Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-13
THOMAS CARLYLE.
His Love and Marriage.

The village OF Haddlngton, since the
days of stage coaches no longer on the
travelled route, lies six miles south OF
Edinburg. Its beautiful environs, tor
tuous streets, and picturesque half ru-
ined church, once remembered by tour
lists as pleasant features of formidable
journey, are fast becoming mythical /
sometimes heard of, but never seen, for
gotten by the public, and visited occa.
sionally only by theological and classical
antiquarians. The struggling tenements
that compose the place are situated in a
we'll wooded, undulating valley, through
which the Tyne meanders. But its ways
are badly paved, the eye misses neat cot
tages, embowered in roses and honey
suckles, and its population seem fast
asleep, except on market days. The
names of Edward Irving and Thomas
Carlyle suggest to the English speaking
and reading world the most interesting
associations connected with Haddington.
In 1910, a tall, ruddy, robust and hand
some lad, then eighteen years Of age
came among the townsmcn to take
charge of their school. He was from
Dumfreisshire, recommended by Prof
Leslie, and had acquired at the university
high reputation for scholarship. II
was the afterward renowned Edward Ir
wing, for whom there still fingers in the
hearts of few old residents kindly
recollection and profound admiration
His name will always give the town 6
pleasant yet melancholy interest to those
who have any sympathy with genius
He stayed but one year-long enough
however, to associate the town with q
greater name than his, Thomas Carlyle's S.
When Irving took charge of the school
one of its trustees was John Welsh, the
principal physician of the town. Th'
doctor had an only child-unfortunately
daughter. Unfortunately, becaus,
being himself scholar, and having
grand educational ideas about develop
ing the intellect, he wanted a son upoI
whom to put them in practice. Ill
probablyImade no secret of his regret
at all events little Jane discovered wha
the fact was, and had her own reflection
about it. The great instrument of in
tellectual training, she had heard hei
parents say was the Latin language
So furtively procuring Latin grammar
and pouring over its declensions ant
conjugations until she had mastered tn
difficulties, she awaited an opportunit.
to show her father what sort of menta
material he had in daughter. There
was something finely dramatic in he
procedure. She kept her whole plan I
secret. The fitting time came a
last. 1t was evening, when the dinnc
had softened the asperities Of the day
the doctor sat in luxurious leisure in hi
dressing gown and slippers, slipping hi
coffee. The time for the denouemen
has come. Under the folds of the Grim
son table cloth the little actress wa
hidden. Suddenly, Latin nouns, pro
nouns and verbs were correctly anC
steadily corrugated from under the ia
BILE. The doctor smothered his chile
with kisses, and determined to put hiI
educational schemes in hand at once
Edward Irving was promoted to the
honorable Office of James tutor, and ht
performed his duties with admiring en-
thusiasm. On the dark winter mornings
when he arrived before breakfast to give
his lesson, he would seize his pupil in
his ans (she was little girl OF nine
years, take her out into the open air
and show her the stars and constella
tons, and tell her their names Setting
her before him on the table, he would
impart to the child rudimentary notions
of metaphysics, outlines Of tho art oi
logic, and processes of higher mathe.
matics. Few men have ever possessed
mere magnetic power than Edward lrv.
ing. His influence over the little girl
quickened her intellect into new life.
Between teacher and pupil the wsrmest
affection snbsisted, which grew and
strengthened by daily intercourse.
"0f course there could be but one
end to all this," says the reader. Ims
juvenile attachment ripened into love-
and the pupil became the faithful part
ner In after years of her teachers joys
and sorrows." So everybody said It
was to be at that day, but so it was not.
Irving always loved his pupil, and she
her teacher. But he left Haddington
within q twelVe-month, and after many
wears this dear and lovely child be-
came the wife of another. Let us see
how it came about. Irving went to
Kirkaldy. He found there Thomas
CARLYLE. Both from the same university
both gifted and both poor, and it was
natural that they should be friends.
The extraordinary endowments Of the
little pupil he had left behind hum in
Haddington, Irving was never tired Of
dwelling upon, until one Saturday the lat
ter took bis friend to spend a Sunday
with DR.. Welsh. Jane was at home, and
delighted to see her old teacher. But
the young man with him-hardly past
he hnrhnnd for Carlrln was three years