1815-1881
[Sidenote: _Harper’s Magazine_, 1881.]
“He was at that time (and indeed always remained) very slight of his
age, of rather florid complexion, and with a singularly bright, quick,
and yet often dreamy expression. He wore his hat rather on the back of
his head, and walked with queer little short shuffling paces, rather on
his heels, so that you could tell him by his gait at any distance--a
singular contrast to the Doctor’s long shambling stride as they
walked along at the side of Mrs. Arnold’s gray pony on half-holiday
afternoons.”--1834.
[Sidenote: _Macmillan_, 1881.]
“Il n’improvisait jamais; il lisait avec gravité, avec une force réelle
qui étonnait, sortant d’un corps si fragile, mais avec une sorte de
monotonie. L’action oratoire manquait de variété et d’abandon; c’était
toujours la même note. Du reste, personne n’avait l’oreille moins
musicale que le doyen.... D’une complexion délicate, de petite taille,
son corps semblait n’être qu’un prétexte pour être, et pour retenir son
esprit dans le monde visible.”
[Sidenote: _Temple Bar_, 1881.]
“Dean Stanley, like so many great men, possessed some strongly-marked
personal characteristics. If he was superintendent in some qualities
there were some of which he was almost altogether destitute. He was
utterly careless of personal appearance, and of external circumstances.
Short and spare in figure, there was a beauty and a dignity about him
that made his presence a perpetual pleasure. Those clear-cut features,
the beautiful forehead, and the silvery head of hair, will remain
photographed on the minds of this generation. When in the performance
of any sacred or secular function, the more crowded his auditory, the
more he was at ease. There must be many who can remember him as he used
to stand at the lectern in the Abbey waiting to read the lesson in one
of those crowded services in the nave, with the people clustered even
round his feet, and yet unconsciously, as if in his own library, with
the old familiar action, passing his hand across his face and ruffling
up his head.”