Page:Pen, pencil, baton and mask; biographical sketches (IA penpencilbatonma00blaciala).pdf/21



there be one thing more remarkable than another-outside the musical gifts--of the distinguished oratorio-leader and composer, Sir Joseph Barnby, it is his absolute hatred of humbug, his gentle, genuine nature, and his simplicity of character. The same atinosphere is observable throughout the family, from your gracious hostess herself to the three children of the house---a bright, friendly pair of Westininster scholars, and a sweet young maiden just at the age where the brook and river meet.' The air is full of winning cordiality and kindness in this home of harmony and of love, for Lady Barnby has the happy knack of bringing people together, and of impress- ing her charming and vivid personality on them, and the young people have imbibed the unconscious influence of their parents, and are natural and unaffected as heart could wish.

Sir Joseph Barnby was born at York, and is the youngest of fifteen children-a circumstance which naturally caused his father to be poor man. But remarkable in his way and a perfect dear,' says his gifted son. Froin both sides he inherited musical talents, and it is on record that the Sheriff of York's sister well re- membered the infant Joseph standing on her knee and at the early age of two years singing, in true if lisping accents, the anthem Lord of all power and might,' though Sir Joseph laughingly declares that, with six elder brothers choristers at the Minster, he was so steeped in music that the achievement was not half so wonderful as