The face. thus left more fully exposed. is hand
some one HES mouth betrays much senssbilty
and dignity With the women. Lord Lister was
great favorite. and at the farewell banquet ne
reciprocal ted the compliment. His remarks on that
occasion were almost exclusively devoted to the
beauty and hospitality Of the women of Toronto
Lord Lister was more reserved in public than
most Of the lions. His remarks were brief. but
always 10 the point He spoke easily. too as well
as gracefully Lord Lister president Of the
British Association last year. and still remains
president Of tho Royal Society.
Sir John Evans. who presided over the delibera-
lions Of the British Association this summer. Is four
years older than his immediate predecessor In office
and A year older than Lord Kelvin. The particular
line OF his Investigations. the handwork OF prckis-
toric man. T. OF much less practical importance than
electricity and antseptic surgery. And Sir John Is
not the intellectual equal OF Lords Kelvin and
Lister But he Is n painstakng and persistent
worker Many OF his papers on ancient coins and
implements have been translated into French ana
German. He s an honorary member Of no end OF
British and Continental societies. and FOR many
years he has been treasurer of the Roya, Society
In that capacity he has been brought into close per-
sonal relations with the most distinguished repre-
sentatves Of his own and other sciences. This. he
modestlv assumed. was the explanation OF his eleva-
ton to the office he now holds. While not brilliant
man by any means Sir John is good alHer. and
was a favorte at the garden parties as well as IN
the lecture rooms at Toronto
A LION IN APPEARANCE.
Sir William Turner. the great anatomist. OF Edin-
burgh is nearly years younger than Sir !ohn
r,ans hut his bushy leonine beard has as little
color as snow drift. Sir william Is picturesque
parsonage. ana arrests attention instantly as one
glances casually a. group OF men among "hom ne
IL sitting. lie has about bushe-basketfu' OF Ll- Is
from Edinburgh, Glasgow. oxford. Durham ana
other universities. There hint OF great firm
ness as we'll as abundant courtesy. in his way oi
nresiding over the anthropo.ogy section; and 1t
would probably go hard with any one who venfured
10 dispute Sir Williams decision on any question OF
parliamentary procedure
James Bryce. regius professor Of civil law at pX'
ford and author Of several valuable books besides
THE American Commonwealth" was another con-
snicuous figure at Toronto He looks older than he
f. He might easily be taken for the senior Of Lord
Lister and Sir John Evans. although ne has only
Jus: entered upon his sixte;h year Mr.. Bryce has
travelled a great deal. and Is man of wide in
formation lie talks readily and with force on
variety Of topics In the economics section. apropos
of some one else's paper Cdnada's commercial
policy. he denounced protection In vigorous terms
he admitted another occasion that he had talked
Latin with facility in comforting degrees on eminent
people at oxford and when F. c. Selous the great
African traveller. finished lecture on Southeastern
Africa Mr. Bryce remarked that perhaps he and TWO
women in the audience were the only persons pres
ent who could Judge how accurately 'Rhodesia had
hoen described However strongly OF Mr.
Rryce's auditors may have differed with him on eco
nomical questions. though. no one disapproved his
earnest condemnation of jingoism in Anglo-Amer-
lean politics.
TWO FAMOUS EXPLORERS.
Mr. Selous, Just referred 10. Is the chap aftor
whom Rider Haggard is said to have modelled
Allen Ouatermain Dr. Scott Kettle secretary Of
the Royal Geograp hica Society. in introducing this
explorer remarked that man now living had
done 60 much Mr.. Selous to enlighten the world
in regard TO the topography climate resources ana
people Of the region lying south Of the Zambesi
River. The lecturer Is famous hunter. too. ana
has killed no end OF lions. elephants and gifahes.
He is said to have sworn off on that sort OF thing
now. however except 30 far A. may be necessary
Still. before nc leaves America ne VIII NlSit
haunts OF the grizzly bear in the 'anadian ROCKIES
and what ne Will deem necessary IN suGn "nni
gencics a may arise ii H. no; easy TO predict. MT
Seous Is a good fighter * well As hunter ana eX-
pl)rcr. lie WAS badly wounded four years ago IN
The war with the Matabeles. More than hall OF MS
career has been spent N Africa. Although he -
only forty five years old. he began ms INVASION ol
that continent; fully q quarter OF century ago
Another whose diplomacy, courage ana geo
graphical research have aided in cnIarsing The BIZ
iSh Empire-Sir George Scott Robertson was also
i'm Toronto last week Sir George t. no old' thai
Mr. Selous but has won world renown by his
piucky defence Of little fort in the thiiraI- he
was educated AS = physician and served Tor u iolS
time as a British political agent on the Northwest
ern frontier OF India. He has thus become intI-
matcy acquainted with the hillmcn and their pc
cularltics. On one occasion some dispute arose a"
10 the succession Is MclItar OF Chitral neigh,
boring poieniaic placed an Asatic brgand named
Sher Afzul the throne, and Or. Robertson went
up with an armed escort TO investigate IN" matter;
Some OF the Chitrali resented his curiosity ana