Free The Quest for Corvo: An Experiment in Biography (Valancourt eClassics) by A.J.A. Symons Page B

and studying for the priesthood. So far as I can remember, Rolfe was with us only a short time – a thin, somewhat emaciated, rather good-looking young man. In the course of his first week he took us by surprise one dinner-time by exclaiming aloud, in an interval of silence – ‘Oh! what lovely legs!’ This, in those far-off days of the past, was considered a somewhat outrageous exclamation to come from the lips of a Church student, and Frederick McClement expostulated with him. But it turned out that the legs he was referring to were those of a small insect which was creeping towards his soup-plate. (Fr McClement is still alive, I believe. He followed me from Stonyhurst to Oscott, and was ordained for a Scotch diocese: he has changed his name to McClymont.) Several of us figured in Hadrian the Seventh – I was Mr Whitehead, having in those days fair golden hair; but I cannot remember further details. We also figured in some of his illustrations, which were excellent and very true portraits. The painting of John Jennings as an Angel was particularly lifelike. (Jennings, afterwards Canon of Flint, is now dead.) In fact there are so few of Rolfe’s contemporaries alive to-day that I can be of very little help to you. Possibly Fr Grafton, Blackmore Park, Hanley Swan, near Worcester, might remember something about him. Rolfe left Oscott unlamented, and at that time I never thought to hear of him again. But not long afterwards I went with my brother to visit some people at Seaton, Aberdeen, named Hay, and there I saw him once more. He was tutor to the two little boys Malcolm and Cuthbert Hay. He was leaving, however, that very day, so I had no opportunity of an interview. I regret I can give you no further first-hand information. I heard that he spent several months in the Poor Law Workhouse somewhere near Southport, and occupied his time writing bitterly about the Jesuits, who had refused to accept him as a student; but that may be quite incorrect.
    Yours faithfully
    Gerald G. Jackson
     
    Fr Grafton proved a disappointment, but I was luckier with Fr McClymont:
     
    Ardcolm, Kingussie,
    Inverness-shire
    Dear Sir,
    I received your letter regarding a life you are writing of F. W. Rolfe. I think Fr Jackson could have given you as much as I can about him. However I will give you my slight recollections. Rolfe was only at Oscott for a short time, as doubtless you know. He was regarded by us students as eccentric and a subject of jokes, perhaps because he was so different from everybody else. He kept much to himself, and seemed more interested in art than in theology. I remembered he was engaged in painting a picture on some historical subject, and used to get one or more of the boys from the lay school which at that time formed part of Oscott to stand for his picture. My impression of the picture is that it was good to a high degree for anyone not a qualified artist. He also went in for beating out brasswork. I suppose you know that before coming to Oscott, the late Lord Bute had engaged him to take charge of the Catholic Choir in Oban? Amongst his books he had Lord Bute’s translation of the Breviary, no doubt given him by Lord Bute. His outstanding eccentricity was to stamp everything available with his crest, the raven ( Corvo ). But most noticeable was a stuffed raven which had the place of honour on his table. He explained to me about his name that ‘Rolfe’ really came from ‘Rollo’, the common ancestor of himself and William the Conqueror. He had an overweening vanity. His usual mood was taciturnity. Amongst his lighter achievements he professed a knowledge of palmistry, and for fun we used to get our fortunes told. I believe I was to have a mental illness – I may mention that it has not come off yet. I don’t think I can tell any more. The main thing is that it was and is a wonder to me why he ever became a clerical student.
    Yours sincerely
    F. B. McClymont, o.s.b.
     
    The Bishop of Shrewsbury was also able to