The life and letters of Benjamin Jowett, M. A., master of Balliol college, Oxford.

1850-I854] Personal Appearance-Influence

205

was very impressive. The look of great refinement,
yet of manly strength, of subtlety, combined with
simplicity; his unaffected candour, tempered with reserve,
could not fail to attract even when it baffled observation. His soft wavy locks were already touched with
grey, beginning to recede from the temples, so as to
make more prominent the expansive brow, in which
phrenologists would say that 'idealism' was balanced
with 'comparison' and 'causality.' His full grey eyes
spoke of the clearness of the mind within, yet had
a dreamy wistful look, sometimes increased by a slight
twitching of the eyelid. His mouth in repose appeared
full and slack, but the expressive lips were under absolute
control. He was always clean-shaven except the scanty
whiskers, and the small chin seemed hardly to promise
the strength of volition which lay concealed within.
The effect of his sloping shoulders was rather enhanced
by the black dress coat of fine broadcloth which he
always wore. His waistcoat disclosed a faultless shirtfront and white neckerchief loosely tied about the
upright collar, which he continued to wear long after
it ceased to be the fashion. He never wore a greatcoat before I859, when he purchased one of roughish
cloth for travelling purposes, described by J. A. Symonds
as 'a barrel-bodied great-coat.' In walking about Oxford,
if the cold happened to be extreme, he would propose to
his companion to run for warmth. He seldom wore
gloves, but when he did so they were of cloth, not kid.
His hands seemed the only parts of him that were
sensitive to cold. When cap and gown were discarded
he wore a soft wideawake, which he called his 'cap.'
In writing, if there was no chair at hand, he would kneel
at a table. Those who knew him only in late years,
would have been surprised to see his slight figure racing