The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-15
Sidney Smith.
BY JAMES PARTON.

Sidney Smith, clergyman of the
Church Of England. who was born In 1771,
and died In 1915, was, suppose. the wit
tiest Englishman Of modern times. Per-
haps, however, ought not to call him m
Englishman, for his mother was n French
lady. and II was from her that he derived
his wit, his humor, his gayety, and all
those qualities of his mind which made
him famous. His father was noted chiefly
for eccentricity. Upon coming Into his
inheritance he behaved In u truly extraor-
dinary manner. Having married the
daughter of n French emigrsnt, an exceed
ingly lovely woman, he LEFT her at THO
church door, and spent several years In
wandering over the world. After his re-
turn home, he spent his time, says one Of
his granddaughters, ''in diminishing his
fortune by buying. altering. spelling, and
then selling about nineteen different places
In England"
This singular man and his beautiful
French wife became tho parents Of four
sons and one daughter. all of whom pos
sesscd remarkable talents, especially tho
two elder boys, and above all Sydney, one
of the most delightful writers, and tho
most delightful talker of his age.
The life of Sydney Smith was not event
fil. All need say Of 1t Is, that he was
distinguished ut school; that he won q fel-
lowship Mt Oxford of one hundred pounds
u year; that he wanted to be u lawyer,
but in Difference to the wishes of his father,
entered the church; that he rose gradually
frUm the rank OF ciirate to that of Preben-
Diary of St. Paul's Cathedral; that no as
sisted to found the Edinburgh Review, |
and was for many years Its most brilliant
and popular contributor; that he was nll |
his life powerful friend and champion
ri NIL that Is right, liberal, and humane
cioas clio, fanSk writings remain q, Us; . Ms-
Having % said sit % nh hnmor and good .ssase.
rest ol my space in giving Gsfggdef' r !
fow specimens of his wit and hum0r.
A foreigner once, forgetting that the
ijovial author WAS u clergyman also, OK.
pressed doubts of the existence of q Su.
preme Being, Sydney Smith, observing
that he was eating Of o particular dish at
dinner, with keen relish, said to him:
"You must admit that there Is great
genius and thought In that dish"
Admirable" replied the skeptic.
"Nothing can be better"
"Mny then ask" continued Mr.. Smith,
"arc you prepared to deny the existence
of the cOOk?"
Ofall clergymen he was tho least sane
timonious. At breakfast one morning, .
poor woman came In, begging him To
J christen newborn child, which was
thn,,nxl,t 70, ls<, I,,t,Sv In tsatuutIxy lon
the table and accompanied the woman to
her cottage. On his return, one Of the
guests asked him how he left the baby.
"Why," said he, III frs: gave II u dose
Of castor oil, and then christened II 50
now tho poor child is ready for either
world"
A lady complained that she could not
sleep, upon which he said he could furnish
her with perfect sOpOrific.
81 have published" he continued, 1.-TWO
volumes of sermons take them to bed
with YOU. recommended them TO Blanco
White, and before the third page he was
fst asleep"
He told lady once that In the early
part of his life he was very bashful. She
was very much astonishcd. and asked him
how he cured himself. His answer may
be useful to some young readers.
"Why." said he, ''it was not very long
before made two very useful discoveries: |:
first that all mankind was not solely en-
gagged In observing me-a belief that all
Young people havs-and next, that sham-
ming was of no use-that the world was
very clear sighted, and soon estimated o
man Mt his lust value. This cured me, and
dete rmined to be natural, and let the
world find me out"
One Joke of his with regard to tho can
nibals and their supposed habit OF eating
missionaries has become Of universal cur.
!. rcncy, but 1t Is often told Incorrectly. lie
was writing to friend who had been mp
pointed Bishop of New Zealand. and was
advising them what to say when tho can
nibal chiefs called to pay their respects
"Say to them," hc wrotc, Il deeply re-
gret, sir. to have nothing on my own tsblo
. suited to your tastes, but you will find
, plenty of cold curate and roasted clergy
men ON the sidcboarJl.' II In spite Of this
prudent provision, your visitors should
! end their rcpast by eating you likewise,
can only add sincerely hope you VIII
] disagree with them"
His letters nrc In the highest degree On.
ltertaining. Charles Dickens invited him
tn dinner, and he sent the following In
, geniously fiattering acceptance
/ "MY DEAR DicKENs-l accept your oh
J lirinc invitation conditionaIly. II 1 ann
, inviied by any man Of greater genius than
yourself, or one by whose works ! have
, been more completely interested. i will
rcpudiate to You aud dine with the more
, splendid phenomena Of the two"
In the early days Of the Eiinbaryh, the
> article were much shorter and much more
severe than we Rrc now accustomed TO sce
: In n Review. One Of Sidney Smiths
Z hook notices, publishcd In 1902, Is very
amusing. The work under confederation
was o sermon delivered nj tho anniver.
} sary of tho Royal Humane Society, the
object of which Is to reward those who
save human life at the risk OF their own
Sidney Smith noticed the sermon as FOL
lows
can accident which happened to ths
. gentleman engaged In reviewing this ser.
mon proves, In the most striking manner,
{ the Importance of this charity for restor'
I Ing to life persons In whom tho vital pow.
! or Il suspended. He was discovered WIN