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of the Rev. William Barnes, the Dorset poet, who 

 at that time kept a school in Dorchester j and while 

 receiving instruction in the ordinary school subjects from 

 Mr. Barnes, he also learned the violin from Mr. Sidney 

 Smith, and acquired (or confirmed) the delight in music 

 which lasted all his life. Mr. Barnes was an inspiring 

 teacher, and my father seems to have derived from him 

 a real interest in writing and in literature. Some essays 

 and poems written in the years following his work at 

 Dorchester show considerable facility and brightness, as 

 well as seriousness of reflection. The most elaborate 

 was a translation into English verse of part of Fenelon's 

 Telemacjue. Some of his lighter verses show the keen 

 sense of humour which accompanied him throughout his 

 life, and up to old age he would occasionally write a few 

 humorous verses for special occasions. His interest in 

 literature was not fully maintained in later life, when 

 his reading was mainly confined to the special subjects 

 on which he was working ; but in all his more careful 

 work he wrote in a vigorous and expressive style. It 

 was appropriate that his most finished piece of writing 

 should have been the memoir of his old teacher and 

 friend, which he contributed to the "Proceedings of the 

 Dorset Field Club in 1887 a warm tribute of admira- 

 tion and gratitude, together with an appreciation of 

 Mr. Barnes's poems, which, while disowning all attempt 

 at criticism, shows real critical power and insight into 

 the nature of poetry. I well remember how, a few years 



