The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-05
The LATE SIR BARTLE FRERE.

THE LATE SIR BARTLE FRERE.
Those who knew sir Bartle Frere best
during his life, and those who have
most carefully studied the voluminous
records of that life, ane and all honest
ly declare themselves unable TO detect
any flaws in most beautiful, most no.
Bile nature. He never could see that
what was wrong for an individual to
do was right for nation or govern
ment He always regarded secret SER
vice with disapproval. holding that in
formation Unscrupulously obtained is
seldom to be relied on. When he had
been in India only few years. the
governor of Bombay, Lord Glare. de-
scribed him as IAN ornament to the SER
vice" and remarked, even thus early in
his career on his extraordinarily wide
knowledge, and his competence and
trustwOrthiness as an adviser. In his
talk he was careful not to give offense
or make mischief, or speak i'll of any,
but was prone rather to notice anylgood
qualities in others. He was all kind
ness to young officers and newly-ar-
| rived civil servants. He despised none.
He was accessible to everybody. When
governor of Bombay he took all petit
| tons himself. If there was a flaw in
his method, it was one so characteristic
of the man that it is tribute to his
memory not to overlook it. Successful
in using to the highest public advan-
tage the qualities of his associates and
subordinates, he was occasionally at
| fault in crediting each and every one
with the same disinterested motives as
himself. At the same time nothing was
| more remarkable than his power of
transmitting lower aims into higher in
those with whom he was brought in
contact A certain resemblance
is traceable between his character and
Gordon's. Frere had been deeply inter-
ested in Gordons work among unciviI-
| lied peoples, and Gordon wrote to ev-
press his sympathy with Frere in his
| troubles. Both, endeavoring to do their
duty in the same continent, were de-
serted by those in power at home
Frere's subOrdinates were always able
| to rely on his support. Even when
| they made mistakes he was slow to con-
denim them if they had honestly tried to
| do their best. He would always give
them the credit of success, just as he
was equally ready to give to his chief
the credit which was largely his own.
| His intense family affection was lead
| ing characteristic. Most keenly did he
| feel separated from 'his wife and chill
dren. There is before me a treasured
album containing the letters which this
devoted father wrote from abroad to his
young children at home. More delight
full productions of the kind could not be
| imagined. They are models of what
such letters should be, full of informa-
| tion-some of it such as might be
thought rather difficult for children to
grasp, yet conveyed with sympathetic
skill that would render it easily intelli-
gibe to the simplest child mind. His
respect for children was too great to
permit him to write down" to their
supposed level. Maxima pueris debet
reverentia might have been his motto,
The letters are continually illustrated
with clever pefland-ink sketches, views,
scenes, incidents, animals, buildings,
maps, plans-all admirably executed
Sir George ArtRxSE IN the Monthly Re-
view a.