OUR OUTSIDES: AND WHAT THEY BETOKEN A SUMMARY BY W. T. FERNIE, M.D., Author of "Herbal Simples," Animal Simples," "Kitchen 66 Precious Stones," "Health to Date," Etc. BRISTOL: JOHN WRIGHT & SONS LTD. 1913 C 775970 PREFACE 75970 LET Juvenal plead for us with a classic line to begin with "Tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes, et ægro in corde senescit "; which signifies that, "though now in our dotage, yet a dominant passion for handling the goose-quill still possesses us." Again, "Multi, mei similes, hoc morbo laborant, ut, cum scribere nesciant, a scribendo non possunt temporare." "Many, like ourselves, labour under this malady, that, though not knowing how to write properly, they yet cannot refrain from striving to appear repeatedly in print." Sir Walter Scott, when his health was already much impaired by overwork, went on writing like a tiger," as he himself expressed it, until no longer able to handle a pen. After producing more articles, memoirs, and even sermons, he was struck down with paralysis. But he had no sooner recovered power sufficient to hold a pen than he was again at his desk. In vain his doctors told him to give up work; he would not be dissuaded. "As for bidding me not work," he said to Dr. Abercrombie, Molly might just as well put the kettle on the fire, and say, 'Now, kettle, don't boil." Nevertheless, let us hope for ourselves that, however vainglorious our present reappearance in book form may seem, we shall discredit thereby the maxim of Richard Bentley, (1720) that “no man was ever written out of reputation except by himself." 66 respected Manes! Withal he was a shy man ; eloquent in the pulpit, but reserved, and too retiring, or he might have been made a bishop. As it was, some of his elder scholars styled him Latimer, because of his primitive old-fashioned Nonconformist aspect, which would certainly be thought singular in these modern days. When walking abroad he usually wore an ample Spanish cloak, of heavy dark-blue cloth, fastening at the neck in front with black cords and tassels, after the correct national fashion; and this with a tall silken top hat! Surely a most incongruous combination! A sombrero, and a cigarette would have better completed the picture! We remember, whilst yet a mischievous urchin, espying his reverence through the front lower window (facing the High Street) of the "Greyhound Inn,” at Richmond, one night, immediately after a vestry dinner, with a long clay churchwarden between his lips, gravely blowing a fragrant cloud of unaccustomed "Bird's eye."-But enough of these irrelevant personalities, for indulging in which we crave pardon from our patient readers. None the less shall Shakespeare plead our excuses. In his large-hearted humanity he assures us that, One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin!" 66 Coming back to our distinguished actor, and his last appearance on the histrionic boards, with a bright little play, we now, in like fashion, step before the footlights, not "on the boards" but between the modest brown boards of our unpretending little volume, with a concluding Epilogue. During the |