The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-12


personal narrative, and Bishop Newton's
memoirs, also the personal narratives OF
Scott (the commentator Brainard and 9TH
ers. In art there is the autobiography OF
G. r. Leslie, and also Of Robert Il. Hay
don, who destroyed himself while under
cloud of dependency. Science includes
Hugh Miller, who also committed suicide
during delirium induced by over opplica-
ton to his task. His personal narrative Is
as instructive as it ia entertaining, and taxes
a high rank among works of this character.
Ferguson and Priestly also published their
own memoirs, which illustrate the ardu-
GUS path of science.
POLITICS AND THE DRAMA.
In politics there are the names of Lord
Clarendon, Fouche and Madame Roland.
The drama has great number OF autoDl-
ographers, such as Colley Cibber, Mrs.
Bellamy, Mrs. Inchbald. Grimald, Mrs.
Anna Cora Mowatt and the London mana
ger Alfred Bum. Literature has some strik-
ing instances of this kind. Madame
DArblay, at the age of 80. published set
of memoirs both of herself and her father,
and her diary is still in print. Gibbon, at
the age of SO, wrote careful autobiography
which is one Of the most delightful books
of the kind. He expected to live to old
age, but died suddenly two years afterward.
Walter Scott began an autobiography, but
did not continue it through his most active
scenes. HIS diary, however, is OF the same
nature, and the latter gives impressive
views of his greatness and his misfortunee.
Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna, who was much
in vogue among religious readers quarter
Of century ago, gave her autobiography
the title of personal Recolections," and
it was for while very popular.
BYRON.
Byron also had an autobiographical turn,
as may be seen from the fragments which
allude to personal history. Among these
Is EXTRACTS from a Journal" also "De-
tached Thoughts" which appear to be the
true utterance of his heart. The power
with which the details of life attracted By
ron show that he would have been an eA-
cellent photographer. For instance. he
refers to the "only child" feature in their
family, my mother, my half sisters moth
er, my wife, my daughter, my half sister
and myself, each the only child of its moth
DdCu Va why ShhNASh
in one family almost looks like fatality,
but the fercest animals hare the fetoest mum
6ers in their htters, as hons, tigers" etc.
This last expression which l have italicised
shows US the idea Byron had of himself
and his ancestry.
PUBLIC MEN.
Ben. Franklin's autobiography is highly
instructive, and should be generally read
by the young, because of its lessons of
thrift. All who read it must regret its
brevity. 1t probably would never have
been written had its author not found
little leisure during the early part Of his
residence in France as ambassador. Frank
Inns narrative ID one Of my favorites, and
so is Gibbons. The contrast in their style
is very marked. The last Is pompous and
heavy while the first is brief and simple.
found in his editorial life. AS printer he
learned the Importance of brevity.
GREELEY.
This man was the Ben. franklin of his
age. His autobiography is more interest
lug than that of the latter, because it in
cudes almost the full record of his life. 1t
was written at the request of Robert Bon
ner, aud is the most valuable matter that
ever appeared in the Ledger. Thurlow
Weed has published few photographed
sketches, which show what he is able to
give the world. Thomas Ii. Benton in his
Thirty Years in the Senate" affords per-
sonal as well as public record. John
Quincy Adams kept an ample diary during
all his public life, and this is now found of
much value as work of reference. In
England, Horace Walpole, and also Wrap
all, preserved personal and public records,
which are now read with interest by all
who desire to study the history of the
times.
A CURIOUS INSTANCE.
The earliest autobiography written in our
language is that of Lord Herbert, who died
in 164S, being then 81. He was prom
inent man in court and camp, and held sew
eral important stations, in which he won
high honor. His latter days were devoted
to the preparation of his memoirs, which
he left for posthumous publication. The
civil wars, however, prevented this.
Charles First was beheaded the following
year, and then came a series of national
changes which impaired the progress of
literature, and Herbert's MSS. lay in neg
lect. A century posed by, and yet the
authors plan had not been carried out. At
| last Horace Walpoles attention was called
to the work. He was a man of wealth,
and being a protested virtuOS0 in literature
and art, had established private printing
press at his residence. The latter, which
| has long been famous as "Strawberry Hill, "
was located near the Thames, few miles
from London, and contained a unique col
lection of curiosties Here Walpole printed
HerbeTt's memoirs 116 years after after the
4 death of their author. Such a delay has
never before occurred in the history OF lit
| erature.
THE SONNET.
Speaking Of ancient literature one Is led
to refer to this style Of poetry, which
reached perfection in Millions hands, and
then fell into neglect until the days Of
Wordsworth, who presented 1t in all its
dignity. The bard of Rydal Mount indeed
was 30 pleased with this measure that he
thus made use of 1t to express his admira'
ton Of its value
| - With this key
| Shakespeare unlocked his heart; the melody
or this small lutte gave ease to Petrarch's
A thousand times this pipe did Tasso sound.
| Camoens soothed with IL an exiles grief,
The sonnet glitiered gay myrtle leaf
| Amid the cypress with which Dante crowned