Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/205

10 s. xii. AUO 28, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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—In the affectionate tribute which Mr. John Collins Francis, in his admirable 'Notes the Way,' has paid to the memory of the last Editor of 'N. & Q.,' he has not, I think made any reference to Knight's connexion with two institutions in which he took considerable interest the—Ex-Libris Society and the Rabelais Club. Both of them have now crossed the Stygian ferry—the former within the last few months, though I believe here are some hopes of its resuscitation; the latter more than twenty years ago. Knight was a member of the Council of the Ex-Libris Society, and was a pretty regular attendant at its meetings, and I think it is to be regretted that none of his colleagues should have given some reminiscences of this genial collector in the Journal of the Society.

Of the Rabelais Club Knight was an original member, and his extensive knowledge of early French literature gave him fitting rank by the side of such connoisseurs a Sir Walter Besant and the brothers Pollock. When the Club was established in 1880, Knight was the London correspondent of that highly interesting journal Le Livre, and was in his literary prime. I can find only one contribution with the familiar initials J. K. in the 'Recreations' of the Club. It occurs in the first volume, p. 68, and has the following lengthy title:—

The motif of the poem is summarized in the concluding rondeau, of which I subjoin a copy as a specimen of Knight's neat versification:—

The wit and wisdom compressed into the three volumes of the 'Recreations' of the Rabelais Club render the work a rare and valuable possession.

=—I find that a second-hand bookseller lately sold as by John Ruskin a copy of the "Hand-book of Taste; or, How to observe Works of Art, especially Cartoons, Pictures, and Statues. By Fabius Pictor. Second Edition. London, 1844." It may as well be put on record that this book was written by Anthony Rich, the author of 'A Dictionary of Roman and Greek Antiquities,' 1860, and not by Ruskin.