LIFE OF FLOWER 27 



beautifying the gardens in Lincoln's Inn Fields ; and the 

 anomaly that while a heavy book could be sent by post 

 for a few pence, the charge on a heavy letter, at the 

 time in question, was considerable, were among many 

 other miscellaneous topics upon which he wrote. 



In conversation it was Sir "William's great delight, 

 whenever possible, to turn the subject to his own par- 

 ticular studies and pursuits ; but, as mentioned by an 

 exalted personage on an occasion referred to in the 

 sequel, he never wearied his hearers. In a new or rare 

 animal, his delight was almost childish ; and the present 

 writer has often reflected how intense would have been 

 his pleasure had he been spared to see the first speci- 

 men brought to this country of that wonderful animal, 

 the okapi of the Semliki Forest. 



To his official subordinates Sir William was also 

 readily accessible possibly almost too much so ; and he 

 had always a word of praise for work faithfully carried 

 out under his direction, even if, from a slight misunder- 

 standing of his instructions, it had not been executed 

 precisely on the lines he himself would have desired. 

 He was never above lending a hand himself at manual 

 work ; and the writer well recollects an occasion at the 

 museum where a large animal was, with some difficulty, 

 being moved, and Sir William, although at the time 

 manifestly unfit for severe physical effort, would insist 

 upon aiding in the task. 



As a host, Sir William Flower, ably seconded by 

 Lady Flower, had few rivals and no superiors ; and 

 although he absolutely detested tobacco, such was his 

 good-nature, that he would not deny his male friends 

 the luxury of an after-dinner cigarette the idea of 



