The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-05-12
CARLYLE at Home.

1t was generally in the evening, says
writer in The London NecS. ''that
Mr., Carlyle was surrounded by his
friends. Tea was the usual preliminary
and after it the philosopher-especi
| in later years-was accustomed to take
his seat, half reclining, on the floor, SO
that the bowl of his long clay pipe
might reach the neighborhood of the
fireplace and the fumes go up the CHM
ney. Then he would pour out his won
derful talk, which seemed to be of inn
measurable range and richness. It
mattered little what subject was sug-
gested. The Russian, the Italian, the
Frenchman or American who happened
to be his guest were sure to find that
here was one who could give them de-
tails about the history and literature of
their several countries which they had
never heard before. The present wri-
ter has known him to talk about birds
till one would have said he must have
passed his life in the study of ornithol-
ogy, until the next time he heard him
| discoursing about tea or coffee, or
words of myths-almost anything
when he would become aware that he
was in the presence of one who had
explored nearly every part of the world
he lived in to the farthest point. Not
less impressive than the matter was the
manner of his wonderful talk. Some
times his face would flame with the
wrath or earnestness which his subject
kindled, and his listener shrank as be-
fore a gathering storm; but it might be
that some droll aspect of the case would
suddenly catch his eye, and the storm
would burst in thunderous but not un-
musical laughter, or still oftener, some
delicate or tender association would
surprise his stormy path, and in a mo-
ment his voice would sink to the sweet
ness of a lutte. The tobacco-pipe always
seemed to be sign of the inward
workings of the sublime talker; it
would send out thick clouds, or quiet
blue curls, as its masters story or ar
gument grew vehement or gentle; but
it was sure to go out at nearly every
punctuation of his long sentences, and
to have to be relighted many times in
the course of the evening. Sometimes
in the summer twilight he would sit
with fellow-smoker in his garden,
and it might be on such occasions there
would be long meditative pauses-half
hours or more of absolute silence" The
extraordinary charm of his converse
tion and manner is known only to =
lCW. 1AO htto ~ StutOiy htStiNO SOotO~Sy
dignity and consideration for the feel
ings of others which, notwithstanding
some small defects of temper, must
have struck every one who approached
him. He was not at his best when he
was allowed to have all the conversation
to himself, for in such eases he talked
Gas was naturaD too much like his books
but when he was in company where
he was obliged to give and take he was
the most charming of takers. His
laugh was freedom and cordiality itself.
His humOr was at once so powerful and
so subtle that it seemed to exhaust the
matters on which it touched. His
shrewdness, especially i'll Judging Of
character from small Indications, was
extraordinary. He once denounced as a
scOundrel man of business who at the
time was in the best of repute, aud who
shortly afterward turned out to deserve
all that had been said against him.
''How," he was asked, ''did you find
him out, Mr.. Carlyle2'' ''Oh'' said he.
81 saw rogue i'll the twist of the false
hip of him rs he went out at that door. !"