The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-19

assign natural history, on the ground tina
the study Of II quiokens all the powers anC
creates the faculty Of accurate observation
In the third place he was convinced tina
emulation should lie carefully avoided
no one, he said, ought 10 be rewarded al
the expense Of another, and he pointed on
that they who fail in gaining prizes may
have BEEN impeded by the specific natur,
Of their talents and not by their own wan
Of eIertion. He next insisted that cor.
poral punishments must be abolished, az
degrading the individual who receives
them and as causing fear and deception.
He further believed that classes should be
formed according 10 the character and
capacity Of each individual boy. and wa
inclined 10 think that a large printing es-
~tablishment might with advantage be an
nexed 10 the school.
At Rome, which he reached toward the
end Of November, 1871. he did not feel the
disappointment experienced by many per-
sons on the first sight Of st. Peters. He
writes in his diary that after walking
up it's grand nave and around its affairs and
among its chapels and aisles, which were
doubly solemn and pleasing for being almost
solitary at that early hour, / threw myself
on my knees before the grand altar and
returned thanks TO God for guarding me
amidst all the dangers Of travelling. pre-
serving me on the high seas and on shore,
raising up friends and benefaotors for me
wherever l have been, and blessing me
with health and external prosperity in an
almost unexampled manner
While at Rome Bancroft was presented
to the Princess Borghese. the handsomest
Of Napoleon's sisters, who although she
was then in wretched health and had grown
war and thin was still beautiful. On one
Of his visits 10 her she made him observe
how small her waist was and how thin were
her arms, which used 10 be large and round;
she showed him her ornaments and new
articles for her toilet. just received from
Paris; chatting now Ike a moraHst about
her misfortunes and now like a ~ooquettish
woman about her beauty and jewels. She
seems 10 have dismayed the ~impeounious
Bancroft by telling him that 1t was quite
impossible ta. a lady. to dress, on. qpH. 800
a year. and that at a time when a gown ft
for a princess could be bought for $40.
On his way northward Bancroft had a
glimpse Of Byron. The b~iographer recalls
that in a letter TO John Murray from Byron
written in May. 1922. from MONTENEGRO near
Leghorn. where the poet wal living at the
time with the Countess Guiodoh, there is a
reference TO Bancroft. A tangible re-
minder Of the visit, q copy Of don JUAN
given TO the visitor with the authors auto
graph on its hylsaf. was n Of the treasures
Of Bancroft's library. and finally passed
with all his other books 10 the LenoK
Library In New York. Bancroft notes in
his diary that Byron referred with interest
10 Ticknor and Everett and spoke partiou-
larly Of Washington Irving, whose "Knicker-
booker he seemed very fond Of. lrvng's
style he called rather aoid.' but oom-
mended il highly. When Bancroft eI-
pressed delight at hearing the praise OF
Irving. Byron replied that his feelings as
10 Irving we're common TO all the latter's
countrymen. Bancroft having mentioned
Goethe's comparison Of Faust and MAN
fred" Byron observed that he deemed it
honor enough to have his work so much as
cited in connection with Faust Speak,
ing Of the alleged immortality Of his writings
Byron said: why. what are Fielding and
Smollett and those suthors7' He seemed TO
think that there were worse things in Smol-
lett than in anything he had ever written.
What would they say. too he asked, 'to
the introduction 10 Goethe's 'Faust'?'
Bancroft was presented by Byron TO Mime.
Guiccoh. who TO him seemed TO be about
twenty-five. He records that she had the
sweetest pronunciation in the world and
that: "She ia Of q delicate style Of beauty,
has a fine neck. a lovely complexion, on her
cheeks the richest yermiion color; a fine
white forehead, a sweet little mouth, a
graceful nose and good teeth; she Ia tall.
and her waist is beautifully small He
adds that Innocence and repoee seem
the leading characteristics Of her counte-
nance. Her smile Is heavenly; her dark
have a calm and gentle look, and
though I have seen more splendid beauties
I have seldom aeon any one who produced
me a p%lcasanter impression