OBITUARY NOTICES OF MEMBERS DECEASED. Ixi 



just before his lecture hour, and reading, " I am unexpectedly 

 detained. Please inform the class. If they care to stop and listen 

 to you, you may use my hour." I was instructed to enter the 

 room in apparent confusion, making the open letter in my hand 

 tremble; to mount the rostrum and after giving the class Dr. Pen- 

 rose's message, to say in a hesitating voice, " If you are willing to 

 stay and hear me, I have a word or two to say on an interesting 

 subject." " They will stop to hear you," said Doctor Penrose, " in 

 the expectation of seeing you make an exhibition of yourself." His 

 little plot was carried out exactly as he had planned it. My lecture 

 was well received and Penrose was hugely delighted at its success. 



I could give many more examples of characteristic kindnesses 

 to 3^ounger men whom he befriended with a bounteous generosity 

 that knew no stint. 



There is no excuse for melancholy in contemplating such a 

 death as Penrose's. Retiring in the full possession of his faculties 

 and in the enjoyment of an enviable reputation; at an age when 

 there was no premature retreat from the battle of life to an inglor- 

 ious ease, but when he had earned the right to repose ; followed 

 into his retirement by the affectionate regard of hundreds of pupils 

 in all parts of the world ; living a score of years in tranquillity and 

 peace ; exceeding the allotted span of life by more than a decade ; 

 surrounded by devoted friends and a loving family, I can imagine 

 no more dignified end of an honorable career. We can feel only 

 the sadness with which we, who were left behind, might view the 

 departure of a valued friend on a long and prosperous journey. 

 When we leave this mortal ark behind and answer " Adsum " at 

 our last roll call, may our survivors say of us, what we can say 

 of our departed friend : " the sweetest canticle is nunc dimittis, when 

 a man hath obtained worthy ends and expectations." 



Barton C. Hirst. 



