New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-17

deep set eyes; but l have never seen a mass of
people strongly moved by one mans personal
ity except once-that was when Parnell in the
thick of his last and losing fight, met his sup
porters in the Leinster Hall. Nor do 1 know
precisely why one continued to go and hear the
lectures read aloud in that curious, high pitched
musical but monotonous voice, since one bought
and read them for ones self. 1t was an act OF
hero worship, l suppose, and have seen
other man who inspired that feeling. Even to
pass him in the street, as L often did. under the
lime trees between Keble and Wadham, gave
one thrill of Veneration.
It is odd how inaccurate memory is. 1 can
recall distinctly his sort OF shembng walk, and
the clothes loosely hung rather than put on him.
and the contrast between this slackness and
the extraordinary vigor of his eyes under those
dominant eyebrows 1 recall the slender gold
chain that he wore around his neck and the
particular blue of his tie but 1 cannot be clear
about the color OF his eyes Deep blue. 1t seems
TO me, they were. and yet at other moments 1
think they were gray.
RUsKIN AND PRECIOUS STONES.
We are reminded by THE Scotsman" that
Ruskin had a great scientific knowledge of min
erals and metals. He had a great love for
study. especially of the more beautiful precious
stones. and during the eighties constant
visitor to the mineral collection OF the British
Museum. which, believe, he helped partly to
arrange He generous donor to that in
stitution, among his gifts being a very SYM
metrical South African diamond, Weighing 40
carats. This he gave to the nation on condition
that the following characteristic inscription
should always appear on the label descriptive
of the specimen The Coenso diamond, pre-
scented in 1887 by John Ruskin in honor Of his
friend the loyal and potentially adamantine first
Bishop of Natal Later on in the year
he presented a beautiful ruby to the Museum,
to which gift he also attached a condition that
he should pen the following label for the speci-
men: The Edwardes ruby, presented by John
rim IN Of vi
and loving equity of Sir Herbert Edwardess
rule by the shores of Indus He also fond
OF drawing animals, and offered on several oc-
casions to make small illustrations for the Off
cial publications Of the Museum. Gold he once
observed TO friend, should always be mounted
on purple and he urged this advice the
authorities at South Kensington that all the
gold quartz and nuggets in the mineral gallery
are mounted on purple velvet, which. believe.
specially selected and provided by Ruskin."
HIS CAREER MADE EASY.
Philip Hamerton, as THE London Chronicle"
notes, once pointed out that Ruskin's career
would have been impossible for a poor
who had not access to the necessary materials
and the leisure to them.
A correspondent who has been searching the
records for the will of Mr.. Ruskins father, finds
that the estate under 100000 gross" and
that John Ruskn beQueathed the income
of the reSiduary estate during the life of Mrs.
Ruskin. and after her death, which occurred in
1871 the resduary estate absolutely The ZEN
dowment OF research" was never applied to
more fruitful purpose.
Until within the last few years there stood at
the rear of the old Town Hall at Croydon
small tavern called the Kings Head" Of which
Mr.. Ruskin's grandmother was at one time the
landlady. One of her daughters was Ruskin's
mother. Another daughter, whom Ruskin de-
scribes my Croydon aunt" married George
Richardson, Croydon baker. Speaking of his
mothers discipline he says. mo toys of any
kind were at first allowed but on one Of
my birthdays, thinking to break my mothers
resolution by splendOr Of temptation, my Croy-
don aunt bought me the most radiant Punch
she could find in all the Soho Bazaar" Mrs
Ruskin quietly told her son it was not right
that he should have it, and he never saw 1t
again
Ruskin's father is buried at Shirley, near
Croydon. He entirely honest mer-
chant" runs the epitaph. land his memory is
to all who keep it dear and helpful. His son,
whom he loved to the uttermost and taught to
speak the truth. says this of him"
HIS PUBLISHERS RECOLLECTIONs
Mr. George Allen, his publisher and friend for
three-and-forty years, saw Ruskin a great
man in the highest sense; "a grand man IN
heart as in intellect" II Sind 1t difficult" he
adds Ito tell you how grand he in every
thing that he did He never did action,
and his goodness to others was measureless. I
remember being with him IN Savoy Easter
Sunday in the year 1868 His human sympathy
went out to a Savoy peasant kneeling in prayer
at the roadside and he knet and prayed with
him. He thought this would do the poor fellow
good, would console and strengthen him. 1t
was ever thus with Ruskin-the one touch Of
nature in him was as deep and sincere as it was
simple. When 1 reach the Alps he had said to
me- L always pray He would betake himself
to some quiet corner among that grand scenery
and fall on his knees. Though he came Of a
certain strict Calvinism, there was nothing mar
IN the religious outlook of Ruskin-it was
expansive it was bright His kindness to
dumb animals was q characteristic which the
veriest stranger might notice. Truly, Ruskin's
heart as large his genius"
"He must have known what he had achieved
and that the thought in my mind when
asked him. not later than last autumn Are you
not glad your books doing so well" His
answer was, The public think so much more Of
my books than do myself This gentle mod
esty part of his charm. but then he was
wholly charming personality. I have never met
anybody in the least like him"
RUsKIN's LAST HOURS
This account Of Mr. RusBin's final illness we
find in The London Tines: THE end came
with startling suddenness On the morning of
Thursday, the 18TH Mr.. Ruskin remarkably
well; but when Mrs. Arthur Severn went to
him. as usual, after tea. in order to read to him
the news and In the Golden Days by
Edna Lyall. his throat seemed irritable His
cousin alarmed. for several OF her servants
were i'll with influenza; but the Professor was
inclined to laugh ii off, although he said he did
not feel well, and admitted when questioned that
he felt pain all over Helped by his faithful
! body servant, Baxter, he was put to bed, and he
listened while Mrs. Severn sang a much liked
song. Summer Sumber' II was now $50 and