SIR THOMAS ACLAND 



the moment. In this respect, he bore a wonderful 

 resemblance to Gladstone, with whom he was a 

 contemporary at Oxford, being awarded " a 

 double-first " at the same time that the future 

 Premier gained a similar distinction. If Art were 

 the topic, one could well suppose that it was his 

 predominant passion ; but a change of conversa- 

 tion induced the belief that Agriculture monopo- 

 lized his energies. Ere long, however, one was 

 led to think that Chemistry had first claim upon 

 him, to which conclusion an element of doubt 

 was imparted when the philosophical bent of his 

 mind was disclosed. In this latter direction lay 

 his final literary effort, " Knowledge, Duty and 

 Faith," a title which may be said to embody 

 the watchwords of his own life. Wide, indeed, 

 was the range of his acquirements and of his 

 sympathies. 



Sir Thomas took particular interest in dairy- 

 ing, and until the physical disabilities of old age 

 began to assert themselves he was a familiar 

 figure in our show yard dairy, where, at a moment's 

 notice, he would deliver an address upon some 

 branch or other of the subject. No speaker was 

 listened to with more attention, or could command 

 a better audience, for the unconventionality of 

 his style and his resourcefulness of illustration 

 were in themselves attractions. He spoke in a 

 language " understanded of the people " par- 

 ticularly agriculturists and he knew how to drive 

 a truth home with a stroke of humour. Country- 

 folk, when they are out for a holiday, do not 

 usually evince much anxiety to hear others talk, 

 but they would come into my office at the show 



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