The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14

Il IL well known that Leslie Stephen, who
was bonn In 1882. was the son Of Sir James
Stephen, who was for many years Per-
manent Under Secretary Of State for the
Colonies, and whose lectures on the history
Of France, delivered while he was regius
professor Of modern history at Cambridge
University, used 10 be a textbook at
Harvard. The boy Leslie was for a short
time nc Eton, but got most Of his early in
structicn at Kings College School In Lon
don, whence he proceeded TO Trinity Hall,
Cambridge, whore In 1854 he took honors
In mathematics. Having grown up In a
religious atmosphere, partly Evangelical
and partly Broad Church the was a pupil
Of Frederick Denison Maurice), 1t was
natural that Stephen should offer himself
for and be elected TO a clerical fellowship
at his college. and should in due course
enter holy orders, after which he settled
IN Cambridge as a tutor. Gradually, how
ever, bis theological views changed, and
after q time he found himself 90 far re-
moved from Anglican orthodoxy that in
1892 he resigned both clerical and tutorial
duties, and shortly thereafter migrated
TO London.
His elder brother, james Fitzjames
Stephen. afterward legal member Of the
Vioeroys Council in India, and eth later q
Judge Of the High Court Of Justice, was,
thou ID practising at the bar, mainly occu-
pied in writing for the press; and through
him Leslie found easy access to journalism.
For the Saturday ReUiew he wrote regularly
forfour or five years, and when the Poll Mdu
Gazette was founded, IN 1895, be contributed
to 1t aiso, and for a time frequented the
gallery Of the House Of Commons as It's
Fepresen tative. His comments on Parlia-
mentny debates were, 1t seems, more fire.
quently sardonio than sympathetic, and he
nevereIpressed any wish to enter the arena.
Fromya political point Of view he was Lib
eral, tending to radicalism but was too de-
tached In mind TO become a keen party man.
An interesting fact Is recalled by MIR. Bryce.
namely, that at the time Of Leslie Stephens
introduction to journalism the cause which
laid most hold upon him was that Of the
northern States in our civil war. Dis
posed as the was by the influence Of his
father and his fathers friends b detest
slavery, bis interest was stimulated By a
journey which he made to the United States
in 1888, and which procured for him the
frier dship Of James Russell Lowell, Charles
Eliot Norton and Edwin L. Godkln. What
be ss;W Of America at this time led him 10
Cross, tho Atlantic once or twioe In after
Life. In 1857 Stephen married the younger
daughter Of Thackeray, whose death eight
years later was a great blow TO him. In
1871 be took the editorship OF the CoTahiH
MdsaSiHs and held 1t until, In 1882, he ex-
changed Il for the far more onerous task
Of editing the Dictionary Of National Bog
raphy.' These occupations, coupled with
the writing Of numerous articles for periodi-
Gals, -alled up most of his uneventful life.
although he found time 10 compose three
large and several smaller books, Of which
the most important are English Thought
In the Eighteenth Century (e7e); THE
Science Of Ethics uss7), and 'Ths English
UdhtariansE 1900.
We are told that Stephen was never
wildly known In London, for he was Of a
reserved disposition and did not care for
theasoTt Of society, the principal features OF
which are dinner parties and evening
receptions. The few who enjoyed bis
intimacy held his literary judgment IN
profound respect. Mr.. Bryce testifes that
'hb mind was not only vigorous, like his
fathers and his brothers; Il had an excel
lent precision and a wonderfully fine edge.
Hes reasoned exactly; he went straight 70
the point; he never slurred over a dificulty.s
Less fertile In suggestion than bis oontem-
porary Henry Sidgwiok. he was more
dohnite In his conclusions. or rather his
conclusions were easier to follow, because
drawn upon broader lines. His observa-
ton was acute, and he had a sort Of
Carlylesque gift Of catching the little
traits or habits In which character ex-
presses itself But IN Mr.. Bryce's ewes
the great charm Of Stephens talk was lie
humor. 1t was humoT Of a dry and quiet
kind, delivered with deliberate American
gravity-indeed, his friends used 10 tell him
that he must have caught the American
manner on his first visit 70 that COUNTRY
II was never unkindly, and Il came with a
delightful suddenness, when least expected.
A. often happens with men who have A
strong vein Of humoT, his temperament
was naturally somber rather than cheerful;
10 this power Of drawing Amusement from
the minor troubles Of life was all the morn
precious' We are reminded that James |
Russell Lowell, In an article containing
some caustio remarks on Englishmen |
generally, said Of Leslie Stephen that. he |
was 'the most lovabie Of men. Prom The !
point Of view Of intimate personal aoquaint- |
Ance, Mr. Bryce also bears witness to his |
arniAbility. He was wo are told. sin |
gularly modest, distnistlng his own power.
and apt to disparage his own work. He |
was sinGularly considerable Of Others. a. |
an who worked under him recognized.
and, Il may be added, a. all who had the |
good fortune to travel with him felt every |
day they were in his company. He vas
ndugent In bis judgments, keeping oansure,
Vhsn oensuro bad 20 be given, within the I
n.lrovest lHnits, and free from resentment
- sn sEtent TIE mqro renafiablo booauss