SIR GEORGE DARWIN i6i 



brothers Arthur, Gerald, and Frank Balfour. The 

 last-named was killed, aged 31, in a climbing 

 accident in 1882 on the Aiguille Blanche near 

 Courmayeur. He was remarkable both for his 

 scientific work and for his striking and most 

 lovable personality. George's affection for him 

 never faded. His daughter remembers her 

 father (not long before his death) saying with 

 emotion, "I dreamed Frank Balfour was alive." 

 I imagine that tennis was the means of bringing 

 George into contact with Mr. Arthur Balfour. What 

 began in this chance' way grew into an enduring 

 friendship, and George's diary shows how much 

 kindness and hospitality he received from Mr. 

 Balfour. George had also the advantage of know- 

 ing Lord Rayleigh at Cambridge, and retained his 

 friendship through his life. 



In the spring of 1869 he was in Paris for two 

 months working at French. His teacher used to 

 make him write original compositions, and George 

 gained a reputation for humour by giving French 

 versions of all the old Joe Millers and ancient stories 

 he could remember. 



It was his intention to make the Bar his pro- 

 fession, ^ and in October 1869 we find him reading 

 with Mr. Tatham, in 1870 and 1872 with the late 

 Mr. Montague Crackenthorpe (then Cookson), 

 and in November 1871 he was a pupil of Mr. 

 W. G. Harrison. The most valued result of his 

 legal work was the friendship of Mr. and Mrs. 

 Crackenthorpe, which he retained throughout his 



* He was called in 1874 but did not practise. 



