Mr Clark Russeil.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVIII, 31 October 1903, Page 25

Mr Clark Russeil.

x'lie dearest nttie gentleman! That was the dominant thought in my mind as the train whirled me back from Bath, and it is the dominant thought now. for impressions of sueh a personality as Mr Clark Bussell’s do not readily fade, but rather deepen with retleetioii. The dearest little gentleman! Not very oil. indeed, having been born in 1844. but dear, yes; little physically, too; and a high-souled gentleman. whose simple faith is summed up in the words. "Fear God and honour the King." 1 would gladly leave it at that and say no more, for it is no pleasure to write of suffering, however bravely borne, of a life of late years, cribb’d. cabin’d ami confined (says a correspondent in a

Home joumu . Yet. excruciating *uffering. ha* *•» long been Clark Ku**eH’* daily companion. that some reference to his bodily infirmities is unavoidable. and may. perhaps, be best introduced by repeating a little joke of hi* great friend. Mr IL W. Lucy. Some four year* ago ••Toby” paid Mi Russell a visit at Bath. They had no. met for ten year*, and as “Toby” en tered the room he exclaimed, “Why. you haven’t changed a bit. How are you?” “Well enough in mind.” answered Mr Ru**ell. “but as regard* bodv. I haven’t stood for ten years." “Humph.” retorted “Toby.” cleverly covering his natural pain at seeing his old friend in *uch parlous state, “what are vou going to ‘stand’ now?’’ Foi fourteen veai* then. Clark Russell, crip

pled with rheumati*m. ha* not -m-i f<»<»i to ground, nor h. >1 a day’* freedom fron racking pain, but the tine brain is a> keen, the irre*pie**ible love of a joke as irrepressible. the *pirit a* daunt les.* as when in year* gone by he went down to the sea in ship*, and gained that knowledge of “merchant Jack" he wa* subsequently to turn to such splendid account. To my mind he is at once the nio*t exhilarating and the most pathetic figure 1 have ever met. Let us take a peep at him. then, as he peers out from beneath the hood of his Bath chair, a cigar between hi* lip* and a nod am! a cheery word or two for every second person he meet*. There is something bird-like in the *mall. thin, clean-shaven face, with its “dying jib of nose.” as he calls it. and eyes, dulled

sea. now blue, now grey, and *oniv.imes almost brown. A cle\»-r face, an intere*ting face, and a good face. F» r the re*t there is a whim*i<al. i might even say. a rougish gaiety alwiut hi* manner and *peech which is irresistible. One forget* that he is an invalid, one forget* everything save that one’s sides are ail too inelastic when he talk*. If in work he has often found surcease from pain. Clark Russell is rightly going to take things more easily in the future, but a new book may Im* looked for from his pen in the course of next year. His work. 1 may add. i* all dictated to hi* daughters, and critic*, who pounce on any technical error. *hotild remember that he has to visuali*e ships as they were forty years ago. ami are not now.