New-York tribune., 1911-03-25

trations. Svo. PIP xii S@ Lonemahs
Green & Co.
/ II there he much in this book that ap'
pcals almost exclusively 10 Oxford men,
more particularly to oxford men OF the
late 10s and early SOS of the last CEN
tury. it contains fully as much that is OF
general interest to us on this side OF te
Atlantic, as we'll as to educated English
men. Professor Poulton, who was Lo-
we'll lecturer at Harvard some fifteen
years ago. is delightful in his reminiscent
mood, because he covers method beneath
convincing air of spontaneity. John
Viriamu Jones. his dearest friend n
their oxford days will be to the major
ity Of his readers only a legitimate eX-
cuse for the pages that follow-one OF
the dii minores of English education dur
ing the last quarter century. man OF
distinction and sterling service in his
day, TO be sure. but not a commanding
figure, knowledge of whom can be said
to be imperative beyond the measure
given in the biographical dictionaries.
He belongs most Of all to that section OF
these memories which appeals to his fell
low students at the university alone.
John Viriamu Jones was born at Pent-
repoeth near Swansea, on January ..
1856. the son Of famous Nonconformist
Welsh preacher, the Rev. Thomas Jones.
From childhood on he distinguished
himself by the high qualities of his in
tellectual equipment. At University Col
lege. London. he Won many prizes and
medals taking his degree with first class
honors at the age Of nineteen. AT OK
ford he won name in mathematics and
natural science, being elected in conse-
quence principal and professor Of mathe-
mates and physics in Firth College,
Sheffield. His great opportunity came
when. in his twenty-eighth year. he was
called 10 the first principalship Of the
newly founded University College of
South Wales. whose interests and stand
ing he forwarded thenceforth with all
his power. His scientific work was
mostly in electrical science. He died in
1901. at the age of forty-fivc.
Professor Poulton draws sympathetic
picture Of the friend OF his youth and of
the friendship that formed the nucleus
of their connection with the life Of OK
ford. grave and ga. He remembers en-
thusiasms and iconoclasms. the interests
Of The period, and in a later division
prints a chapter of his memories of the
Union in the IUs that is perhaps the
most readable. If not the most important,
part Of his book. This chapter was
actually written in 1877. but it Is mark
edly up 70 date in its reports OF discus
sions Of the censorship Cf books and
viyisection. as we'll as of the Bulgarian
atrocities and other great questions Of
the hour The meetings for debate at
the Union began at $50 p. m. in tho
summer term and at 1:3J in the Michael
mas and Lent terms. and took place in
the Old Hall. which is now the library.
The first meeting in the New Hall was
held in the Michaelmas term of that
year.
The book objected to for inclusion in
the library was Ouida's Under Two
Flags" the objector stating that the
books of this author might he divided
like China in the old Biographies, into
proper" and improper" Under Two
Flags" was "Ouida improper" TO this
another member responded with an ar
gument that might have been made only
yesterday In the course Of the contro-
Versy over Cottage Pie:
Why should the Hon. Member be so very
careful OF our morals? Why should he
come down here. "A self-elected censor mo-
ruIn-ip decide what Is proper" and what
that the members Of this society feel them
selves quite able TO take care of their own
morals without the advice or assistance of
the Honorable Member.
An animated general discussion fol-
lowed. which led another member to de-
clare with enormous energy that "the
Hon Members who have opposed this
book arc like those clocks which viii
90 ON striking, not because they have
anything to say. but because there is
something the matter with their in
sides"
The leader of the opposition readily
reioined The Hon. Member slso re-
minds me Of clock. and one of that
particular kind known as cuckoo clocks,
which attract notice more by the energy
with which thev deliver their remarks
these remarks
A vote vas finally taken division
demanded and Under TWO Flags ad-
mitted to The ibrarv. Men on comfort
able and well placed seats. the author
tells rs. we're sometimes nable 10 sum-
mon up enough interest in division to
risk losing them. while men on bad seats
often seized the opportunity Of getting
better ones.
Professor POulton remembers with un-
nous Saturday Club in Boston during
his stay in this country. most of his
memories being of Oliver Wendell
Holmes. Others present were AleXan
der Agassz William James. Professor
Goodwin, Judge Field and General
Walker. The talk ranged from the
transmission OF acquired characteristics
to old age, DR.. Holmes declaring that
after eighty a man has seen everything
twice over" a moment later confessing
to lurking sympathy with prizefghting
perhaps because ! am so unified for
the ring myself" and vowlng that he
would never repeat to any one what
Tennyson had said 10 him when he en-
tered the lauToatc's house:
II was thing he would not have expect
LII. Il I...I L.. 1.