CiiAp. II.] SETS UP AS A SURGEON. 15 



At his house on a Sunday he would not permit other than sacred 

 music to be performed. He was also particularly skilful in 

 analysing the musical works of the great composers, in which 

 he could detect the particular phrase or subject upon which 

 the work — be it a sonata, an oratorio, or an opera — was framed; 

 and he would come home from an opera, for instance, humming 

 the subject upon which the opera was based. He was very 

 fond of a good opera, and had stalls at one of the opera 

 houses for several years, and he was very fond of a good ballet. 

 He was no dancer himself, but it afforded him pleasure to see 

 others dance, and he liked dance music for the rhythm's sake. 

 His ear was not, however, acute for t^me ; for whether the 

 instrument were somewhat flat or sharp made but little difference 

 to him, provided the rhythm or the accentuation of the playing 

 was strictly correct. 



In speaking of the home life of the Bank, I should not omit to 

 mention that Alfred Smee was much attached to his father, towards 

 whom he ever behaved in the most filial and respectful manner, 

 and he was devoted to his mother and to his only sister. His 

 sister seems to have possessed much of my father's zealous and 

 active disposition ; but she died young, leaving behind her not a 

 few traces of uncommon talent, and the memory of a sweet dis- 

 position which was treasured by those who knew her. 



After Alfred Smee had completed his medical education at 

 King's College and at St. Bartholomew's, he became for a short 

 time (a month or two) an articled apprentice of a general prac- 

 titioner, and later, in 1840, he became member of the Eoyal College 

 of Surgeons, after which he set up in Pinsbury Circus as a con- 

 sulting surgeon. 



