The evening times., 1900-05-26
ARGYLL,s RARE QUALITIES.
TIlc Late Dukes OrHfOry, Versatility,
and IrondBe-s for Animals
Cf'roul the Pall Nall Gazette)

(f'roul the PaIl Nall Gazettc.)
There have been few abler men in cur
time than the late Duke OF Argyll. who
died Ias7 month: feE who had the grasp OF
or dabbIed in more subjects; few began
so early or kept IL UD through 50 many
.-aars; few went fer" men and things 50
vigorously Throughout his career. Physi-
calIy a small man. he was intellectually
a very big Cae, and IL the second son Of
the seventh Duke CT argyll had never
been born 10 a cO1troyersialist, the
latter half OF this century would have
missed one OF its most quantity brilliant
figures He was always at il. taking the
Scottish Church or Irish home rule. the
AFmenians. or the geological case for the
dsluge. the eight-hOur question or the
unity Of nature indifereutly in his stride.
And upon whichever Of these he might be
touching the world could not wisely pass
him over unnOticed- Sometimes. IL is true.
he essRyed TO break lance with foe
man who knew the ground far better than
ne could hope TO do. with AL his justif
cation in making oZnniscience his fcible;
certainly he did not always unhoTss his
man But his blows were always lusty
and crashing; they generally left their
mark, and they were invariably pretty TO
see. II the duke by no means always con
vinced the world that he was right, he
nearly always convinced II that he was
remarkably clever and almost as remark
ably well informed. AS 70 his speeches. il
was unkindiy hinted that he modelled them
on the proportions CT his title, and the
caricaturist loved to depict him coming
down 20 the House OF Lords with mighty
strut and piper playing The CampbeIls
Are Coming before him Undoubtedly
he was not concise On his fest. and an
Grafton Of his was tremendous effort
t,1f Il Il
Duke Of Argyll justice. But It was worth
hearing when II came. as a piece OF real
oratory replete with points. rs cOeksure-
ness might raise a smile. but there was
always something in IL that his audience
could carry away, while the neat little
scores Of fellow-peerS which he got in
from time 10 time delighted all but the
victim, AID sometimes even tie unfor-
tunate one himself.
Dress never occupied much Of his
thoughts. Generally speaking he was in
clined 10 be negligent in the matter OF
his clothes, although on occasions Of GER
emony he would appear in Highland cos
tune Nor was he lover OF teweIry, a
long gold neck-chain and one plain finger
ring being all that he wore in the way OF
personal adornment. Il was his custom
moreover, TO shave and dress himself
even to the tying OF his ld-fash.Sned stocb
III q uuRt DOW II was a SlHlQlnX rule al
InveTary Castle and at Argyll Lodge. Ken.
sington that no needy person was to bC
turned away empty-handed. His grace wa.
an extremely temperate man and. until re-
cent years. he rarely touched spirits. and
then only 2 small quantity. by medical ad-
vice He never used tobacco in any form
The duke was extremely fond OF animals
| yet, clIriodsly enough, he never kept {
pet dog In his house He was not very
/ .,H aal In, lat auc
that he had not engaged more freely II
/ outdoor pursuits. He was, however, a g0oC
/ shot. and an enthusiastic angler before
/ becoming comparatively an Invalid. HI
occupied himself by dredging in Loeb Fyn.
/ for rare shells when the weather was suit
able. He was very fond Of wild birds. anJ
/ his orders were that they were on no ac
| count 20 be disturbed. The woodland
round the castle swarmed with blaekbirds
! thrusheS linnets. and robins.
Mr.. Gladstone once said that he ha,
/ only known three men who were orator
/ By birth. One was the Bishop OF Winehes
| ter Wilberforce; the second was the lat
| Lord Elgin, and the third was the Duke 0
| Argyll. The Duke Of Argylrs oratory wa
largely dependent on a beautifully modu
! lated voice. copious vocabulary. and
never failing fire. When Lord Roseher
first came to the front he became the bet
nOir Of the late duke and was constantl
taupted with his youth. a favorite phras
Of the dukes being as follows: II was en-
gagged IN such and such a work when tn
noble earl was in his small clothes.
Lord Rosebsry never replied to these al
taeks until one occasion. when the duk
was more than usually bitter. Lord Rose
lery said: ct trust that when l arriv
at the age Of the noble duke. shall spea
with as much eloquelce and with NOR
Christian charity"