New-York tribune., 1901-06-30

ioned gaIIantry but he apparently never let
what his contemporaries called the Iehder
ns ssion" There is pretty story that ne was
in early life deeply attached to John MuisoS
sister Hester-the lady who afterWard became
the celebrated Mrs. Chapone-but MI Holt
White gives us To understand that TINS Was
never ANYTHING more than pretty story Miss
Hectv like her brother, was fond Of Nv Aiti-
bus" as she called him: she talked OF career
in,. about" with 'Whitibus' who she says
hefghtans and improves all parties; but there
was never any truth in the sentimental presen-
taton of White as a blishted being lie cheeTed
on the marriages of his nePhews and nleces but
the figure of a possible Joan never came be
tween Darby and his birds. his cucumbers, MS
flowers and Timothy his tortoise That he was
a highly agreeable in the eyes of young
ladies we may read between the lines of an
artless diary of visit to SeIbCrne made by
handsome Miss Catharine Battle. a young Lon
doner who was to become the great grand
mother of Mr. Holt White. Ihe inclusion Of
| this diary in the biography needs no excuse, for
its guileess fun and sirsh enthusiasm make
it most winning specimen of its kind Kitty
the Fair found life in what she calls the happy
| Valley" all sentime III. "mirth & jolity. and
| she describes it with joyous disregard OF
| punctuation:
June 2i-C;ot up in very good spirits (Vho can
i
| Never shall forget the happiness OF this day
| which exceeded any I ever had in all my Lie.
sweet Hermitage agreeable Company fine day
| good spirits all COmli-d make il 0f all days
| the most agreeable.
| Wed -; after breakfast wrote nl,.sck then
! Mr.. Whites % ne electrified
the evening walkd 10 Noar Hill oh sweet even
| ing sure there never was any thing equal % tLr
rOmantickness OF that Or Or Hill, Never never
/ shall l forget EmpshOt & the gloomy Woods
/ the distant Hills the South Downs the woody
Hills on the right Hand. the forest the valleys
oh all are heavenly almost too much for one
| To bear the sight of this heaUteOUs prospect
gives me d pleasing melancholy
Kitty with her sisters. Nanny and Delphy,
dressed as shephercesses and danced with their
friends in a tent; and the girl writes afterward:
| AT nine the lamp was lighted, enchanting scene
oh never did see anything like it 'tis 'tis Ar
Cada Happy Happy Vale when shall see thee
again" Apparently Gilbert White suggested
the shepherdess masquerade. for these verses in
his handwriting We're all her life preserved By
pretty Kitty:
Gilbert. a meddling. Iuckless swain.
Must alter lady's dresses.
To dapper Hats and tuckd up train.
And hOwer-enwOven treSSeS-
| But now the Iout with loss of heart
| Must for his rashness pay:
| He rues for tamp'ring with dart
Too prompt before to Slay.
White was given To dropping into verse in a
| painstakng way. and indeed recommended To
one of his nephews "a little turn for English
poetry "a pretty accomplishment for
young gentleman. which will not only. enable
him the better TO read and relish our best poets
but will. like dancing To the body. have an happy
/ influence even upon his prose compositions.
! Mr.. Holt-White contradicts the Oft-made
statement that the naturalist would sit
for his portrait" He says the authority of
his grandfather. who Gilbert Whites
nephew and knew him very we'll. that Gilbert
showed Discrimination To have his portrait
painted when urged To this course by his
brother Thomas. but that he did not as IT hap
pened. ever have il done He is described by
his bioSraI her Il slender person five feet
three inches in stature. of upright carriage and
diEnlHed presence. Ii h. reSembled his brothers.
his features We're regular. his complexion fair
and his eyes brown His expression was in
telilSent. kindly and vivacious. his manner gen
Tie and courteous IL is a notable testimony
not only 10 the charm of his work but 10 the
beauty of his character that little SeIbOrnr
nestled under its beechen hanger should year
by year east an ever strengthening spell upon
the pilgrim Twas just a century gone by"
sings Victor Plarr:
twas Just a century gone 10y
They laid the simple cleric here;
Tn old world was in her asony
And Nature Reason WAS the cry