OH. XL RECOVERED VIGOUR 239 



It was about this date that Lord Avebury 

 began to work at a new book, for which he chose 

 the title Peace and Happiness. A more appro- 

 priate title for a book from his pen could not 

 easily be found, for he was a typical incarnation 

 of these two excellent human attributes. Doubt- 

 less his sources of happiness and content were 

 very many, though his life had its troubles like 

 those of other men. Yet there are few anniver- 

 saries of his birth on which he does not end the 

 entry in his diary with the words : "I have 

 much cause to be thankful." We may admit 

 that he had cause, and may be confident that 

 the words came from his heart. Besides the 

 busy fulness of his life, which in itself must 

 have been most satisfying, he was fortunate in 

 the devotion of Lady Avebury and in the 

 friendly affection of all his children. It was a 

 real friendliness, as of coevals, which existed 

 between father and children. On March 2 of 

 this year he notes : " Took Maurice to his first 

 pantomime — Sindbad." It is a pleasant picture 

 presented : and we may be sure that the father, 

 through the enjoyment of the son, had scarcely 

 less delight than the boy himself in this drama 

 of great marvels. One of his entries this year 

 runs : " Eric went back to school. He is a 

 dear fellow and as good as gold. He has been 

 acting as my secretary, and we have been working 

 at pollen together. I always miss the boys 

 when they go to school, but never more than 

 this time." 



At another date he says, " Eric enters so 

 into all my pursuits, and likes being with me so 



