I lO PPiOCEEDI^'GS OF THE 



fill in the picture with an account of his scientific work and an 

 appreciation of his loveable personality. A few salient features 

 may be dwelt on here. 



Professor Weldon was the eldest son (his s'oimger brother 

 Dante died in 1881) of the late Waiter Weldcn, F.E.S., dis- 

 tinguished both in Journalism and Chemical Science, well known 

 for his invention for the recovery of Chlorine in the Leblanc Soda- 

 process, and one of the founders of the Society of Chemical 

 Industry. It was said that tlie most remarkable characteristic of 

 the father was "the marvellous aA'idity and thoroughness with 

 \^hich he grasped any subject upon which he brouglit his mind to 

 bear. A strong and active mind was allied with a constitutional 

 power and capacity and love of work Avhich it is the good fortune 

 of few to possess." The qualities that brought distinction to the 

 father were inherited in full measure by the distinguished son. 

 In his earliest days at Cambridge Raphael Weldon (he was always 

 called by the last of his Christian names) was remarkable, even 

 among the brilliant company of young zoologists gathered there 

 under Francis Balfour, for his unusual enthusiasm for Zoology, 

 and his University career ^\as, like the rest of his life, devoted to 

 his favourite study. He was a A'igorous member and supporter 

 of the Cambridge University jN'atural Science Club, and one of his 

 contemporaries records that he used, when an undergraduate, to 

 maintain the superiority of intellectual over material pleasures. 

 To those who did not know him this might savour of youthful 

 pedantry, but it was a simple and unaffected statement of his real 

 pleasure in life. Intellectual as he was, AVeldon had nothing of 

 the pedant or recluse about him, and was impatient of all 

 aft'ectation of superior wisdom. Among the mau}^ rare qualities 

 combining to make up a charming personality, sincerity was 

 perhaps the most conspicuous, and to perfect candour was added 

 a certain whimsical humour which made his conversation peculiarly 

 attractive. While holding fast to his idenl of intellectual pleasure, 

 Weldon was eminently sociable and full of human sympathy. 

 He loved to surround himself with friends, and from the early 

 days of his residence at Cambridge his rooms or his house were a 

 centre of hospitality and good fellowship. Never did he appear 

 to greater advantage than when entertaining his friends. On 

 such occasions conversation \\ould turn maiiily on subjects of 

 zoological controversy, which Weldon would discuss with the most 

 admirable vivacity and spirit. INTo subject, however abstruse, 

 could be dull in his hands. He would keep a room full of 

 zoologists in roars of laughter while he argued some highly 

 technical point in racy and unconventional lansruage, with a wealth 

 of illustration and anecdote that gave inimitable charm and 

 interest to his discourse. On such occasions, and they were 

 frequent, one could see how genuine and spontaneous was his love 

 of Science. To his mind it was a fertile territor}^ abounding in 

 gladness and beauty, where there were no arid wastes and no 



