SYff WILLIAM THOMSON Ixi 



' " Poor Fleeming," in spite of wet, cold and wind, clambering 

 over moist, tarry slips, wandering among pools of slush in 

 waste places inhabited by wandering locomotives, gi*ows visibly 

 stronger, has dismissed his office cough and cured his tooth- 

 ache.' ' The whole of the paying out and lifting machinery 

 must be designed and ordered in two or three days, and I am 

 half crazy with work. I like it though : it's like a good ball, 

 the excitement carries you through.' ' I was running to and 

 from the ships and warehouse through fierce gusts of rain and 

 wind till near eleven, and you cannot think what a pleasure it 

 was to be blown about and think of you in your pretty dress.' 

 ' I am at the works till ten and sometimes till eleven. But 1 

 have a nice office to sit in, with a fire to myself, and bright 

 brass scientific instruments all round me, and books to read, 

 and experiments to make, and enjoy myself amazingly. I find 

 the study of electricity so entertaining that I am apt to neglect 

 my other work.' And for a last taste, ' Yesterday I had some 

 charming electrical experiments. What shall I compare them 

 to a new song ? a Greek play ? ' 



It was at this time besides that he made the acquaintance Fleeming 

 of Professor, now Sir William, Thomson. To describe the part Thomson 

 played by these two in each other's lives would lie out of my way. 

 They worked together on the Committee on Electrical Standards ; 

 they served together at the laying down or the repair of many 

 deep-sea cables ; and Sir William was regarded by Fleeming, 

 not only with the ' worship ' (the word is his own) due to great 

 scientific gifts, but with an ardour of personal friendship not 

 frequently excelled. To their association, Fleeming brought 

 the valuable element of a practical understanding ; but he never 

 thought or spoke of himself where Sir William was in question ; 

 and I recall quite in his last days, a singular instance of this 

 modest loyalty to one whom he admired and loved. He drew 

 up a paper, in a quite personal interest, of his own services ; 

 yet even here he must step out of his way, he must add, where 

 it had no claim to be added, his opinion that, in their joint work, 

 the contributions of Sir William had been always greatly the 

 most valuable. Again, I shall not readily forget with what 



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