21 AUGUST 1909, Page 20

PROFESSOR AYTOUN AND SYDNEY DOBELL.

[To TOR EDITOR OF TUN ••13TECTATOR.“1 p. 21 of the Memoir of Principal Story, lately reviewed in the Spectator, the following anecdote is extracted

from his diary :—

" March 17th (1854) : Aytoun and Gander Rednag.—This refers to Aytoun, who used to make me walk down from College with him, tolling me an absurd anectode of Sydney Yendys (Dobell), whom be had satirised as Gander Rednag, and who very foolishly, on meeting Aytoun in society, and being asked if he would be introduced to him (Aytoun standing by), said loudly, No, Sir, no. I am " Gander Rednag," to which Aytoun replied, with 'a look of mild astonishment, 'But who is Gander Rednag ?"

This " anectode," as it is told, is so eminently uncharacteristic of the man of whom it is told, Sydney Dobell, whose sweet- nees of temper, courtesy, and magnanimity impressed all who knew him, that I looked up the incident, as told by himself

at the time, in a letter to a brother. I enclose what may certainly be taken as the authentic version :—

"Speaking of Professors, (it concludes), reminds me of an excellent joke (but I valued it as being something better than a joke) I had with Professor Aytoun the night before. You remember he abused me in last Blackwood,' and called me Gander Rodney,' a squib on Sydney Yendys.' He and I were at a party, but had not come in contact. As I was bidding Mrs. good-bye near the door, Aytoun came up also on his way out. Dr. Simpson seized him, and introduced us. Aytoun looked puzzled and amused, and was profoundly polite, but was obliged to follow the ladies of his party, who had already left the room. I stepped after him, and clapping him on the shoulder, said, "The Dr. did not introduce us perfectly just now—he omitted some of my styles and titles—you probably know me better as Gander Redney.' How his eyes twinkled ! and Simpson told me afterwards that at the bottom of the stairs be told the story with roars of laughter." —P. 342 of "The Life and Letters of Sydney Dobell," published in 1878 by Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co.