The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26

John Arthur Roebuck was born. as we
have said, at Madras in 1902. His father
was a younger son Of DR.. John Roebuck.
the founder OF the Carron Iron Works in Scot
land, and well known in tho scientific world.
His mother was q daughter Of Richard Tickell.
a member of the coterie of Fox and Sheridan
and a descendant of Addlson's friend. Thomas
Tickell. the translator OF the Had. The subject
OF this memoir tells US. in n fragment Of his
autobiography: MY fathers brother. Benja-
min. was Paymastcr-General Of the East India
Company's forces at Madras at the time
OF my parents marriage, and my father
took his young wife to India. She was then
about 81, having been married at 16. She left
three children In England. all boys. in the care OF
her mother; bore three children in India, all
boys. and came home in 1907. leaving her hus-
band in India. He then had the almost certain
prospect Of making a great fortune, but on the
very day that his wife and children landed in
England he 1lod suddenly. My uncle Benjamin
died shortly nftcrward. Thus my mother was
left with six children and with very uncertain
means. She had to educate them and put them
forward in the world without assistance from
her late husbands family or her own" Under
the circumstances, 1t was not surprising that tho
young widow should soon marry again. Tho hus-
band she chose wasa Mr.. Simpson. a merchant.
but an unsuccessful one; after many schemes
had been tried and failed, tho family emiRrated
to Canada in the year 1915. Hero John Arthur
Roebuck lived until 1924. His brothers grow
to be powerful men. He. on tho contrary. was.
from the beginning. small. frail, and before he
went TO Canada. an invalid. His health there
became assured. but he never became strong.
An accident 10 his knee had made him lame for
life. and always interfered with any great phys
icRl e%Xertion. Perhaps his unftness for out
door sports may have been a blessing In dis
guise. for 1t enabled him to devote all his leis-
ure time to study. Ho read, he tells us. and
pored over the English classics day and
night. He also taught himself French. to.
gether with a good deal OF Latin. to
which Italian was added some years later.
Having determined to return to England. and
to try his fortune ut the bar, no started for Lon
don at the age of %. with $50 in his pocket.
That l was allowed to do this" he writes,
seems to be now a wonder and something
worse. That / was not shipwreckcd and cast
upon the world without hope is now to INC a
marvel. ] was. indeed, supported for some
short time by uncertain remittances from
Canada, but they soon failed utterly. and ] was
thrown upon my own unaided resources. Luck.
lily, among tho friends OF his mother. was tho
well-known scholar, Thomas Love Peacock. TO
whom lie took q letter OF introduction. and by
whom he was introduced to J. S. Mill, who
eventually made him q member OF the Utili-
tartan Society. which met once a week at
the house OF jeremy Bentham, for the
purpose OF discussion. Roebuck became some
thing OF a favorite with the older philosopher,
who, apparently, foresaw the mark his young
friend would, one day. make in the world.
There Is a playfully affectionate reference TO
Roobuck In BrowninG's Life OF Bentham."
II have been catching fish" Bentham said one
day. II have caught a carp, / shall hang him
up and feed him with bread and milk. He shall
DO my tame puss. and shall play about on the
floor. But / have a new tame puss. / shall
make Roebuck my pusS for his article on Cana