The story of Ruskin’s posting tour was told many years afterwards, at the opening of the new Sheffield museum, by Mr. Arthur Severn, a famous raconteur, whose description of the adventures of their cruise upon wheels includes so bright a picture of Ruskin, that I must use his words as they were reported on the occasion in the magazine Igdrasil: 

“...  With the Professor, who dislikes railways very much, it was not a question of travelling by rail.  He said, ’I will take you in a carriage and with horses, and we will drive the whole way from London to the North of England.  And I will not only do that, but I will do the best in my power to get a postilion to ride, and we will go quite in the old-fashioned way ...’  The Professor went so far that he actually built a carriage for this drive.  It was a regular posting carriage, with good strong wheels, a place behind for the luggage, and cunning drawers inside it for all kinds of things that we might require on the journey.  We started off one fine morning from London—­I must say without a postilion—­but when we arrived at the next town, about twenty miles off, having telegraphed beforehand that we were coming, there was a gorgeous postilion ready with the fresh horses, and we started off in a right style, according to the Professor’s wishes.

“After many pleasant days of travelling, we at last arrived at Sheffield, and I well remember that we created no small sensation as we clattered up to the old posting inn.  I think it was the King’s Head.  We stayed a few days, and visited the old Museum at Walkley; and I remember the look of regret on the Professor’s face when he saw how cramped the space was there for the things he had to show.  However, with his usual kindliness, he did not say much about it at the time, and he did not complain of the considerable amount of room it was necessary for the curator and his family to take up in that place.  We stayed about two days looking at the beautiful country,—­and I am glad to say there was a good deal still left,—­and then the Professor gave orders that the carriage should be got ready to take us on our journey, and that a postilion should be forthcoming, if possible.  I remember leaving the luncheon table and going outside to see if the necessary arrangements were complete.  Sure enough, there was the carriage at the door, and a still more gorgeous postilion than any we had had so far on our journey.  His riding breeches were of the tightest and whitest I ever saw; his horses were an admirable pair, and looked like going.  A very large crowd had assembled outside the inn, to see what extraordinary kind of mortals could be going to travel in such a way.

“I went to the room where the Professor was still at luncheon, and told him that everything was ready, but that there was a very large crowd at the door.  He seemed rather amused; and I said, ’You know, Professor, I really don’t know what the people expect—­whether