10 J. H. MAIDEN. 



He was dressed in a rusty suit of black, with dress coat, 

 the trousers very much too short, showing much blue-grey 

 woollen stocking, while his feet were shod with sabots. 

 Round his neck were several folds of muffler, made of 

 angora wool, with the ends hanging down. The whole 

 surmounted by a chimney-pot hat of unfashionable model, 

 which had been brushed the wrong way. So long as he 

 had clothes on, the cut or the age of them never entered 

 into his head. He was the pink of courtesy, and sometimes 

 it was difficult not to smile a little at him. 



This angora scarf was historical, and was one of several 

 that had been made from wool that Count de Oastelnau,. 

 French Consul-General at Melbourne in the sixties, gave 

 him. The Count was interested in acclimatisation matters, 

 and certain Angora goats introduced into Victoria turned 

 out very fine animals. An admirer of the Baron had the 

 wool made into mufflers for him and this pleased him very 

 much, for he was interested in all good works, his attention 

 being by no means confined to botany. 



On one occasion I had visited the Baron, and, as usual,, 

 had, after a visit of two hours, been unable to get a word 

 in edgeways. As I rose to leave, he noticed that I was 

 recovering from a cold and, before I could clearly compre- 

 hend, he unrolled his angora scarf from his own neck and 

 quickly rolled it round mine. As he did this he said, "You 

 know I am an M.D." (so he was, honoris causa), and I 

 thoroughly enjoyed the joke. When I got a little distance 

 from the "baronial castle" (as it was playfully called), I 

 removed the scarf, and returned it from Sydney, washed 

 and folded, with grateful thanks. It came to me again by 

 return of post with a letter of mild remonstrance. I am sure 

 you will excuse these brief personal sketches, which are 

 typical of the man. 



