This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...would most ably have assisted in carrying out the projects I had in view. 'george Scharf.' No better testimony than the above could be given, not only to the esteem, but the affection which Gray inspired in those who were best qualified to judge of his abilities in the line which he had specially marked out for himself ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...would most ably have assisted in carrying out the projects I had in view. 'george Scharf.' No better testimony than the above could be given, not only to the esteem, but the affection which Gray inspired in those who were best qualified to judge of his abilities in the line which he had specially marked out for himself. His friend, Mr. Frederick Wedmore, penned a graceful tribute to his memory in the columns of the Academy. The estimate of his character by an equally dear friend and a distinguished writer, Mr. Skelton, may fittingly close this brief record of Gray's life-work: --'I had a true regard for Gray. During the last years of his life he was often with us both at the Hermitage and in the Highlands. He was a most pleasant inmate, easy, unassuming, unexacting. He had very considerable ability, and his industry was unremitting. He had indeed no aptitude for mercantile business; and as a Bank clerk he must have suffered prolonged martyrdom. But he escaped from the slavery in course of time, and by great good luck found the work which suited him. By great good luck; for his tastes were rather uncommon. He was keenly interested in literature; but the books that he most relished, the men he most admired, could hardly be called popular. While the readers of the latest sensational and not particularly edifying romance of society are numbered by thousands, the readers of Pater and Rossetti, and even of Browning, are numbered by tens. But it was the precision, the exactitude, of his information on all the subjects, literary or artistic, which came home to him that impressed one most. His area might be somewhat limited; but within that area he had few rivals. He went direct to the fountain-head; he took nothing on hearsay, or at second-hand; he was a born invest...
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