New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-10
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tratc the motive and fitness Of the celebration that
| honors his memory.
| SIR WALTER SCOTT.
| So much--and compounded Of such mixed impress.
| sions-cOmes crowding into our thoughts AZ we re-
fleet upon this famous man, that il is difficult to
choose the idea most pertinent to the time One
obvious fact, however confronts the student of
Scott, at the very threshold Of his observations
Nearly forty years have passed since the grave
closed over the poets dust and the condition and
aspect of civilized society have in that time under
gone great changes: yet to him the world has
steadily preserved its bosom franchsed aud ale
glance clear He is everywhere known and adj
mired and by great multitude of men and women
he is as sincerely beloved as if he were a personal
bcnefactOr and living friend Others have
written greatly and have won great repu-
tations. Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden Adj
dison Pope, Cowper, johnson, Byron, and
Wordsworth are but few of the bright names
which 4" On the stretched fOre-fnger OF all time
sparkle forever" But these memories that chiefly
live in the worlds respect. The memory Of Scott
lives in its affection. No other name of the Past
at least in Literature-conures up deep and sweet
feeling of kind interest gentle pleasure, reverence.
and love. The Of this effect invite inquiry,
and may fittingly receive present attention. We
| may not comprehend them ight and therefore
may not state them with accuracy but to endeavor
to state them at all will be to describe as we'll
| We can, the hero whom now the world delights to
| honor.
The causes of SCOTS ascendency are TO be- found,
we think, in the absolute goodness of his heart the
spotless integrity of his conduct the romantic and
picturesque atmosphere and accessories Of his
life 4; the brilliancy of his literary execution,
| the entirely wholesome charm which he
| ercises-both as a man and artist-over tho
imagination; and the serene and trahquiizng spirit
| Of his works He was not an intellectual poweD
merely, but lie was also humane and gentle COM
forter. He welded an immense mental force but
he always welded it for good. and always with the
greatest tenderness 1t is impossible to conceive Of
lsever having done wrong action, Of any contact
with his influence which would not inspire the wish
| to be vrtuous. The scope of his sympathes was %
broad the needs Of the human race. He thoroughly
understood the moral condition Of mankind; he
wished it to be happy and he tried to make 1t so.
His works full of sweetness and of cheer and they
contain nothing whatsoever that is morbid harass'
ing, and distressing He never sequstered himself
in mental pride there not flaw in his recti-
tude; and through years Of sturdy and conscien.
tious toll he employed strong, sweet, and gracious
genius for the good of his fellowcreatures 1t is not
surprising that the readers of Scott should feel to-
ward him somewhat as children feel toward tender
father. The world loves him because he is worthy
to be loved, and because he has Gghtened its care
and augmented its happiness
To those differences and COMMISSIONS Of opins
ion that arise from contemplating his wellA
known remarks about his art, and his
equally well-known ambition to take rank as
| a country gentleman, passing reference
will suffice. As an artist he probably had ideals
that he never satisfied in execution, and 1t seems
certain that he builded better than he knew" AZ
a man-and one who was influenced by imagination,
taste love of country belief IN established institus
tons las the fruits Of wise expernce), and laud"
able family pride, 1t was quite natural that ne
should wish to establish grand and beautiful homo
for his children. A poet is not the less poet be-
cause he happens to think modestly OF his own
writings, or to want his dinner and roof TO
cover him: and a good method in trying to compre-
bend great man land thus to lift ones self IN the
scale of thinking creatures is to look at his life ~
whole and deduce petty differences from the ms
| taken interpre tation of petty details.
SCOTS conduct of existence-like the characteS,
out of which that conduct sprane-was simple and
natural In alftbat he did one sees the influence Of
imagination acting upon common senses the nvol-
uptary consciousness of reserved power; gTandness
and pcturesGnenesS Of design habitua Difference to
the voice of duty, and the most complete knowledge
of the world. If ever there was man who lived to
be and not to seem, that man was Scott He made
no pretensions, and he INDUCED no sham He did
not claim anything, but he quietly and earnestly
earned everything His means were the
Oldest of all-and the best; self-respeot
hard work, and fidelity to duty. The de
velopment Of his nature slow, but 1t was
perfectly wholesome. He was not hampered by pre-
cocity and he was not spoiled by concet. He acted
according to himself honoring his individuality
;,,,r i4,r of so,ynr
But he had the delicate instnctsof gentleman, an
the wise insight aud foresight and patience OF PHI
losopher; and therefore he respected the indlvid-
uaity of Others the established facts of life and the
settled conventions of society. His mind was never
embttered by revolt nor sickencd by delusion Dur
ing its period of immaturity-and Notwithstanding
some physical weakness and paint was kept equa
BILE and happy by the cleamess of his perception
and the sweetness of his temperament In childhood
and youth he endeared himself to everybody around
hin-winning affection the lily and the rose WIN
it, by reason Of inherent goodness and charm is
riper wears that sweetness reinforced by pro-
digious sagacity which took the hrOadest possible
views of individual life and the social condition; 30
that both by knowledge and by impulse be was
serene and happy man
The quality that first impresses the student Of his
conduct and his writings is-truthfulness. lie was
genuine Though poet he permitted no torment
from vague aspirations. Though disappointed
lover, he brooked no morbid repining. Though tho
most successful author of his time, he developed no
egotism. To the end of his days he was as iiias
and simple as a child-ot, indeed, discarding tho
reticence of dgnified and sefreliant mature, bns
suffering no blight from success, taking on no
Alterations, and wearing ilustrious Lonors with
unconscious grace. This tuthfnlncs$-the out
growth and sign of natural integrity and 81 great
scope of intellectual vision-moldea scot,s alnbi-
ton, and stamped all the practical results OF h's
career. ready illustration Of this Is seen III ms
first adventures in literature. The poems ongi"''s