RESIGNS CHAIRMANSHIP 327 



Charles had a most profound respect for Sir 

 John's business ability, saying that they never 

 were in a difficulty in any concern of the bond- 

 holders which Sir John's acumen did not at once 

 solve if they could catch him for a consultation. 

 He remarked what a wonderful combination Sir 

 John was of " thinker, almost dreamer, with 

 acute man of business, keen on the main chance." 



Thinker — yes ; but dreamer — surely no. On 

 any subject that attracted his attention Sir John 

 could concentrate most powerful thought, but the 

 dreamer is rather one who allows his mind to 

 wander, without special aim, as associated ideas 

 suggest each other. This was not in the least 

 Sir John's habit, and he would have regarded it 

 as a sheer waste of time. He was the last man in 

 the world to endorse either in precept or practice 

 Balzac's dictum that " Le temps le mieux employe 

 est celui qu'on perd." To be sure he was no 

 judge, for he never did lose any. 



The following refers to the Annual Meeting 

 of the subscribers to the Corporation of Foreign 

 Bondholders, a small but noisy section being 

 opposed to the policy which the Council, with 

 one exception, advocated. 



York House, Twickenham, Middlesex, 

 March 26th, 1892. 



My dear Lubbock — You really must allow me to 

 congratulate you on the way you managed those beasts 

 at Ephesus yesterday. It was a most finished piece of 

 art — quite classical in its perfection, I would not have 

 missed it for a great deal. . . . 



I am busy over my Geographical Address with which 

 I am taking this year a great deal of pains. — Believe me, 

 yours sincerely, M. E. Grant Duff. 



This is the meeting spoken of before, of which 



