, 1874-07-05
De Quincy mud E1is opium Propcaat.
trtAs

De Quincy and Ellis Opium Propciast.
Little more than fourteen yenrs ago, says re-
cout English writer, there passed frunl among 1lB
man who held high aud very paculnr position
~ English literature. For aovonty.threo years as
which, for want Of betses term. Wo must Do
scribe aB living, but which would ba moro htly
described by Rono modo OF speech indicating an
existence oil tho confines Of dreanland aud real
ity. In 1921 he frat published tho work with
which Ills name is mott commonly associated,
nna ut certain intervals ho gave tokens to Inan-
kiud Of his continued presence Oh earth. what
bis life may have been IN the Intervals SEEMS to
haye been at times unknown even to us friends.
1Io began by disappearing from school and from
hia family, aud aeema to lnve fallen into tho
habit OF Temporary sclipses. At ono moment hc
dropped upon bis acquaintance from the clouds
at another lie would vanish into utter darkness
for weeks or months togetlor. One day le came
to dino with Christopher North-so wo are told
iu the Professors 1ie,-was detained for tho
night by heavy storm Of rain, aud proloug cd
his impromptu visit for year. During thAt
period his llabts muBt have beon rnther amazing
10 a well-regnlated household. His wants. In
deed, vorc simple, and, In ono sonse, regular;
particular Joint OF mutton. cut according To =
certain mathematical formula, and au ounce Of
laudauum, made him happy for day. But IN
WAS generally TO be found stretched 10 profound
opium Blunlbers upon rug before the tire, aud
1t was ouly about or III the morning that Ao
gave unequivocal symptoms OF vitality, aud
suddenly gualed forth in Btroanla Of wondrous
eloquence to tho supper partios dotainod for The
purpose Of Witnessing tue dlsp!ay. Tint iB tho
most dihtinct glimpse lnyc caught Of tho ly-
Ing De Quincy. Between these irregular nppari,;
tionB We ale laBtty given to understand that his
life whs 30 strange that ita details would bo in-
credible. What tlleso Incredible details may
have boen have no meaus Of knowing. II il
enough that lie WAS q stthago,, unsubstalttnl
being, fitting uncolt ltany about tn tie twilight
regloIsR Of society, elnoiglng by 1ta aud starss
into visibility, afflicted With general yagueness
st to the ordinary dut'os OF mankind, and
alvays aud everywhere taking much moro opium
than was good for him. lle tells Ill.,. indeed,
| vigorous efforts, as lie toa uH thGt oliuln IL a
cure for must BeiiouH eya, aud especially 8aved
him from, m early death by consumption. 1t IL
| plain enough hoYevor, that no never really re-
Trained 10. any length Of time; aud pollIapa wo
should congratulate ourselves on . propensity
| jng to tue "ConfeHsiolla " ~ nne collateral re-
sult. Tho only part OF Do Quincey's career in
| which VIC may Conceive ourselves to be treadinE
tho firm ground of fnct IL tho early perlod do.
acribed III his VARIOUS photographed writings.
II We could eyaporato the gorgeous rhetoric
OF which they kre chiefly con,posod, no might,
| perhaps, come upon a reridn'n Of solid da!oa
and facts. 9ettng aside. however,, tl!o difficulty
| OF discriminating the {ncts from fanoieH, WO
should nat ioarn Wuoh that il Of impor.
tauce. That he was tho Bon OF D rich merchant,
who laft him an orphan at IN early age; lha'
As lived In q suburb now swallowed up ~
tl4o advance OF Manollestor; that ho wat
cant to aonool, and proved 80 bright thai
Le became prodigy Of Greek scholarship
thai he quarcol with Ills guardians, ran awa1
to Wslsa, aud afternsed led for time strange