The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-02-19
Thomas CARLYLE.

Harold" had Mary Ann Chawor,h
loved and married him-perhaps not il
Lady Byron Lad not sought for separa-
tion from linn. So, perhaps, Thomas
Carlyle would not now be the
strange man that he is, had he not wres-
tied with tie world as few men do. He
was born in the South of Scotland, but
at a young age went to Germany, where
he remained for years. He became
thoroughly acquainted with the German
language, and with many distinguished
literary men in Germany. lie became
the attached friend of the grei, Goethe,
and the attachment was mutual.
lie came before the English world
frs; through the Magazines, and anony-
mously. But his original style, and
great energy Of thought, could not fail
to attract attention. His first book ap-
pearod in 1925, aud was translation Of
Gocthe's Wilhelm Meister." Then
came a life Of Schiller, and 4 German
romance. His latter works need not
mention, for they are better known in
America than in England lie is, in
deed, more popular there than here, as
Ralph Waldo Emerson is more popular
here than there But from the first,
Carl yle has had hard life TO live. In
early life lie was not at all Successful.
lie was bitterly criticised, and the world
did not, as in the case of many other
writer's, rush in between critic and au,
thor, for his defence. His books were
not popular, nor was he acknowledged
as great writer. There were few
who clung to him, and they only partial
y understood him. The majority Of
men would have lost heart but for
years ne struggled on, and never thought
Of desparng
His Life of Schiller was received,
at first, in England, with surprising cold
ness; and yet was SO highly priced in
Germany, that Goethe translated it into
German, aud bestowed the highest CON-
pliments on hlr. Carlyle.
1t is singular how. for years, his works
were neglected. Book after book came
dead born from the press, and yet
the tough spirit of tie heroic Scotch
man was not TO Le conquered. Is ihere
any wonder that Carly les spirit or style
is a little bitter at times! Not one of Il
thousand would have pcrsevered as he
did.
In 1887 he added somewhat to the sale
of his books by a series of lectures in
public. They were delivered at the Wes,
End and though the audience was al
ways small, yet it was composed oi the
rich and powerful. The fashionable.
discovered a genius in him, and a, once
his books began to sell. lle has leciurct
many times since then, IN different parts
Of London, but always to rather small
and exceedingly refined audiences,
lie is, perhaps, the most awkward
public speaker one could hear for {
twelvemonih, even in such place a,
London, where every body is talking il
public. He uses very little gesture, rub
his hands occasionally, screws his moutl
up into all manner of shapes, and ye
his dark eyes shine with earnest enlhu
siasm, and his whole person bears th'
impress Of solemn earnestness.
And then the matter richly compen
safes for ihe lack of manner. lie open
before you brlliants and diamonds, an'
whole beds of shining ore-and yet ii l.
done in an abrupt and disjonied style
You are jerked along, hithcr aud thither
made to stumble over this and that un
conth senlence-yet you get such glimp
ses of beauty and grandeur, that yor
dare not complain.
The tone of his voice is harsh aud IN
pleasant; he has no control over i, what
ever, and some of his delicate admirer
make complaints Of this
His style of speaking is a good dea
like his style of wrting-at lensl tn
majority think so. 1t is unpleasant, AM
vet the matter redeems all.
England is the greatest place | eve
yet was in, for demanding a mans rel
gious opinions Every author, ever,
stranger, is asked the exact state of hi;
religious belief One might as well han!
himself as to confess any sympathes fo
Unitarianism. The majority of people
instead of treating you kindly and labor
, ing to show you yonr error, would shul
you as if you had the cholera, or som,
fearful disease. Mr.. Carlyle has beer
examined, but was ever too proud TO an
swer anything To his inquisitors. His re
Iigious belief was with himself and hi
God Many assert him to be a Deisl
! but do not believe it. suppose ,ha