NATHANIEL LAWRENCE AUSTEN. xxv 



simple appliances the greater skill is required, as in 

 most cases a faulty outline cannot be corrected. 

 Yet Austen's pen rarely wavered, and so strongly 

 was imprinted on his mind the image which he 

 wished to portray, that with a few sweeps and 

 dashes of his pen he produced a spirited represen- 

 tation of some monarch of the desert or humbler 

 animal, as occasion might demand. .Nor did Austen 

 confine himself to drawing particular animals for 

 ever in one stereotyped attitude, as is the habit of 

 those in whose mind there dwells not the image of 

 the animal itself, but merely the recollection of 

 some picture or drawing which they have seen of 

 that animal ; but, on the contrary, he was able and 

 ready to draw in any position that might be 

 suggested or required. 



"There was also implanted in poor Austen's 

 nature, almost as strongly as was his passion for 

 natural science, a love of sport ; and this leads 

 me to say a few words about his amusements 

 generally. Though I feel I have in some measure 

 dealt with these already, in speaking of that 

 pursuit which was at once his favourite study and 

 chief delight. I cannot say that Austen took much 

 interest, or at any rate any very active part, in the 

 ordinary amusements of university life, such as 

 boating, cricket, &c. He devoted more attention, 

 however, to gymnastics, fencing, boxing, and sword 



