Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-02-16

|
not need to be reminded that the
great novelist was not only ready
listener to all goblin stories, but
that his mind was seriously affected
by personal experiences to which
he attributed a supernatural origin.
He connects $50 early as 1879 nois-
es heard at Abbotsford with the
sudden death of friend in London
on the night following that in
which the noises were heard
Though in print he tells the story
of his seeing Lord Byron after
death as a mere vision, his personal
friends declare that he told it pri-
vately so as to impress listeners
with the idea that he believed it
real. He dwelt upon vision he
had of a cart and horse tumbling
over bank some two hours before
such an occurrance took place. He
believed in second-sight, and was
vexed if any one explained instan-
ces of the kind on natural princi-
Piles. Robert Chambers was once
walking with Scott through St. An
drew's Square, Edinburg, when
they met a man clad in deep mourn
ing. They recognized him as an
associate clerk Of the court, and
Scott conversed with him for few
moments. The gentleman men,
toned the death of a grown-up
daughter, and said that it was not
the first incident of the kind which
had occurred in the family. After
parting with him Scott shook his
head, and referred to Highland
curse which had been uttered eighty
years before against the gentle
mans wife's family, OH account of
her ancestor having given up to
the government, the unfortunate
Marquis of Tullabardene, who, fly
ing from Colloden, had taken ref
uge with him in Dumbartonshire,
relying upon some old family ties.
Il 4
No pleasantcr anecdotes have
been told of any man These are
generally well known, but | will
trust that the following may be new
to my readers. Mrs. John Ballan-
tyne was just married. She was
young, the beauty Of Edinburgh,
and halt spoiled by flattery. She
was to meet Sir Walter at dinner,
and resolved to put on airs, and
show the great lion Of the time that
she was not to be brought to fawn
even at his feet. He asked her to
take glass Of wine, and she affec-
ted not to hear him; but the great
man, instead of noticing this girlish
folly, proceeded to talk to her with
such politeness that she speedily
felt ashamed of herself. This lady
related that once, at her own table,
on the occasion of a large and GER
emonious dinner-party, there was a
scarcity Of spoons, and what added
to the awkwardness, at the precise
moment when the servant was wash
ing the spoons for farther use 4
most determined pause in CONVEX
sation occurred. The silence was
so profound that no sound was to
be heard save the whispers Of the
servants just without, and the wash
ing of the spoons. AT last the
blushing lady's husband drank
"Rclief to all in DISTRESS which
broke the spell, and set all laugh
ing, while Mr.. James Ballantyne
called out, with a line of Shak-
sheare:
my lord, methinks you'd spare your spoons!'
"Not I, indeed, my lord," re-
sponded Mrs. b., "for l have none
to spare" "Not amiss," said Sir
Walter, in genial recognition of
the lady's hit. Next day parcel
came. to her, directed in an unmis-
taxable handwriting, containing Il
dozen OF the handsomest spoons
that could be obtained in Edin-
burgh.
This same old lady relates . story
which deserves to be told as one OF
the most singular among the curl
osities of literature. She relates
that once when her brotherin-law,
James was reading to her, Scott en-
tered, and told him to go on read
ing. AS the reader proceeded,
Scott at first nodded appreciation,
then said, "Good'' next every
goodp "Charming!" "Powerful!''
until at last the upper lip began to
elongate, and even to tremble, and
the tears fell. Snatching his staff,
he strobe across the room, and
looked over Mr.. Ballantyne's shoul-
der to see what the volume was. 1t
was the clay of the Last Minstrel. ;"
He was quite in discontinue,
dashed the tears Indignantly from
his eyes, uttered an impatient,
"Pshaww and said, "God help me,
James; l am losing my memory"
He is found in 1870 laying sense
less on the floor of his dear Abbots.
ford under an apoplcctic attack
This is not the worst. A mad
political pamphlet warns his friends
that the mental life has suffered
also; and when he has written the
last novel, "Count Robert Of Paris, >
tiat same old friend Ballantyne,
who once had to tell him that he
must concedc the palm in poetry to
Byron, is forced to tell him that
"Count Robert" is an utter failure
Most sad is the entry thereon in his
diary: "The blow is stunning
one, / suppose, for scarcely fee
it. l am at sea in the dark, and the
vessel leaky, think, into the bar
gain. l have suffered terribly, that
is the truth, rather in body than IN
mind; and often wish could lie
down and sleep without waking
But l will fight it out if l can.
Alas! such efforts to slight it out
as "Castle Dangerous" only proved
more planinly that the night hat
come, in which as he 1T last sadly
said, no man can work. In shil
placed at his disposal by the govern
,,,.,1t L., ,,:1c e., Tho far Cnuth rn1