DANGERS AT CORNELL -1868 -1872 359 



interested me by showing me the friendly, confidential, and 

 familiar letters which he was then constantly receiving 

 from the Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro letters in which 

 not only matters of science but of contemporary history 

 were discussed. Bayard Taylor also delighted us all. No- 

 thing could exceed, as a provocative to mirth, his recita- 

 tions of sundry poems whose inspiration was inferior to 

 their ambition. One especially brought down the house 

 "The Eonx of Ruby," by a poet who had read Poe and 

 Browning until he never hesitated to coin any word, no 

 matter how nonsensical, which seemed likely to help his 

 jingle. In many respects the most charming of all the new- 

 comers was Goldwin Smith, whose stories, observations, 

 reflections, deeply suggestive, humorous, and witty, were 

 especially grateful at the close of days full of work and 

 care. His fund of anecdotes was large. One of them illus- 

 trated the fact that even those who are best acquainted 

 with a language not their own are in constant danger of 

 making themselves ridiculous in using it. The Due d'Au- 

 male, who had lived long in England, and was supposed 

 to speak English like an Englishman, presiding at a dinner 

 of the British Association for the Advancement of Sci- 

 ence, gave a toast as follows : i ' De tree of science, may it 

 shed down pease upon de nations." 



Another story related to Sir Allan MacNab, who, while 

 commander of the forces in Canada, having received a 

 card inscribed, "The MacNab," immediately returned the 

 call, and left a card on which was inscribed, "The other 

 MacNab." 



As I revise these lines, thirty-six years after his first 

 coming, he is visiting me again to lay the corner-stone of 

 the noble building which is to commemorate his services 

 to Cornell. Though past his eightieth year, his memory 

 constantly brings up new reminiscences. One of these I 

 cannot forbear giving. He was at a party given by Lady 

 Ashburton when Thomas Carlyle was present. During 

 the evening, which was beautiful, the guests went out upon 

 the lawn, and gazed at the starry heavens. All seemed 



