Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925)
Thu 27 Aug 1903 Page 25
Victoria’s Representative Men At Home.
NO. 2. — The President of the Legislative Council
SIR HENRY WRIXON.
Sir Henry Wrixon Lady Wrixon Miss Wrixon & doggo
Henry J. Wrixon, son of the late Judge Wrixon, claims, with many other distinguished Australians, Ireland as his place of birth. He was born in Dublin in the year 1839—came to Victoria as a boy in 1850. Was sent to Dublin University to complete his education in 1858. Here he obtained two gold medals given by the Historical Branch of the University. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1860, and to the Victorian Bar upon his return to Victoria in 1865. He entered the Victorian Parliament in 1870, and was several times Minister of the Crown. He was elected President of the Legislative Council upon the retirement of Sir Wm. Zeal in 1901. Knighted in 1892.
When the President of the Legislative Council of the State of Victoria is not in another place he is to be found at home at “Raheen,” a commodious mansion situated in the highest part of Kew. The building commands an extensive panorama of views. It overlooks Studley Park and the Yarra on one side, and on the other Heidelberg and the outer northern suburbs lie stretched below upon a variegated carpet, which stretches from the Dandenong Ranges to Mount Macedon.
Although the duties of the President of a Legislative Council are not, like a Governor’s, all-time-absorbing, Sir Henry Wrixon is not a man of leisure, as the word is usually understood. His official position demands attendance at functions and ceremonies that can scarcely be regarded as specially attractive or entertaining to a man who is by nature and inclination a student.
Some men when “at home” delight to take their leisure at other men’s work. One will toil patiently in his garden, digging and pruning; another, perhaps a judge, will exchange the Bench of Themis for that of the carpenter, and find his pleasure in chips and shavings; whilst yet another will work, as paid men do not work, at turning, fret-sawing, photography and what-not. These men do, willingly and without fee or reward, hard work which on compulsion they would not undertake for a thousand a year.
“The labour we delight in physics pain.”
Sir Henry Wrixon’s delights do not run in the muscular groove. His appetite in his leisure hours is for “the dainties that are bred in a book.” His playground is his library, richly stocked with volumes, many of them such as the average reader would consider excessively dry reading. Reports of commissions and weighty pamphlets form no inconsiderable portion of his library, and the occupant devours a choice report of an American or a European congress with the same enthralling interest as the man in the street experiences over a new novel.
Student and deep reader though he be, Sir Henry Wrixon has found sufficient leisure to write a novel. Its title is “Jacob Shumate,” and it has just been published in two volumes. Although a work of fiction, it is not of the popular or sensational kind. In part, it may be regarded as containing a good many autobiographical touches, and the incidents are such as have, or might have occurred in Sir Henry Wrixon’s own political career. “Jacob Shumate” is a study of many characters that the author has no doubt met, and, indeed, are tolerably familiar to all who have seen much of Victorian politics.
The observations of his working life have furnished Sir Henry Wrixon with much material. Much of his leisure time has been devoted to recording his impressions and his observations, and this record he has again remoulded into the story of “Jacob Shumate.”
Link to:Jacob Shumate.
It is well known that men of legal and studious turn of mind have occasionally suggested appliances and inventions which have baffled more practical intellects. An instance is afforded by a contrivance of the simplest kind invented—but not patented—by Sir Henry Wrixon. The idea is simplicity and effectiveness combined, and it may be suggested for adoption by persons who write or read much by artificial light.
Reporters and others shield their eyes by a screen on the forehead above the eyes, a method practically useless, even deleterious, if the light is above and in front, for the rays striking downwards upon the white paper are reflected with little loss of power straight into the eyes. Sir Henry Wrixon found this to be the case, and, thinking the matter out, perfected his “invention.” The lamp is placed above and behind the reader or the writer, and a dark, adjustable screen is hung upon the lamp. This screen is pulled open to any required extent.
The result is that the rays of light falling upon the white paper from above and behind are reflected at an angle equal to that of incidence and away from the eyes. A maximum of illumination is thus secured with an absence of any direct and a minimum of reflected rays upon the vision.
Sight is of all the senses the most precious and its care a vivid necessity to persons of middle age. Sir Henry Wrixon’s method may be recommended to all. The illustration in this article, showing Sir Henry in his library, will more fully explain the sight-saving appliance.
At home and in private life Sir Henry Wrixon is one of the quietest of men. There is an utter absence of all “frill.” He is almost necessarily a pleasant companion and agreeable conversationalist, for he has read much and seen much, and all that he has read and seen he has observed and stored up in a particularly retentive mind.
But he is always willing to learn, and he will listen with profound and respectful attention even to a novice.
It is his opinion that something may be learnt from every book and every human being. Therefore he never casts either aside, but “looks through” it or him or her, certain that he will add some little pebble of information to the mound of his knowledge.
His leisure may be truly said to be spent in reading—it may be the books in his library or it may be those still more varied and interesting books, men and women, the curious volumes that crowd the shelves of each man’s life.
LINK TO:-
Sir Henry Wrixon Colonial Conference at Ottawa 1895
Sir Henry Wrixon Sir Henry Wrixon "Socialism: being Notes on a Political Tour" 1897
Sir Henry Wrixon Jacob Shumate.
Sir Henry Wrixon Pattern Nation1906
Sir Henry Wrixon. THE RELIGION OF THE COMMON MAN. Published Book reviews 1909
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