280 HUGH MILLER 



humour, which would show itself from time to time, 

 even in the midst of a scientific discussion. He 

 could not bear dulness in others, and strove to 

 avoid it himself. Where his subject might have been 

 apt to grow wearisome, he contrived to lighten it 

 with unexpected flashes of pleasantry or with some 

 pertinent words from a favourite author. This feli- 

 citous style seemed so spontaneous, and yet it was 

 in reality the result of the most scrupulous attention. 

 Even in his newspaper articles on the multifarious 

 topics of the passing day, he continued to maintain 

 the same high standard of composition. He has left 

 as his literary monument a series of works that may 

 serve as models of English writing. 



In estimating a man's influence on the world we 

 look not only at his work but on his character, 

 often the more important and valuable of the two. 

 Judged from this side, Hugh Miller's claims to our 

 regard and admiration are not less strong for what 

 he was than for what he did. Pious and pure- 

 minded, full of generous sympathies, and alive to 

 all that was noblest and best in human life, he was 

 endowed with a manly independence of nature which 

 kept his head erect in every changing phase of his 

 career, and won for him the respect of all, gentle 

 and simple, who came in contact with him. Though 

 naturally robust, his occupation as a mason had left 

 behind some seeds of disease. He was at different 

 times attacked with inflammation of the lungs and 

 other disorders of enfeebled health. His strong sense 

 of duty, however, kept him at his post when prudence 

 earnestly counselled rest. At last the strain became 



