A MIGHTY PLOUGHMAN
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sra,—In the Spectator of December 17th, 1898, a biographer of Mr. Tyson writing under the heading "A Mighty Ploughman," states Mr. Tyson never put on a white shirt, never ate any- thing but the coarsely plain food he was accustomed to, never washed himself with anything but sand. He never enjoyed amusements, and he thought nothing about money, did not give any away, and so on.
(I) I have myself stayed at the same Hotel at Hay,New South Wales, with Mr. Tyson. He wore linen shirts, and apparently • enjoyed, certainly ate, the same meals we all had ; and I am quite certain he performed his ablutions like any other white - man. I can imagine the landlady's horror if she found sand-z scattered about the bedroom ! Moreover, I know that on his' stations and elsewhere he-used the water Nature has given us for purposes of cleanliness. The idea of Mr. Tyson, or any., one else, using sand is absurd. I have heard many strange yarns about Mr. Tyson, but never that.
(2) There is no doubt he was of a very retiring nature. But only a few days ago I met a lady who, in talking of Mr.- Tyson, said the last time she had seen him was at a lunch at the Tenterfield Races, and he was talking to numbers of the girls, and appeared to quite enjoy himself.
(3) As for not giving any money away, that is an unfair, statement. I know one instance where he gave a large donation for a church ; and I have heard it most commonly expressed as an opinion that many large anonymous gifts to charities are due to Mr. Tyson. In fact, in more than one case I have been told a gift has been traced directly to: Mr. Tyson. I could write much more on the subject, but am afraid of trespassing on your space.—I am, Sir, &c., A. G. B. RAVENSCROFT MITCHELL.
Queensland, March 11th.
[The facts we alluded to were given in a very striking account of Mr. Tyson published in the 1'imes.—ED. Spectator.]
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