The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-03-27
JOSEPH ADDISON.

1eyears ago a serious disagreement oc-
d between the members of one of the
,ic churches in Chicago. and the bishop
diocese. The lsity carried their side
case into the newspapers, and we re-
Der tn have seen a long communication
Tribune, attacking the offending pre-
with great bitterness and decidedly
ability thsn is usually displayed In
|peciss of controversial literature. The
was deliberately elegant, but at the
time wonderfully vigorous and trench
every word seemed to have been care
chosen, then fitted into its place with
|reatest nicely, so that no shade OF
ing might be lost; the arguments were
snd pithy, the sarcasm delicate and
as a French napier, and the invective
ng and terrible, yet without a trace OF
mess or vulgarity. OF the thousands
read this communication, not a hun
gave it a second thought; not twenty,
ps, ascribed its authorship 10 any per-
higherintellectual grade than a lively
Eogue or a sharp lawyer, who had
n to amusc himself by taking part 10
ecclesiastical skirmish. Yet the pen
which 1t emanated was laid aside for.
long before Chicago was thought of
End which welded that pen turned
fn dust nearly three quarters ola cen.
go, and in its day there was strength
n in that gray goose quill TO stir a
Y nation from center to circumfer-
and shake the throne of England to
y foundations. For an impudent pla-
had stolen The famous letter of Ju-
TO the king, and made a few trifling
ions necessitated by the altered cir
hnces, and sem it forth to worry the
bishop and rouse the wrath of his
:. We wonder If the ghost of Sir
Francis did not swesr Justify in
when he saw his choicest production
z upon an unappre ciaii7e public. and
no more sensation than a common
FlistIc squib, wsitten by a salaried
er or amateur Bohemian? And we
?, too, il there are rot many other il
us works which, if subjected to a SIM
{, would share a similar fate. The
bat has given immortal fame'to the
hose name is at the head of this arti-
bw much, how little excitement would
ken il published to-day? Ii is the
land bear in mind We do not Ques-
g soundncss of that f~ashion-to place
Ftator on the tOpmost shelf of Eng
ssics, and hold up its nj and
as models for the imitation of all WHO
tread In the same path. In fact, we
style called the "Adisonian, and the
DO ventured seriously TO criticiSe It..
be esteemed by the vast majority of
letters scholars as a hereto, who
10 he drowned in a STA OF ink, or pelt-
ea'h with cOpper-faced type. Yet, in
ldest humility. we express our firm
ion. that if the best paper which the
pr contains were offcred TO the editor
modern first-clasS magazine as origin
If said editor did not detect the fraud,
mated his bid by the inherent merits
manuscript, lie would not give five
IA page for it. But if an imprinted
Known to be Addison's was present
be same astule critic, ten dollars a
alld not be thought too high a price.
b for reputs;iOn-especially of the
nous sort We are treadipg, how
dangerous ground let US hasten to
from it into the region of unim.
Sle biography.
h Addison was born at Milston,
kmesbury. in Wiltshire, England,
1872. His flther, LancelGt Addison,
Eminent clergyman of the Church
AMI, and in the course OF his career
kbe dean Of Litchfield and archdea-
Coventry. The son received his
education at Salisbury and the
house, and In 1857. when but fifteen
age, entered Queens College. Ok
ID commenced studies suitable for
cal profession it was then intended
ID adopt But the youthful Joseph
ore attention to the muses. than
bgy, and instead of exploring the
ecords of sanity men, devoted the
his time TO writing Latin verses, in
be soon gained great proficiency.
devoted admirer of the reicning
b, he wrote a poem on one of King
& campaigns, which he dedicated to
Frers-tbereby wiDnir g the favor of
aeman, and what was of more cor
a pension of 81. 900 a year. With
come fira7aial reinforcement, he
ipon a continental tour In 1899, and
time until the close OF 1903, trav-
fnsively through France. Germany,
d Switzerlsnd. making numerous
III acqnaintances, and converting
leaintance into q friend.
Eabt whether Addison ever had al
his life; he was blessed with as
disposition as a mortal can have,
-er envy, hatred, malice, nor any
abless found Judgment in that gem
b. In addition to this marvellous
of temper, which -.oihiny could
lie was a most attractive companion,
ny Wortley Montague, who knew
er than any woman who ever lived,
1T was My Fate to be much with the
father was acquainted with them
dison was the best company in the
But as there can be on this plaret
thing as absolute perfection, and
that even this man, whom every
Eired, loved and praised, had one
E-he was too fond of wine, and
together more than was good for
is said by the gossips ofthOse DAYS,
inspiration which produced some
bblest efforts was materially aided
ations to the bottle, and "tbat the
{ Of the imprisoned grape fire.
ebscured 4 delicate brain which
such stimulants.
Addison returned to England, his
e Wings were out of office, and
ion he had hoped to obtain was.
denied him. So this accomplished
hd splendid gentleman, like many
efore and after him, felt the pangs
srable im~pecuniosity, and was lit
without the means of making
|. Thirty-three years old, no
hO Influential patrons, no work
prospective-this was certainly a
look. but it did not disturb the
lie calm which broodcd over him
cradle to the grave. He waited
for the turn of the tide, and at
be in a curious and unexpected
Marlborough had won his grand
B'enheim, ard the government
e event suitably cOfhms morated in
y a lucky chance some haDger-on
court suggested Addison, and one
n l704. a gold-laced lacquey car
lsage FROM Lord Treasurer Godol-
e impoverished author, then liv-
nabby suit of rooms in the thIrd
shabby house in Haymarket.
proposed-for it was only a job
fmet a prompt acceptance, and
fharpened his pen, most likely
ass or two of beverage stronger
Il. and began the Amounted task