The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15
Same Fact. or Thaekeray'. Life.

The latest number OF MoRLEY's series en-
titled English Menof Letters Ia we'll nigh certain
10 secure more readers than any OF its predecos-
sors. 1t purports TO offer biographical sketch |
and critical estimate OF one Of tho greatest mas
ters OF modern fiction, by writer who is him |
self successful. II not a remarkable. novelist.
We do not propose to notice at this time Mr.. !
TRoLLoPE's analysis Of Thackeray's genius be-
cause the biographer. however honest or even
fervent in his admiration, scarcely seems to us
qualified either by Insight or sympathy to fix
Thackeray's place In literature On this head
we will merely mention that the author OF Van
ity Fair" is here rightly characterized as the ono
competent upholder since Fielding of unninch-
ing realism in English narrative. although tho
divergence OF his point OF view from that
Of lola. for example. Is not described. But II
has been Mr.. Trolope's privilege to acquire
much Information relating to Thackeray's pri-
vate life. a subject about which curios ity has
been quckened by tho novelist's reluctance to
take the public into his confidence. Indeed. hs
is understood to have enjoined his daughters
not to suffer anything in the nature OF a per-
sonal memoir to be written. The instructions
have been so far carried out that no extended
record OF his life has ever been prepared. and
tho present sketch is much the fullest in
respect Of incident and anecdote. We propose
to glance very briefly at such OF these details as
may have peculiar interest and Significance for
the readers OF his works.
William Makepeace Thackeray was born at
Calcutta in 1871, and was therefore about fifty
two years old when he died very suddenly in
his bed on tho morning Of Christmas Day 1863.
His father and grandfather were Indian civil
servants, his mothers father likewise having
been in the companys employment. That he
was sent rs a child to the Charter House school
he, -.
College. Cambridge. at the age Of eighteen. He
seems 10 have remained only twelvemonth ut
the university, and there is no reason to believe
| that his studies there were very serviceable to
| him. He made his first literary venture, how
ever. at Cambridge. in n little periodical which,
curiously enough. was called The Snob."
| These were some burlesque lines on the sub
| jet Timbuctoo." given out for the Chancellor's
| prize. which. by the way Tennyson carried on
| Mr.. Trollope sees some good fun In these
verses. though to us they seem quite dull From
| Cambridge tho young man went abroad. and
| spent the next two years between Weimar and
| Paris. Here he studied drawing. but. IA is well
| known. never learned TO draw correctly. though
! his delineations were striking enough ia their
own way. In 1892 he came Of age. and inher-
| tied some money. not by any means a great
fortune. as has sometimes been affirmed. but
about five hundred pounds n year. all OF which.
interest and principal slipped through his
hands in a year or two. Some went In an In
dian bank In which no had made investments.
portion was lost at cards. and the rest was
sunk in an endeavor TO float n newspaper. by
1896 his last penny was gone. and rs
he found 1t impossible to earn any
thing by his pencil. he took up ltera-
turc rs a profession. beginning as an occasional
correspondent from Paris OF London journal.
little later he was connected for a time with
! the Times newspaper. though his work there.
Mr.. Trollope thinks. did not amount TO much.
His first regular employment was on Erdze''s
Magazine. when DIR. MaEinn was editor. and
Carlyle tho most notable OF tho contributors.
Even now the battle Of life did not 20 smoothly
all that he wrote was not taken. and all that
was taken was not approved. The Great Hog
garty Diamond" for instance. was not much
thought Of in tho office, and the writer was
called upon to shorten il. For ten or twelve
years. indeed. during which he eked out his
existence by contributions 10 Frazer and 20
lunch. though no steadily grew in the
esteem OF his own profession by the ex-
quisite quality Of his work, his social
status was insecure-in other words his
existence was that OF a literary Bohemian
During this prolonged term Of obscurity. and
precarious II not actually stinted gains Charles
Dickens. younger man. was accepted bY all
were widely read in England rs those OF
Shakespeare. 1t was at this epoch that Thack-
cray married the daughter OF n Col. Shave by
which union he had three daughters OF whom
only the eldest. now Mrs. Richmond Richie
survives. His married life was grievously I'M
happy, though the misery WAS In no wise due
to human fault His wife lost her mind, was
taken away from him after few years Of
welded companionship. and has since been
dOmiciled with lady with whom she has been
comfortable. From the mass of matter pro-
duced by Thackeray between the years
1856. only part has been culed for
republication in his collected works Among
tho writings. not otherwise perpetuatcd
and for which the reader must turn to the files
Of FrdSsT and Pulch. may be cited the Box Of
Novels by Titmarsh. -" The Wanderings Of Our
Fat Contributor. and Tltmarsh In tho Picture
Galleries" In 1916 was commenced in num-
bers the novel OF Vanity Fair" which frst
made known his name to the world at large.
From this time Thackcray became one OF the
personaGcs in literary society. In tho January
number o. 1913 the Edinburgh Rerie1o printed a
very audatory article (sad to have been writ
ton by Abraham Hayward on the works OF the
new novelist. He had plenty Of friends now.
but among those who had boon helpful In the
days OF his struGglings he was fond of citing
three. viz. Matthew Higgins. or Jacob Omnium
MS he WAS more popularity called; William Ster-
ling. anerward Sir William Maxwell. aud the
American partner in the house OF Barring
Russell SmrRis. Henceforth Thackeray went
out great deal but he never shone in general
society. He WAS not man to be valuable at a
dinner table as agood talker II was only when
there wero two or three together that he would
come out Of his shell. and then it would rather
be with some occasional piece Of drollery than
in the lively discussion OF ordinary topics
Although his standing as y man of letters after
1913 was quite assured. he was not satisfied
with his position, and underworld to secure
; for himself permanent income in the public
service. Lord Clanricarde tried to get him the
, situation OF Assistant Secretary of the Genera
Post ONCE, but the attempt failed. Mr.. TrollopC
thinks success would have ruined Thackeray
: but for our part. Wa cannot 500 why he like
! Charles Lamb and others could not have com.
, bined the functions Of a sinecure with literary
pursuits. What Is more curious Is the effort asC
frutless. 10 obtain the Secretaryshipo OF Legation
at Waahin-ton. All Thuckerays endeayors L
reach competence hy the short and ens y roa,
opened to mon far less worthy. ali miscarrled