3 86 CHARACTER OF FOTHERGILL CHAP. 



beginning of all knowledge. His temper was warm but 

 usually controlled, and softened by charity ; when it 

 had been manifest he quickly recovered his placidity and 

 sought to serve any whose feelings he had hurt. There 

 was in him something of that " generous open-hearted 

 sincerity, for which," he once wrote, " the English are 

 noted." But the dominant feature in his character was 

 derived from his conscience, which was sensitive as a 

 mirror to right and wrong, and, his will being schooled 

 in obedience to its dictates, he was inflexibly upright in 

 great things and little. If the part of principle is to give 

 the mind rule over the instincts of the body, and to set 

 it free to fulfil the behests of the spirit, Fothergill was a 

 man of principle. He had no lack of moral courage, and 

 was, we are told, the same man in all company ; not 

 ashamed of his faith ; " which made all sorts of people 

 love and value him." 



To these essential traits of character may be added 

 others, upon which indeed much of the success and 

 comfort of life depend. The fairy godmother had be- 

 stowed on Fothergill not alone the gifts but the power to 

 use them. He had good store of common sense, of tact, 

 and of insight into the character of others ; and these 

 gave him no little influence with men. He had industry 

 and perseverance ; and he was orderly and methodical. 

 Then, too, he had the crowning gift of initiative. Where 

 others only followed, he led. Like the children of Issachar 

 he knew " what Israel ought to do." To see a need was 

 to strive to supply it. To behold a truth was to aim for 

 its attainment. His was no mournful 



video meliora proboque, 

 Deteriora sequor. 



These qualities contributed to give him a certain stead- 

 fastness of life and aim. 



Fothergill's outlook upon the world was wide, and his 

 ideals were far-reaching. These ideals, too, were, as it 

 has been said of James Hinton, not mere will-o'-the-wisps, 

 mental muscce volitantes : they were living potentialities. 



