xx.x « SCENERY OF SWITZERLAND " 67 



do on Xmas day or Good Friday ; and personally I 

 have always expected that the first Monday in August, 

 coming as it does in the glory of summer, would eventu- 

 ally become the most popular holiday of the year. I 

 hope, and believe, the Bank Holidays have added to 

 the health and happiness of those for whose benefit 

 they were intended. — I am, your obedient servant, 



John Lubbock. 



It may be remembered that when first Sir John 

 went into Pariiament he proposed to himself just 

 those aims and ambitions which he reiterates here. 

 It is not given to many a man, however tenax 

 propositi, to accomphsh so large a measure of the 

 purpose with which he sets out. 



On March 28 he started with Lady Lubbock 

 for the Riviera, staying first at Cap Martin, from 

 which he went to see Mr. Hanbury's beautiful 

 gardens at La Mortola. He notes that they fully 

 came up to the high expectations which he had 

 formed of them and that Mr. Hanbury informed 

 him that they contained above four thousand 

 varieties of plants. Then to Pegli to stay with 

 Mrs. Van Zandt. They returned by the St. 

 Gothard, and at Erstfeld he was much struck 

 by the difference in the outline of the Crystalline 

 and the Calcareous mountains. 



In his diary of May 1 is an amusing entry. 

 He and Lady Lubbock had been for the " week- 

 end " at Taplow with Mr. and Mrs. Grenfell (now 

 Lord and Lady Desborough). Sir John notes : 

 " Back after a very pleasant Sunday — ^the Cob- 

 hams, C. Grenfells, Foxwell, M. Frewens, Somers. 

 Fripp and Senator Hoar. Mrs. Grenfell took the 

 Senator in a punt and did her best to amuse him. 

 He responded but little, but at last remarked, 



