His Love of Children. 279 



higher aspirations on their behalf would for 

 the time being be forgotten, on hearing of 

 any special aptitude shown, or distinction 

 gained by one of them in any branch of sport 

 or of athletic exercise. When health per- 

 mitted, he rarely missed attending any athletic 

 meeting at which his eldest son, Sydenham 

 Dixon, happened to be competing, taking the 

 greatest interest and pride in some of the 

 latter's really fine performances on the 

 running path. 



His keen sense of humour led him perhaps 

 to forgive and gloss over many youthful 

 errors which had to him their laughable side, 

 but his memory lives with his children as 

 that of an ever-indulgent, ever-loving father, 

 whose untimely death was to them an irre- 

 parable loss. 



His total disregard of dress and appear- 

 ance was a source of much embarrassment to 

 all his family and especially to the younger 

 members. One of his sons recalls a prize 

 day at Kensington Grammar School (in which 

 ''The Druid" was deeply interested), when 

 on his arrival his general appearance was 

 such as to evoke both merriment and disdain 



