“GILBERT always appeared to me to possess a more lively imagination, and to be more of the wit than Robert. I attempted to teach them a little Church music. Here they were left far behind by all the rest of the school. Robert’s ear, in particular, was remarkably dull, and his voice untunable. It was long before I could get them to distinguish one tune from another. Robert’s countenance was generally grave, and expressive of a serious contemplative, and thoughtful mind. Gilbert’s face said, ‘Mirth, with thee I mean to live;’ and, certainly, if any person who knew the two boys had been asked which of them was the most likely to court the muses, he would surely never have guessed that Robert had a propensity of that kind.”
Mr. Murdoch’s Opinion of his Pupils, p.16.
Published