The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎306r] (114/154)

MEETINGS OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, SESSION 1897-98. 201
the Intelligence officer can graft his theories thereon; and thus the appointment of
a survey officer of Colonel Woodthorpe’s experience was entirely apropos to the
requirements of the office. But the close daily routine of office life was not
altogether congenial to his adventurous spirit, and he doubtless grew rather
impatient of a system which kept him chained to a desk, and in which (as he said)
he was the last officer to learn anything new. Independence of opinion is not
always welcome in India, and Woodthorpe’s views failed to accord with those of his
military superiors. A reduction in the status of the office sent Woodthorpe back
to his old love and his old life in the Survey. The change might have been
altogether for his happiness, but that he accepted it as a reflection on his official
capacity. There is no doubt that it affected him greatly, and to his many friends
there certainly seemed to have been a want of appreciation of his brilliant services
in the nature of those proceedings by which his retransfer was effected.
In the autumn of last year he was appointed Deputy Surveyor-General, which
appointment he retained to the day of his death.
If there was one of his characteristics more than another which appealed to his
friends, it was his unfailing spirit of genial good-fellowship. His was a cheeriness
which spread in ripples around him, and influenced all who fell within its reach.
No man could feel “ sorry for himself” long in Woodthorpe’s company. Such a
spirit as this makes more for the final sum of the world’s happiness, perhaps, than
many of the arts and graces which adorn it. Not that Woodthorpe was insensible
to the arts and graces either, for his love of painting amounted almost to devotion,
and his accumulated store of life-illustrations is a legacy of which his family must be
proud. But he was essentially a man of warm-hearted impulses, and nothing was
too much for his generosity—no sacrifice too great for him to make in the interests
of a friend.
The world is the poorer for his loss—as much the poorer as generous, true
hearted spirits like his are rare. What the loss to his relations must be it is not for
me to say. Woodthorpe never married. He devoted himself with a single-hearted
purpose to the interests of those dear to him, who, less happy than he, were not so
well able to help themselves. May he rest in peace! He has left many behind
who will ever keep his memory green, for we feel that, “ taking him for all in all,
we ne’er shall look upon his like again.”
MEETINGS OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY,
SESSION 1897-1898.
Afternoon Technical Meeting, Monday, June 27, at 4.30 p.m. Sir Clements
Markham, k.c.b., President, in the Chair.
The Paper read was :—
“ On a proposed Great Globe on a scale of 1:500,000.” By Prof. Elisee Reclus.