The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-31


It's effect upon Mr.. Douce was to make
him refrain from publication thereafter
to a great extent. He contributed to the
Archaeologia, edited some old chronicles
and other ancient works for the Rox-
burghe club, assisted Sir Walter Scott in
the preparation of "Sir Tristram," and
wrote an elaborate dissertation on Hol-
bien's Dance of Death" With these
exceptions he published nothing, and
therefore it is expected thar the box in
the British Museum will contain a vast
deal of highly interesting matter.
Douce's reading was immense. He lived
in his library, among his treasured Gu
rios. He read with pen in hand, and his
manuscripts and commonplace books
were crammed with the history of arts,
manners, customs, superstitions, fctions.
popular sports and games of ancient
times. All these should be in the box.
Mr.. Douce seems never to have been
exactly poor, except as ne cramped him
self at times by his passion for rareties,
but in 1923 he came into a fortune that
enabled him to satisfy every dream of
his life. His love of art had led him to
associate with the most eminent artists
OF the time, who were also glad to have
access to Mr.. Douce's rare collection Of
paintings and sculpture.
Among these acquaintances was Jo-
seph NolleKens, the famous sculptor,
who was as renowned for his miserly
habits as, he was for his genius, and his
wife ably seconded him in in his sordid
Tba toll Of
their parsimony, when Nollekens was in
receipt of an income of thousands of
pounds a year, are almost incredible.
They had no children, nor apparently
any near relative, and they accumulated
a fortune Of 100000.
Mrs. NoIlekens died in 1917, and just
before his own death IN 1923 the old
sculptor solicited Mr.. DQuce to be one
Of his executors. To this Mr.. Douce de-
INJURED, not caring to be charged with
the trouble. Mr.. Nollekens assured him
form any onerous duty, as he would ap-
point two other executors, to be named
by Mr.. Douce, who would have the chief
labor to perform.
Thereupon Mr.. Douce named two gen
tlemen who were his friends, but he
knew nothing of the contents Of the will
other than he believed that he was to
have a legacy of five hundred pounds.
Concerning this episode Dibdin re-
marks: TT may be doubted whether his
peace of mind was not a little broken
and his serenity of temper good deal
ruffied by the Nollekens legacy. do not
think he was ever afterwards so happy
as he was before. Notwithstanding his in
creased ability to meet all the taxes
which the state and the parish might i'm
pose upon him"
The reason for the unhappiness upon
his part was that there was good deal
of litigation over the will, which natur- |
ally caused him much annoyance and i'm !
paired his health. In the end the will |
was sustained.
The disposition he should make of his |
own magnificent library and rare works |
Of art now began to occupy Mr.. Douce's |
thoughts. His first intention was to |
Leave them to the great museum with |
which he had been once connected but /
when he refectd that its individuality as !
collection would be merged and lost in /
that vast library he turned elsewhere.
In the summer of 1880 he visited the
Bodleian library at Oxford with his
friend Disraeli, and he was so pleased
with his reception by the librarian and
others that he determined that the Bod
elan should have his library, prints,
drawings, Illuminated manuscripts,
coins and medals. And there they are
-oday, entitled the Bibliotheca Douceianat,
occupying a noble room, thus perpetual
ng the name Of Francis Douce.
All that the British Museum received
was the box of papers already mention
I'd. He bequeathed his collection of ivory
gems, and miscellaneous curl
osities to his friend Sir S. R. Meyrick
The bulk of his fortune, amounting TO
nearly GS0,O0o he left to another friend,
his nephews with small leg
lcies only. His will was a nine days
wonder, just as that of Nollekens had
been. but it was not contested.
DOuce is entitled to remembrance not
90 much for what he wrote as for what
he was. In a generation of distinguish
ID antiquarians, scholars and bibliophil-
SITS that embraced such men as Sir Wal
er Scott. Isaac Disraeli, Richard Heber.
Or. Dibdin, the second Earl Spencer,
George Ellis, Alexander Dyce and Payne
Collins. he was by no means the least.
indeed, in his lifetime ne was regarded
Is the foremost