JOSEPH KNIGHT.
Charles W. Dilke and myself, his old friend Mr. William Michael Rossetti, Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema, Messrs. Bryan and Allen Hook, Mr. H. Wallis, Mr. A. Hughes, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Allan, Mrs. Woolner, the Misses Linnell, and Mr. A. H. Fisher were among those present. Mr. Rossetti, in writing to me on the 17th of March, refers to his "intimate friendship" with Stephens, "of nearly 59 years. He was extremely—I might almost say singularly—fond of me; and I was not far behind with him." Mr. Rossetti has much to say of him in his volumes of 'Reminiscences,' and well describes him as having "an attractive person and face (still [1906] not very greatly impaired by the inroads of age) so thoughtful and picturesque as to be well adapted for the Ferdinand of Millais in his painting of 'Ferdinand and Ariel,' and for the Christ of Madox Brown in his picture (now in the National Gallery) of Christ washing Peter's feet.... I was from the first," continues Mr. Rossetti, "fond of Stephens, and do not scruple to say that he, at least as much as any other mind alive or dead, has always been and still is fond of me—the kindliest and most persistent of friends."
Through the kindness of Stephens's son, I saw my old friend in his coffin, and we both remarked the marvellous resemblance to the art portraits of our Saviour.
THE END.
Death of
Knight.Knight's letter about Stephens was almost the last I received from him; his wife kindly wrote for him, as the weakness was rapidly increasing; but many a pleasant chat I had with him. He was cheerful to the last, and often expressed surprise at having so much kindness shown to him. "Why are people so good to me?" he would say, with that smile on his face that all who knew him will keep in lasting remembrance. The end came in the early morning of Sunday, the 23rd of June, the anniversary of my only sister's death; and on the following Thursday, after a service at St. Paul's Church, Camden Square, just opposite his house, he was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery. Among those who followed the flower-laden coffin from the house were his widow; his daughters Mrs. Ian Forbes Robertson and Mrs. Mansel Sympson, with her husband Dr. Sympson of Lincoln; his brother, his nephew, and Sir Charles Dilke and myself. Among those in the church or who met at the grave were my wife; Mr. Vernon Rendall, the present editor of The Athenæum and also of Notes and Queries; Mr. J. Edward Francis ; Mr. Walkley, the dramatic critic of The Times ; Capt. Helbert, Mr. James Douglas, Mr. Beerbohm Tree, Mr. Harland-Oxley, Mr. Slate, and Mr. John Randall.
