New-York tribune., 1909-12-04
RUSKIN.
HIS Traits Recalled by His
Friend Serern.

Mr.. Arthur Severn-:he friend and pro-
tege OF Ruskin and the son OF the Sew
ern in whose arms Keats died-made an
uncommonly interesting address before
the English Authors Club the other
evening. He recounted many anecdotes
OF Ruskin, not the least amusing Of
which described sensible old Papa Rus
kin coming into the room in which son
John had been exhibiting the Turner
drawing OF the St Gothard to his guests.
and slyly remarking: You know I
often think my son. John. sees more in
these drawings than Turner ever
meant" John had gone upstairs 20
fetch something, and, hearing his de-
scendins footsteps. the old gentleman
hastily retreated. The son. said M.
Severn, appeared rather out OF breath,
carrying e heavy stone. which, he said.
he had picked out OF the very torrent
Turner had painted in his foreground
This stone he said. I keep 10 show
how true Turner has been in the red
dish color OF his rocks. and then. wet
ting the stone with water out Of a glass
he had sent for. said. Now you see how
exactly he paints the color OF stones
made wet by spray"
OF Ruskin's ways with children Mr.
Severn gave some quaint recoHections:
His idea seemed 10 be 20 let them have
plenty OF jam tarts. and 10 run about
outside on the grass or romp indoors.
With very young children he was help
less. / once saw him crawl on his hands
and knees toward a baby resting on
the air. and dance like Fred Vokes The
baby. eying him al first with a stony
gaze. then soon yelled in despair and
fright. The professor retired looking
puzzled and ashamed" Another glimpse
OF Ruskin dancing is almost as comic
He with u.s." said Mr.. Severn, was in
vited 20 dine with a very lively French
lady. the wife Of a well known barrister
in London. She was very pleased at the
great man condescending 10 dine with
her. Two Frenchmen were asked 10
meet US. one old. the other young. The
dinner wac a great success, and when
we were leaving and I was helping the
professor with his coat the young man
went TO the piano and played lively
tune. Madame couldn't help beginning
70 pirouette about The professor at
once threw away his coat. and. rushing
with her into the drawing room, they
both began 10 dance like mad creatures.
he bounding up into the air with his
long hair waving up and down. The
young man kept quickening the time.
They went on until We all Joined in,
and only stepped from sheer exhaustion
and laughter"
Many suggestive details on the subject
OF Ruskin's literary tastes were given
by Mr.. Severn He remembered that
once when he wanted 10 quote in a lect-
ure on The Sea" e passage from Vie
tor Hugo's --Toilers OF the Sea" Ruskin
would not hear OF IL. He said If did
he would get Up and protest. and that
Victor Hugo was a gaslight poet and
that II / wanted 10 quote something
about the sea in storm, 1 could not DO
better than read the wonderful descrip-
ton in David copperheld, of the storm
where steerforth is drowned" MI
Severn continued:
After the greater books. his favorite au-
thors were scott, Dickens ana Maria Edge
worth. tut ] have heard him say that he
would rather have written Staniey's
Westminster Abbey and The History
% Christian Names" By Miss Yonge. than
anything of his own le had ever written.
On one of our posting journeys, We took
Blacks Adventures OF a Phaeton" 70
read. but II fell into Ruskins hands, and
We did not see IL again. He was also much
Interested with The MoOnstone," by VIII
kie Collins. He loved plenty OF mystery
and incident He would look at a bad
picture II there was something 10 raise
his curiosity. and pass good one Y there
vas nothing or the poets-after Shake
speare, Dante and Milton-he liked Scott,
Byron and Wordsworth. although / once
but that was after course OF Byron
Keats he nked and said once, y have
come 70 that pass Of admiration Tor hins
row that I dare not read him. dlscOn-
tented he makes me with my own work.
The authors poets and painters he liked
hest were those who taught most, and ne
used 10 say OF himself. 4 am nothing
unless didac1ic'