Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/55

xxxi JOSEPH KNIGHT. It will be remembered that Philip Bourke Marston died on the 14th of February, 1887, at the early age of thirty-seven. An obituary notice of him by Mr. Theodore Watts-Dunton appeared in The Athenæum on the 19th, and a poem, full of love and sympathy, from the same pen in the following week. In the notice Mr. Watts-Dunton writes of the Sunday reunions that "few were more enjoyable," for there "might be met occasionally Dante Rossetti, William Rossetti, Swinburne, William Morris, John Payne, Joaquin Miller, Dr. Hake, Henry Irving, Miss Ada Cavendish, Joseph Knight, Thomas Purnell, and others of the literary and dramatic world." Dr. Marston survived his son but three short years, dying in 1890.

"Tom" Purnell, as he was affectionately called by his friends, died on the 17th of December, 1889. He had a bright, handsome face, full of vivacity, and was of an affectionate nature. He never allowed New Year's Day to pass without coming to wish me a happy New Year, and he told me that during his long illness his delight was in reading my book about The Athenceum. He had a great regard for my father, and once said to me, "We all love your father." It is a loss to literature that, with all his wide range of knowledge and pleasing style of writing, he should not have left a more permanent mark. The only two works I remember of his are the essay on Charles Lamb, in which he was aided by the recollections of Lamb's adopted daughter, and which is included in the correspondence published by Moxon in 1870; and his collection of articles signed Q, the publication of which by Messrs. Chapman & Hall I had the pleasure of arranging.

DINNER TO KNIGHT. On the 4th of July, 1905, the dramatic profession honoured Knight by giving him a dinner at the Savoy, Irving being in the chair. He laughingly told me that "this was the first time that the sheep had entertained the wolf." Every one of note connected with the dramatic world in England was present, while France was represented by M. Coquelin, Madame Rejane, and Madame Bartet, of the Comédie Française. It was really a tribute of affection and regard, and showed that actors recognized to the full how just and honest he was in all his criticisms. Of course the menu brought in the names of some of those present, winding up with a Canope Joseph Knight.

On the 3rd of June, 1906, he had the happiness of celebrating his Golden Wedding. In reply to my congratulations I received the following:—

"Yes, the 3rd of June, 1856, was the day selected because that day I was the same age exactly as was my father on his wedding. I knew that I could count on your sympathy.