The Portland daily press., 1869-08-19
"Reminiscences of Walter Savage Landoa.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

The last number of Il the Year Round
contains most interesting paper on Fors-
ter's "Life OF Walter Savage Landor," evil
IDENTIFY from the pen of Charles Dickens, the
friend of both the subject and the author of
the biography. Lander, it is we'll known,
was the original of Laurence Boythorn, in
"Bleak House." We select from the article
the following graceful and Characteristic pas
sages:
The impression was strong upon the pres
ent writer's mind, as on Mr.. Forsters, during
years OF close friendship with the subject OF
this biography. that his animosities were
chiefly relerable to the singular inability in him
to dlsassociate other peoples ways of think
ing from his own. He had, to the last, lu-
dicrous grievance (both Mr.. Forster and the
writer have often amused themselves with il J
against good naturod nobleman, doubtless
perfectly unconscious of having ever given
him of1ense. The ofense was that on the
occasion OF some dinner party in another
nooeman's mouse, many years before, this in
nocent lord then a commoner) had passed
IN to dinner, through some door, before him,
as he himself was about to pass in through
that same door with a lady on his arm. Now,
Landor was gentleman OF most scrupulous
politeness, and in his carriage of himself to-
ward ladies there was certain mixture of
stateliness and Difference belonging to
quite another time, and, as MIR. Pc
pys would observe, "mlehty pretty to
see". Ii he could by any effort i'm
agine himself committing such high crime
and misdemeanor as that in question, he
could only imagine himself as doing it of a
set purpose, under the sting of some vast in
Jury, to infiict great affront. A deliberate
a frpn
man it therefore remained to the end of his
days. The manner in which, as time went
on, he permeated the unfortunate Lord an
cestry with this otfense, was whimscally
characteristic oil Lander. The writer remem-
bers veIy well when only the individual him
self was held responsible in the story for the
breach OF good breeding; but in another ten
years OF so it began to appear that his father
had always been remarkable for i'll manners.
and in yet another ten years or so his grand
father developed into quite prodigy of coarse
behavior.
Mr., Boythorn-if he may again be Quoted
said OF his adversary, Sir Leicester De. lock :
THAT fellow is, and his father cas, and his
grandfather acGs, the most stffnecked, arro-
CANT, imbecile, pig-headed numb skull ever,
by some lnexpiicabe mistake OF Nature. born
IN any station in life but walking stick'sw
Ihe strength OF some of Mr.. Landor's most
captivating qualities was tracable to the same
source. knowing how keenly he himself
would feel the being at any small social dis
advantage, or the being unconsciouly placed
In any ridiculous light, he was wonderfully
cohslderate OF shy people, or of such as might
be below the level of bis usual conversation.
or otherwise out OF their element. The writ
er once observed him in the keenest distress
OF mind IN behalf OF the modest Young stran-
ger who came into drawing room with a
glove on bis head. An expressive commen-
tary on this sympathetic condition. and on
The deiicacy with which he advanced to the
youns strangers rescue, was afterwards fur
nlshed by himself at friendly dinner at
Gore House, when it was the most delightful
of houses. His dress-say, his cravat or shirt
collar had become Slightly disarranged on hot
evening, and Count D'Orsay laughingly call
ed his attention to the Circumstance as we
rose from table. Landor became fiji shed
and greatly agitsted: My dear Count DOrsay'
thank you from my soul for pointing out to
me the abomlnable condition to which 1 am
reduced! If had entered the drawing room.
and presented myselfbefore Lady BLESSING ton
in so absurd light, would have instantly
gone home, put pistol to nv head. and
blown my brains outI'
Mr.. Forster tells similar story of his keep
ing company waiting dinner, through los
ing his way, and OF his seeing no remedy for
that breach ofpoliteness but cutting his throat
or drowning himself, unless a countryman
whom he met could direct him by short road
to the house where the party were assem-
bled. SUI ely these are expressive notes on
the gravity and reality of his explosive in
clination to kill kings!
His manner toward boys was charming.
and the earnestness of his wish to be on
equal terms with them and to win their con-
ndence was quite touching. Few. read
ing Mr.. Forster's book, can fail to see
IN tnls his pensive remembrance of that
studlous wllful boy, at once shy and inn
Petuous, who had not many intimacies at
Rugby, but who was generally popular and
respected, and used his influence often to
save the younger boys from undue harshness
or violence" The impulsive warnings of his
passionate heart toward his OWE bow. on their
meeting at Bath, alter years of Separation
likewise burn through this phase of his char
acter.
But more spiritual, softened, and unset
hsh rspect OF it was to be derived from his re-
spectful belief in happiness which he himself
had missed. His marriage had not been a fe-
hcltous one-it may be fairly assumed for
either side-but no trace of bitterness or dis
trust concerning other marriages was in his
mind. he was never more serene than in
the midst of domestic circle, and was
invariably remarkable for a perfectly benig-
n Inant interest in young couples and lovers,
Ihat, In his ever-fresh fancy, he conceived in
TINS association innumerable histories of him
sell, involving far more unlikely events that
never happened than Isaac DIsraei ever i'm
aSneo, is hardly to be doubted but as to tbis
part OF ms zeal history he was mute. or re-
vealed his nobleness in an impulse to he
generously just. We verge on delicae a
grounds, but slight remembrance rises II,
the writer which can CRATE nowhere
Mr.. Forster relates how certain friend heino
in Florence, sent him leaf from the sarlen
of his old home at Fiesole. That friend
had first asked him what he should send
him hon e. and be had stipulated Tor this off
found by Mr.. Forster among his papers af.
ter his death. The friend, on coming back 10
England, related 10 Lander tina. he had been
much embarrassed, on going in search OF the
leaf, by his drivers suddenly stopping his
horses in narrow lane. and presenting him
tine iriendl to La Sgnora." The lady was
waking alone on a bright Italian Winter day;
1 Nm 'ne man. having been told to drive to the
W. ma a. haLooia; inferred that he must be con-
ha tms s q Suest or visitor. 8" pulled off my
coa,hnan,s ,me LEND, apoIogized for the |
,"oS aili nIstake, and drove on. The lady
h mao waning WIN rapid and firm step, had |
,,aa.nS eyes' nne ,reSn color, and looked ami |
anated ana agreeable" Landor checked Off |
each clause OF the description, with . stata Jn
noa OF more than ready assent, and ren;ed
WIN an his tremendous energy concentrated
, ,h inc sentence: And the Lord forbid
Ia snoul do otherwise than declare thai
mo ways WAS aSreeable-to every one but |