[COYNE] RICHARD MAURICE BUCKE— A SKETCH 189 



The party rejoined the ladies for a brief moment before the cutter 

 called to take him and Mrs. Bucke to their home east of the city. 

 Addressing one from a neighbouring city, he asked particularly about 

 her six children, naming each in turn. He had last seen them at 

 their home five years before. Surprise was expressed at the minute- 

 ness of his recollection, as he desired to be remembered to the young 

 people. But it was characteristic of the man to be specially interested 

 in children, and he did not easily forget them. In a few courteous 

 words he took leave of host and hostess, and of the other guests. 



The night was intensely cold, the sky clear, the moon nearly at 

 its full, the stars shining with the steely glitter of a Canadian night 

 in February, the snow crisp under foot. Going out into the night, 

 he stopped to exclaim in admiration of the beauty of the sky. Driving 

 home, he spoke of the pleasure the evening had given him, and warmly 

 of the friends he had met. In a few minutes he was at home, but 

 could not resist the desire to go out once more to look at the night 

 and the stars. On the verandah, he dropped lifeless to the floor. And 

 so, in the prime of vigour, while the eye was not dimmed, nor his 

 natural force abated, he " fell on death," and was reunited to the son, 

 who had gone before. 



31. 



i 



His decease called forth many expressions of appreciation and of 

 sorrow. 



The London Free Pref^s, in referring to his death, gave an inter- 

 esting description of his appearance, which is worth reproducing: 



" The Asylum Superintendent was a familiar figure down town. 

 He was known, at least by sight, to nearly everyone. His personage 

 was so markedly picturesque as to attract attention. The kindly face, 

 full of strong character, the flowing beard, streaked with gray and 

 white, the very build of the well-proportioned, well-preserved man of 

 sixty odd years, was certain to bring notice. Those who knew Dr. 

 Bucke were proud of the fact. To know was to admire and esteem." 



Dr. T. J. ^Y. Burgess, in the paper already cited, adds : " In 

 appearance Dr. Bucke was one of the most picturesque personalities in 

 the ranks of the American Medico-Psychological Association. His 

 commanding presence, his massive head, his keen, searching eyes and 

 prominent nose, his face, every line of which carried the stamp of 

 intellectual force, his flowing beard covering the négligée woollen shirt, 

 his silvery locks showing l>elow the broad-brimmed, gray, slouch hat, 

 and his gray tweeds, made him a strikingly conspicuous and original 

 figure. His manner was plain but dignified, his language clear, and 



