SIR GEORGE DARWIN 175 



or abroad. The parents took pains that their 

 children should have opportunities of learning 

 conversational French and German. 



George's characteristic energy showed itself 

 not only in these waj'S but also in devising bicycling 

 expeditions and informal picnics for the whole 

 family, to the Fleam Dyke, to Whittlesford, or 

 other pleasant spots near home; and these excur- 

 sions he enj03''ed as much as anyone of the party. 

 As he always wished to have his children with him, 

 one or more generally accompanied him and his 

 wife when they attended congresses or other 

 scientific gatherings abroad. 



His house was the scene of many Christmas 

 dinners, the first of which I find any record being 

 in 1886. These meetings were often made an 

 occasion for plays acted by the children ; of these 

 the most celebrated was a Cambridge version of 

 Romeo and Juliet, in which the hero and heroine 

 were scions of the rival factions of Trinity and 

 St. John's. 



Games and Pastimes. 



As an undergraduate George played tennis — 

 not the modern out-door game, but that regal 

 pursuit which is sometimes known as the game of 

 kings and otherwise as the king of games. When 

 George came up as an undergraduate there were 

 two tennis courts in Cambridge, one in the East 

 Road, the other being the ancient one that gave 

 its name to Tennis Court Road, and was pulled 

 down to make room for the new buildings of 



