46 MBMOIE OF ALFRED SMEE. [Chap. V. 



or rather ignoring, that they might not be even cognizant of 

 the facts on which his conclusions were based. Arguments 

 he detested. To his mind a proposition was either right or 

 wrong : and if one person took one side of a question, and 

 another person took another, no amount of argument, he con- 

 tended, would alter the opinion of either party, but would 

 make both sides more pertinacious in their respective views. So 

 my father would never permit an argument to be carried on by 

 his family in his presence, which was often vexatious to them, 

 the younger members being of an argumentative and contra- 

 dictory turn of mind. As it has been just above observed, he was 

 extremely quick in at once seizing the points of a question, or in 

 deciding on any course of action. This made him intolerant 

 of slowness of comprehension in others; and once having 

 determined upon any course of action, nothing would irritate 

 him more than for others to begin to talk or discuss upon that 

 which, as his quick mind had already perceived, allowed of only 

 one course of action. Woe betide that unfortunate individual, 

 for Alfred Smee would invariably cut short his " twaddle." But 

 in this it must be admitted he committed a grievous mistake, for 

 this quickness of character is not born in everyone, and most 

 persons' aTnow 'j^ofre would be wounded on being told in forcible 

 language that their talk was not worth listening to. This, I must 

 admit, was the worst feature in my father's character. Though 

 impetuous to a degree, never had a man a kinder heart than had 

 Alfred Smee. What labour would he not give himself for the 

 good of others (entirely without the domestic circle) ! His 

 family, not possessing perhaps a sufficiently philanthropic spirit, 

 have often said to him, " Why do you work so hard for So-and-so ? 

 You will never be thanked for it — or, So-and-so will not appreciate 

 your kindness towards him." " You are only killing yourself," the 

 writer of these lines used invariably to add, " for others who do 

 not deserve it." This was but too often the case ; — he has often 

 overworked himself for several who have proved ungrateful. Upon 

 these remarks his family were always censured, and reminded 

 that it was not right to do good only when we were sure of our 

 reward, but that it was our duty to be always trying to do good 

 to others. Alfred Smee was also most kind-hearted, and would 

 never willingly inflict pain by word or look, or by action, to any 

 person or creature, unless, indeed, his ire was roused by being 

 slighted, molested, or personally abused, either by words or 

 writing, or, to use a homely yet a favourite expression of his, if 



