MISS MARY KINGSLEY : ANOTHER PERSONAL TRAIT.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
had the inestimable privilege of becoming an acquaint- ance—and friend—of Miss Kingsley shortly before she sailed for the Cape. Some time hi February, I think, she gave a lecture at the Imperial Institute, which I attended. I called upon her next day by permission, when she remarked: " I dare say you noticed that I was jumping about like a cat on hot bricks last night ? " I had not noticed it. It turned out that something had gone wrong with the heating apparatus under the platform, with the result that she had been stand- • ing for an hour and a quarter on a surface .so hot that the soles of both her boots were burnt through,—a disaster which she humorously deplored. She had walked home to St. Mary Abbott's Terrace with her feet in that condition. No one in the audience had observed anything unusual in her manner ! Why she had not shifted her position or called attention to. the state of the apparatus is of course beside the . point—her reading-desk may have been a fixture at that place—or she may not have wished to cause any fuss. I can- not refrain from relating here a little incident which came • under my notice on the same occasion, although I am, strongly averse to seeing in print anecdotes which bring .in living persons. Amongst the audience was a great .stales- man and administrator, still happily with ue, though long since rade donatus. Not knowing that he was present, • she had occasion to refer in terms of glowing eulogy to his noble work in a great province of the Far East. At the conclusion of the lecture this gentleman sent up his card, and advanced to speak to Miss Kingsley. • "Hullo ! " she said, " I thought you were dead." " No," he replied, " but • thought I was forgotten."--I am, Sir, &c.,
Bisingholme, Bushey, Herts. RALPil B. BENSON.
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