The life of Sir Robert Jones / [Frederick Watson].

  • Watson, Frederick, 1885-1935.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The life of Sir Robert Jones / [Frederick Watson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    still flourishes, and is now called the Liverpool Medico- Literary Society, and early on we persuaded Thomas to become a member. In that little coterie he was serenely happy. He often led discussions and almost always entered into debates. With characteristic humour he invited the Members to take supper with him and issued the invitations decorated with a thumbnail of himself conducting the festivities with drum and pipes. The Medical and Literary proved, in fact, his chief recreation, and on looking through the Society’s minutes it is interesting to note that among its contributions may be found papers on ‘ The Fall of Nations,’ ‘ The Products of Ancient Egyptian and Assyrian Tombs,’ ‘ A Burial Service of 5,000 Years Ago,’ or ‘ Julian as Man and Emperor,’ and ‘ Pompey’s Pillar.’ A week before he died he read a paper on ‘ The Technique of the Ships of Early Historic Times’.” That, however, was later. The early meetings took place at Nelson Street, and afforded Thomas great amusement. It is always a sign of grace when a youngster brings home his friends, and the earliest of these included three medical students called Charles Steele, William Kelly, and James Rose. During the student days of Robert Jones, these four literary enthusiasts (aided and abetted by Thomas) became so bitten with their dialectics that in 1884 they decided to found “ The Liverpool Medical and Literary Society.” The venture was an instant success, and has now outlived the transient nature of such enterprises by over forty years. It provided Robert Jones with an excellent training in public speaking both for the lecture room and the platform. The thirst for argument which was evidently so strong in him was henceforth chastened and refined in the scathing elements of debate. Of these four admirable young men James Rose has left some amusing impressions. He was very kindly, popular, and the poet laureate of the Society—one of those delightful natures whose memory lingers long after more successful men are forgotten. A man of meagre physique, he had the heart of a bull terrier.