Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-17
Gbs aap SPY aaurser, GbasOap ronno sugust H. 1871.

absolutely sore with laughing. funk too there
are passages which indicate that the author pos
sesses powers of different kind, and has some
touches which remind me much of Sterne.
beg you will have the kindness to let me know
when Mr. Irving takes pen in hand again, for
assuredly shall expect very great treat, which
may chance never to hear of but through
your kindness.
Believe me, Dear Sir,
Your obliged humble serv't,
WALTER SCOTT.
No American author, certainly, has ever won
a more enviable compliment than the one con-
tanned in this letter, dated "Abbotsford, %
April, 1873" and postmarked "Melrose." What
picture for Sunnysde might have been made
out of the scene which it describes, by Leslie or
Wilkie, or Stuart Newtonl-Scott surrounded
by his wife and guests, reading Irving aloud
night after night comparing his style alternate
ly to those of Swift and of Sterne, laughing over
his humor till his sides were sore, and looking
eagerly forward to more works from the same
hand, as treat of which he was 10th to be de-
prived
But Irving was not the only eminent Ameri-
can who had become known to Sir Walter be-
fore 1922. Our lamented associates, Edward
Everett, in 1918, and George Ticknor, in 1919,
had been partakerS OF his hospitality both in
Edinburgh and at AbbotSford; and they have
both contributed to DR.. Allibone's Dictionary
of English Authors most interesting accounts of
their respective visits. 1t was, perhaps, at their
suggestion that Sc0tts name was placed on our
honorary roll.
But however that may have been, we shall all
agree that no worthier or nobler name has ever
adorned it, In 1922 Scott was in the full en-
joyment of his fame. Kenilworth and the Pr
rate had just succeeded to lvanhoe, the Monas-
terry and the Abbot, in that marvellous series of
historical romances which so absorbed and
electrified the reading world for nearly twenty
years. 1t may well be doubted whether so pro-
life and so magnetic brain had existed since
that OF Shakespeare; or one which has poured
forth purer, richer or more varied streams of
entertainment and instruction for the delight
and wonder of mankind.
1t is possible that, in his modest estimate o.
his own powers, and in his ever-generous APT
probation of the productions of Others, he HIM
self, had he lived till now, would have said of
Dickens or of ThackeraY, in connection with
his own novels, what he did say of Byron in
regard to his own poems: "He beat me out of
the field in the description of the strong pas
sions, and in deep-seated knowledge of the hui
man heart; and so | gave up poetry for the
time" Indeed, he actually expressed some
thing of the same sort in his diary, on the
death of Jane Austen, when he observed that
"Edgeworth Ferrier and Austen had all given
portraits of real society far superior to any
thing vain man had produced of like nature;"
adding, in his most characteristic vein, this
special 10 MISS AuSbeUs young
lady had talent for describing the involve
ments, feelings and characters of ordinary life,
which is to me the most wonderful have ever
met with. The big bow-wow l can do myself
like any one going; but the exquisite touch,
which renders commonplace things and char
acters interesting, from he truth of the de-
scription and the sentiment, is denied to me-"
Howm stronger he would have made this
admission had he lived to read David Copper
field or the Newcomes!
We are hardly disposed to allow that any
faculty was, as he says denied to him." but
it is certain that he seldom or never attempted
to deal with the incidents of the Ordinary
life" or the characters of the "real society,""
around him. His genius found a different
sphere for its display. He was eminently an
antiquarian; almost an archaologist; with
profound reverence for the past; with an in
tense relish for historical research; and with an
attachment as patriotic and as passionate as
that of Burns to the local traditions, the local
tales and ballads, the local superstitions and
scenery of his native land. These furnished
the staple Of his poetry and prose alike, and
supplied both warp and wool for his magic en-
broidery. He sacrificed nothing to what in
these days would be called the sentimental or
the sensational He certainly never pandered
to RIGHTEOUSNESS, senSuality or scepticism. 1t
was no tiattery, when venerable bishop of the
church he loved told him at banquet, of
which he divided the honors with the duke of
bors of long literary life, with the conscious
ness that everything he had written tended to
the practice Of virtue, and to the improvement
of the human race" 1t was no selfdeluson,
when, at the very close of that life, he said of
himself: 81 have been perhaps the most vol
luminous author Of the day; and it is a comfort
to me to think that have tried to unsettle no
mans faith, to corrupt no mans principle"
Let us all thank God for that record and till
more for the fact which it so justly embodies.
1t were doing but half justice to the memory
of Sir Walter Scott, more particularly in con-
nection with his membership of a society like
this, if allusion were not made to his poems and
novels. We can not forget how much both
biography and history were indebted to him
for those three quaTto volumes of the Sadler
state papers in 1909; for those thirteen ponder
Gus tones Of Somers tracts in 1872; for his
Border Antiquities of England and Scotland
for those grand editions Of Dryden and Swift;
for those charming Lives and Memoirs of the
British NovelistS; for that elaborate and mas
terly treatment of a great period of French his
tory in the Life of the First Napoleon; for those
delightful sketches of French, and more espec-
tally of Scotch history, in the Tales of a Grand
father; and for that continuous stream of brill
liant criticism which he contributed to the peri
Odical reviews of his day.
Nor must we forget that all this gigantic lit
erary labor was performed in the intervals of
an exacting professional career, and of a social
life full Of obligations and distractions; per-
formed 80 quietly and almost inyisibly that
hardly any one, save an occasional copyist or
publisher, knew what he was doing, or when he
had time for doing anything. And yet it was
no exaggeration in Irving to say of him. his
works have incorporated themselves with the
thoughts and concerns of the whole civilized
world, and have had a controlling influence
over the age in which he lived" Nor can |
help thinking that if Dickens and Thackeray
could have lived, as we might have hoped that
ol-n fha srr
this centennial commemoration of their
illuStrious exemplar, and had been called
on, as experts, TO say what were the
two names which, upon the whole, had exer-
cised the greatest and best, the most pervading
and most permanent influence upon English
literature down even to the day of their own
lamented deaths, they would have agreed in
suggesting that the same initial letters would in
dictate them both; and would have concurred in
to Walter Scott in that line of liter
allure to which both belong, the place most near
ly appraching-at however wide an interval-to
VIM. Shakespeare. For no one else, think
unless perchance for one of themselves, would
such an approximation be claimed; but it will
be for poSterity, when their centennials shall
come round, and when contemporary opinions
shall have been set aside or confirmed by matur-
er judgments, TO pronounce upon their titles to
pre-eminence.
may not conclude, gentlemen without re-
minding you, that by the favor of our eYer-hon-
ored benetactor, the late Mr.. Dowse, who had
a most enthusiastic admiration for Scott, this
noble library came 10 us accompanied by one of
Chantrey'S original marble busts of Sir Walter,
which we can hardly prize too highly. Lock-
hart, in his admirable biography, tells us that
sit was during his visit to London lin 1920
that Scott sat TO Chantrey for the bust which |
alone preserves for pOsterity the cast of express
sion most fondly remembered by all who ever
mingled in his domestic life" The final touches |
to the first marble copy were given during the |
following year, when Sir Walter had come to |
London to attend the coronation of George w..
and that original marble is now at Abbotsford, |
But the one which we possess, and which is the |
mute but well-nigh conscious witness of our |
homage to-day, is hardly less precious.
A Guide Lost ON the Jun4frau.
IFrOm Tyndalps HOura in the AIns