Part 8

"What Mr Kipling has done for fiction Mr Steevens did for fact. He was a priest of the Imperialist idea, and the glory of the Empire was ever uppermost in his writings. That alone would not have brought him the position he held, for it was part of the age he lived in. But he was endowed with a curious faculty, an extraordinary gift for recording his impressions. In a scientific age his style may be described as cinematographic. He was able to put vividly before his readers, in a series of smooth-running little pictures, events exactly as he saw them with his own intense eyes. It has been said that on occasion his work contained passages a purist would not have passed. But Mr Steevens wrote for the people, and he knew it. Deliberately and by consummate skill he wrote in the words of his average reader; and had he desired to offer his work for the consideration of a more select class, there is little doubt that he would have displayed the same felicity. His mission was not of that order. He set himself the more difficult task of entertaining the many; and the same thoroughness which made him captain of the school, Balliol scholar, and the best note-writer on the 'Pall Mall Gazette' in its brightest days, taught him, aided by natural gifts, to write 'With Kitchener to Khartum' and his marvellous impressions of travel."

* * * * *

This record must close. Innumerable have been the tributes to this brave youth's power for capturing the human heart and the human mind. The statesman and the working man--one of these has written very curtly and simply, "He served us best of all"--each has felt something of the intimate spirit of his work.

Lord Roberts cabled from Capetown in the following words:--

"Deeply regret death of your talented correspondent, Steevens. ROBERTS."

And a correspondent writes:--

"To-day I called on Lord Kitchener, in compliance with his request, having yesterday received through his aide-de-camp, Major Watson, the following letter:--

"'I am anxious to have an opportunity of expressing to you personally my great regret at the loss we have all sustained in the death of Mr Steevens.'

"Lord Kitchener said to me:--

"'I was anxious to tell you how very sorry I was to hear of the death of Mr Steevens. He was with me in the Sudan, and, of course, I saw a great deal of him and knew him well. He was such a clever and able man. He did his work as correspondent so brilliantly, and he never gave the slightest trouble--I wish all correspondents were like him. I suppose they will try to follow in his footsteps. I am sure I hope they will.

"'He was a model correspondent, the best I have ever known, and I should like you to say how greatly grieved I am at his death.'"

Some "In Memoriam" verses, very beautifully written, for the 'Morning Post,' may however claim a passing attention:--

"The pages of the Book quickly he turned. He saw the languid Isis in a dream Flow through the flowery meadows, where the ghosts Of them whose glorious names are Greece and Rome Walked with him. Then the dream must have an end, For London called, and he must go to her, To learn her secrets--why men love her so, Loathing her also. Yet again he learned How God, who cursed us with the need of toil, Relenting, made the very curse a boon. There came a call to wander through the world And watch the ways of men. He saw them die In fiercest fight, the thought of victory Making them drunk like wine; he saw them die Wounded and sick, and struggling still to live, To fight again for England, and again Greet those who loved them. Well indeed he knew How good it is to live, how good to love, How good to watch the wondrous ways of men-- How good to die, if ever there be need. And everywhere our England in his sight Poured out her blood and gold, to share with all Her heritage of freedom won of old. Thus quickly did he turn the pages o'er, And learn the goodness of the gift of life; And when the Book was ended, glad at heart-- The lesson learned, and every labour done-- Find at the end life's ultimate gift of rest."

There I leave him. Great-hearted, strong-souled, brave without a hesitation, tender as a child, intolerant of wrong because he was incapable of it, tolerant of every human weakness, slashing controversialist in speech, statesman-like in foresight, finely versed in the wisdom of many literatures, a man of genius scarce aware of his innumerable gifts, but playing them all with splendid skill, with full enjoyment of the crowded hours of life,--here was George Steevens. In the face of what might have been--think of it--a boy scarce thirty! And yet he did much, if his days were so few. "Being made perfect in a little while, he fulfilled long years."

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.

End of Project Gutenberg's From Capetown to Ladysmith, by G. W. Steevens