CHAPTER XIX. 



TIECREATIONS. 



Skill in the Gymnasium Result upon Health Appearance as " Mr. Bouncer " 

 in " Verdant Green " Accident at Cricket Interest in Lawn Tennis Pro- 

 ficiency in Croquet How to Play the Game Scientifically The Eight-ball 

 Game A successful Expedient Billiards Fondness for Swimming 

 Unpleasant Experiences An Encounter with a Jelly-fish and its Results 

 Accomplishments on the Ice Long-distance Running A peculiar Knack 

 and an enviable Faculty Indoor Amusements Passion for Music The 

 Euphonium as a Solo Instrument An Amateur Brass Band Orchestral 

 Music in Church Services The Crystal Palace Concerts Conducting a 

 Choral Society Method of Teaching Divided Counsels A novel Sugges- 

 tion Whist Chess and Backgammon Fondness for Reading Hatred of 

 Politics Popularity in Society An eloquent Tribute. 



BUSY worker though my father was, and able to labour 

 steadily on for weeks together with scarcely an hour's 

 intermission, he was yet, by the very force of Nature, 

 compelled to indulge in occasional periods of recreation ; 

 and, during these, he contrived to make himself a 

 thorough master of many games of skill. Mediocrity 

 in these was absolutely unknown to him. He either 

 played a game well, or he did not play it at all. But 

 when he did play it, he studied it theoretically as well 

 as practically, and sometimes devoted to it almost as 

 much care and attention as though it had been a new 

 branch of science ; while he lost no opportunity of ob- 

 serving the play of those more proficient than himself, 



