Page:F. R. (Fairman Rogers) 1833-1900, Furness, 1903.djvu/27

Rh the Haute École. He was also the first, I think, in this city,—at least within recent years,—to own and drive a Four-in-hand Coach.

Thus it was that this many-sided man touched life at such diverse points, and his solid worth dignified them all. The hand that could delicately adjust the compass on an iron ship lost none of our respect when it deftly caught a whip-lash in a double thong.

The care and responsibility of so many interests where others were involved could not fail, as the years ran on, to make themselves felt to one as conscientious in the performance of every duty as was Professor Rogers. Accordingly, from time to time he resigned from one and another of the many institutions whereof he was a director, and finally decided to give up his steam yacht, and even his 'house beautiful' at Newport, where, as was his wont in everything he undertook, he had brought the art of 'ribbon gardening,' to such perfection that the wonder and admiration of his neighbours in even that flowery kingdom were excited.

An honestly-earned and indefinite rest in Europe seemed now to be his as of right.

But a mind as active as his could not lie idle,—work of some kind was as essential to it as is air to the lungs. Thus it happened that what had been hitherto an altogether delightful and healthful recreation now became a source of earnest and profitable study. The well-kept roads in England