Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-13


ish head, bent forward from somewhat stoop-
ing shoulders, with a magnificent brow over.
hanging blue eye that suggests tenderness
which nowhere else appears in his manner or
conversation, but which one can imagine was
in the ascendant when the lite of Sterling was
written; and short beard and moustache
giving an expression of granite on the lower
face with n light and rsddy color which
overspread the face with deep lusurs during
conversation; with a voice which began and
gently rose in Il moment to a tornado; with a
habit of bursting out into a loud and almost
convul i've laughter which often ended in
fit of coughing; with nervous movements of
fingers and shoulders, limiting strongly of
over STUDY with a terrible undertone to all
these-most of all to the laughter-of pain
and grief; Carlyle seemed to me one of the
most fearful and fascinating of all the men
have ever seen, and whilst in his presence, |
remembered the weird impressions of mingled
beauty and awe which had when journeying
through the Mammoth Cave.
He seemed deeply interested to know all 1
could tell him about Mr. Emerson, and
brought out photograph he had recently OBJ
tained from some one here, desiring to know
il he looked just like that now. was glad
to be able to show him what | considered Il
much better photograph. All that he said
about MIR. E., indicated the strongest person.
al attachment; and he seemed to think OF him
as king precisely because it was true of him
as Paul Louis Courier said of himself: tThe
difference between me and all my contempo-
raries is that am not aspiring to be king
sentence he quoted as applicable to Emerson
in his early edition of our first authors es-
says.
1t is impossible with this great frank out
spoken man not to enter at once upon the
great social problems of the hour; though he
seizes upon them and goes on from hour to
hour in wonderful monologue-with as full
and high pressure going with as against the
current of the sentiment around him. 1t
certainly was formidable to come face to face
with Il powerful pessimist; and whilst he
spoke felt dreary skepticism chilling me,
and seemed to hear cries of despair coming
out of the heart Of nature. All was going
wrong; our ballot-boxings, our negro eman-
cipations. our cries for liberty, all showed
nothing but that the nations were given over
to believe lie and be damned. Possibly, in
deed, the only way to paradise lay thus
through hell but whatthe people were seek
ing thus they would never obtain. Society
was all wrong, and would go on getting worse.
For such men as al! this liberty is producing,
one may be thankful that a good supply of
powder and shot is preparing.
''Ballot boxing! Why, we have tried that
in England once or twice. Not long ago
there was a certain Russell here, who man
aged to get hold of some land which properly
belonged toOtherS; was supposed to have no
end Of soyereigns; was at once adored; got
easily into parliament. Presently it turns out
that he has no money at all. He comes out
and confesses that none OF the land he has is
his own-that he had forged will to get it.
And when the matter is looked into it is found
again that the will is genuine, that he did not
forge it at all, but confessed himself a scoun-
drel in order to make some money, and save
some land by it.
''Then there was Hudson, who cut up
vast deal of good land with raIlroads-which
ran here and everywhere, whether they were
wanted or not. The people got around him;
voted that Hudson was the fountain of living
waters. Every ;nan came with his subscrlp-
tion-gave his 95 or fl00 to Hudson. | re-
member well now he used to strut about with
flaps like fins ON his dress Bishops preached
about him, cOuntesses tirted with him, he
was borne to parliament by acclamation-he
had E3,O00,O00. One day it was all turned
TO aShes--thiS man balloted for. The ether
day we heard that his wife was buying old
clothes, and didn't know where the next loaf
of bread was to come from.
wherever your ballot-box comes it will
bring broods of RussellS and Hudsons. As
soon as it is opened out springs the most
whippable rascal that can be found. You
know well that in America you nave for
years had your meanest men in the White
House"
To all this there was no use for reply, had
there been any chance foPit, and there was
not.
''But so they all go-pell-mel. 1t is all
taken up with princes of Wales and 1 know
not whom! There is no real king that will
be sought for; though do know some men
who are kings-loyal men in theirw0rkshops,
discerning the laws of this universe and obey
ing them. An, king is a rare gift, by the
grace of Cod"
1t must not be supposed that such TRADES as
these give any idea at all of Mr.. Carlyle's
conversation. 1t would be hard to give a
right conception Of the wealth with which he
showers his visitor. Between the great heavy
boulders of his political views conglomer
ate of worthy and unNOrtby substance, there
are beautiful walks and swards, with which he
restores 5and delights the soul he has Just
wounded. Sketches of history, of persons he
has known, Of DR.. johnson of London SUI
burbs,-all these are etched with the subtlety
of Cruikshank and the sentiment of barley.
He once so described the 'loyal lady" of some
hard but able man, that | felt mist gather
ing in my eyes, when read, in the flight of
the duchess,
''The little lady grew silent and thin,
Falling and ever paing."
Nothing could have been more soft and sus-
tanning, and he at once filled the character
which Sterling in the Onyx Ring assigns to