I40 CONFEDERATE PORTRAITS
omen. "Upon his lip there seems to bask an eternal smile ; but if it be studied, it is not a smile — yet it bears no unpleasant aspect." ^^
The implication in some descriptions that the smile and the courtesy were only on the surface is, I think, clearly unjust. Benjamin was not, perhaps, a philanthro- pist ; but there is record of many kindly deeds of his, none the less genuine for not being trumpeted. He once lost sixty thousand dollars by indorsing a note for a friend.^^ Although never especially enthusiastic for his religion, he was ready to give help to a fellow Hebrew who wanted it, and it is said that old and needy Con- federates in London did not apply to him for aid in vain.
Also, the smile was for himself, as well as for others. That is, it represented an attitude towards life. Through many ups and downs and odd turns and freaks of For- tune, Benjamin was never discouraged, never depressed. I do not think this meant in him any great strain of heroic fortitude. The smile shows that. It was an easy- going egotism, which neither touched nor was touched deeply, a serene, healthy well-being, which let the blows of adversity strike and glance ofT, which turned trifles into great pleasures and very great evils into trifles. When work was needed, he worked with all the strength that was in him. When he failed and fell, instead of being crushed, he jumped up, smiled, brushed oflF his clothes, and worked again. Where will you find a finer instance of recovery after utter disaster than this man's
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