New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-11
Anglo-American Memories
CxxIII.
Copyright, 1911, eeors. w. sn.l,.vA


genius was deliberative. He was a good
Member Of Council, and he wrote good
books on India.
l think of him as Soul. He was a
member Of that select company Of Souls
which. as I said lately. denied its own
existence; which nevertheless existed for
some years and then ceased to exist,
though of Individual Souls there remain
some of the most distinguished. Lord
Curzon for one and Mr.. Asauith for an
other: though perhaps Mrs. Asquith
should he mentioned first. Lyall was the
typical Soul; not divorced from the body,
but independent Of the body; subjecting
the gross and material part Of the indl-
vidual TO that which is spiritual There
have always been people who did That.
The hallmark Of these particular Souls
vas their social genius. They dWeit
among the men and women Of society.
They were themselves, most Of them. IN
society. You met them at dinner and IN
other reople's houses In the country.
The men hunted and shot. The women
be made love to- They were, however
believed to be. or believed themselves to
he superior 70 the senses. The af1nities
that drew them together were not of the
physical kind.
There was famous definition Of them
which turned on this distinction. I am
afraid ii cannot be printed. Once I was
asked by a Soul If / had heard il.
answered yes. had. I was then COM
manded 10 repeat IL TO her, but this de-
clined to do. She pressed for IT. ex-
planned that il was not suitable for pub
LEGATION.
NO matter whether It is or not.
want to know what il is.
After long entreaty and peremptory
orders. | said that II repeated this dark
saving Of which the author is we'll
known. il must he at her risk and peril.
and after my clear warning. She assent
ed. told her She turned her back on
me there and then. and Of her face |
no more risks.
There is no particular reason why
these "reminiscences should connect
themselves with Sir Alfred Lyall but It
is only in this desutory way that any
thing at all can be said about such an
elusive group. That there should have
been something Oriental about Sir Alfred
is not surprising when you consider how
long he lived In India. He absorbed the
spirit Of the East much more completely
and sympathetically than most English
men He brought back with him to Eng
land Oriental Ia bits of thought. Mysti-
cism seemed natural 70 him, and beliefs
that had moulded antique civilizations
renewed their youth in him. Asceticisn
and purity Of thought were his. He be
came, at any rate. an Idol; TO whom fair
skinned English women did reverence
To them he was an inspiration: more.
think. than 10 Englishmen whose skins
are bronzed and their ways robust. His
was an influence Of deliCacy: potent in
its way: not. I imagine permanent but
about his memory will always linger a
fragrance
One other word on this lady who in
sisted on the telling Of story and then
resented the telling IF H. Then and now
a woman. who. whether a Soul or not.
had and has the qua lities which GO u
the making IF high nature: indis-
soluhly blended with others which are
more purely social II might be hard n
say for which she cared most. but are
NOT such puzzles frequent II is nothing
10 say she has an enviable place in her
own high world. ! dare not add more
A word might betrsy the identity 7 pre-
fer n conceal Even - "a ia that her
beauty Was all the more remarkable for
being IN English. il might he clev
here. but need not he in New York:
absorbed as New York is in II. own at
fairs which. naturally. II reckons more
vital To itself than the affairs Of other
cities n will he safe ~ assume that
New York does not care who she ie. and
equally safe 70 assume she would not
care Vhether New York cared or not;
or knew But there are women in New
York 70 whom London is an open book.
and that is rhv this particular page ~
the hook has 70 remain closed
g " 6