The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-19

The dreadful Bhowanee, goddess OF Thug
geeism, plays part. There Is plenty to keep
the reader Interested and enthusiastic.
A Gentleman Of England.
It is provoking that the Hon. Frederick
Leveson-Gower should have waited till
he was SO years Of age before writing his
"reminiscences in .Bygone Years (E. P.
charming and show that he could have
written memoirs as entertaining, II less
sharp tongued, as those Of his relatives
the Grevilles. His book justifles the exist
ence Of the younger son" who is contented
with his lot and chooses to remain a real
gentleman of leisure. A very likable
and delightful person he must have been
in any rank Of life, and thoroughly good
fellow he shows himself to be, young and
old, among the high and mighty Of Queen
victoria's prime. where fate put him.
Mr. Leveson- Cover was born somebody:
no mere peers son, but one OF the get that
ruled things at court and in public life.
His brother was Earl Granville. the Liberal
Foreign Minister; his uncle was the mag
nificent sixth Duke Of Devonshire, the
last Of the British srands seioneurs that
dazzled the continent Of Europe; his aunt
was that Duchess Of Sutherland who was
Queen Victoria's closest friend He was
related to half the peerage and to nearly
all in power for fifty years or more. He
was near friend OF Mr. Gladstone to the
end. Socially he was asked everywhere
and could see ever one. He could have
had distinguished career II he had wished,
even with little personal merit. But he
himself says that he was indolent; he was
content to drift through Eton and Oxford
and the Inns Of Court and into Parliament,
but preferred to take his comfort through
life and had no spur to distinguish himself
His "reminiscences are purely social;
as he says, he can no longer trust his memory
for the precise facts needed in political
memoirs, while that does not matter much
in relating social gossip 1t Is Of people Of
rank that he speaks and q few celebrities;
but that is not out Of snobbishness but be-
cause they were the only people he was
thrown in with. He shows at times that
he could be as sharp as Greville in his re-
marks. He tells good story OF his private
tutor: with the view Of giving me fav-
orable impression Of his culture, he used,
when we were reading Juvenal together,
which he quoted as II from memory. I'M
fortunately had. unknown to him, the same
edition, and perceived from the notes at
the bottom Of the page whence he derived
his quotation.
OF his own college he says: 1Icannot
call to mind in my time at Christ Church
any undergraduate who afterward became
a Cabinet Minister or who, with one ex-
ception, distinguished himself in any other
capacity" The exception was John Ruskin.
over whom our author is by no means
enthusiastic. -The Dean Of Durham tells
that by degrees Ruskin formed at Oxford
valuable Friendships. This was not my
impression. He seemed to keep himself
aloof from everybody, to seek no friends,
and to have none. never met him In any
one else's room, or at any social gathering.
see him now, looking rather crazy, taking
his solitary walks"
Mr.. Leveson Cover denies that the isola-
ton was due to the social standing OF
Ruskin's parents. He tells an anecdote,
which IL true, gives more plausible explana-
ton. .Ruskin on one occasion gave large
supper, to which he invited some OF the
leading undergraduates whom he did not
know. His speech on this occasion did not
make favorable impression. He said he
could hardly express how much he felt
honoured that 80 many young men who
were superior to him socially should have
condescended to accept his invitation.
This disinclined us to keep up the acquaint-
ance, although we were the losers thereby
The bad impression continued In after
life. Il cannot, however, say that have
aver felt the enthusiasm with which Ruskin
inspired 80 many OF his contemporaries.
No one can fail to admire the beauty and
eloouence Of his writings and his exquisite
drawing. But have felt great misgiving
about the soundness OF his judgment"
In which, perhaps Mr.. Leveson-Goweri is not
alone.
He saw Lord Lyndhurst in his old age
and DISPATCHES him as follows: He had
great char1f, Of manner, and shone In con-
versation. His principles in early life
were lax, both with regard to politics and
morality, but attaining great age, he
outlived his early reputation, and ulti-
mately got to be generally described as
stbe venerable Lord Lyndhurst." He dis
poses Of Charles Grevile with a neatness
that might have made Greville envious.
A good part OF the book is made up Of
three diaries of travel. which though bright
enough are not 90 interesting as tho rest.
In one there Ia q brilliant description Of .
bull fight in q page and half that Is I'M
consciously an artistic gem. Toward the
end M. Leveson-G Cover becomes hurried
and often contents himself with hasty
illusions and references to we'll known peo-
pie, instead Of telling about them.
We will quote q couple Of stories that
show that the author Is never wholly fiat
tering: Il was an enthusiastic admirer Of
Madame Grisi, and was delighted at being
invited after concert given in Paris to
remain for supper, at which she was present
But was rather disenchanted when l saw
with what dexterity the divine Norma
contrived to cat her food With her knife
instcad Of her fork One about Jowett
my not 10 row: lie OF . oyod tho com
:y,ttlc.lct' Y tmrn "hcm tc J, VI &C.