Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-29
BETWEEN OURSELVES.

DrOugnL MS WIG, INTO YfVld rellef quite as
much by his senile gushing, as by the labored
history of herself and family. 4, The much de-
nounced work was intended to be a lugubrious
monument to Jane Welsh Carlyle, but in it's
inches there are hornets nests enough to fur
nish stings for generation or two, and the
worthy lady is lost sight of, while literary
fray is going on around her, which has no
parallel in any similar record with which the
English reading world is familiar.
AS if to intensity the disagreeable flavor Of
the book, it is averred that the actuating
spirit is remorse, which we are told has often
the same instincts as affection.
| Mrs. Oliphant in o recent number
| of MacAfillon's intimates that the Sage of
Chelsea neglected his dear Jane, and this ex-
traordinary memorial of uxorious regret is
| due to sentiment of remorse, which almost
invariably takes the form of an impassioned
wish for few moments of time to atone for
| some lapse of affection, some omission of
duty towards his buried partner who was
omitted from all his invitations to grand
houses, and felt the slight bitterly.
| Why, here we have q scribe of the eternal
verities Sinking his better half in his social
elevation like Tom Moore, Notwithstanding
her "soft invincibility, clearness of discern
ment, and noble loyalty of heart" No won-
der Mr.. Carlyle considered Lamb and his
stricken sister ''sorry pair of phenomena, D
| if only for their inseperableness, at home
| and abroad, pathetic and afectionate tie
which gentle Ella never dreamed of slackening
until death relieved him from the
most sorrowful and faithful charge that could
be given any human being to accomplish.
| AS far as Moore the poet is concerned
there is considerable explanation and palliation
of his apparent eoDjugal neglect, notwith-
standing the savage onslaught OF j. w. Gro
ker in the London Quarterly Review, where
Moore's memoirs, Journals and correspondence
were published, edited by Lord John Russell.
The poets "Sweet Bessie" as he always calls
her in this awfully analysed journal Of his,
was ballet dancer, and, in those days social
recognition such as that accorded to the ''poet
of all circles' was out of the question, when
| even the Kembles and Keans were grudgingly
conceded place al the tables of the titled and
distinguished, and when great singers like
Grisi and Pasta, charming the nobility and
gentry as Mrs. farley would say, were divided
| from the invited guests by silken cord.
Perhaps, too, Moore didn't wish to have his
wife encounter the ordeal of the "world OF
| London" to be snubbed, and wounded, and
patronized, and bedeviled in all the varied
phases of social torture. Probably the friend
ship and hospitality of the Landowners at
Bowood compensated for scores of greater or
lesser folk.
At all events, the quality Of few persons
in that admirable circle, where Mrs. Moore
had familiar entric-must have sufficed for
the Indifference or neglect of all the rest-for
twas of the best in England.
Every circumstance which hampered Thomas
Moore was reversed in the case of Thomas
CARLYLE. His wife was well-born, and her
father, DR.. John Welsh, of Haddington, Scot
land, could boast Of being descendant of
John Knox-if he wanted to claim
such fanatical friendship. His only
daughter had rare educational adj
vantages for any period in the worlds
progress, and to few minds she is quite as
memorable for having had Edward Irving as
her lover, as for being the wife of Carlyle.
| Irving afterwards became a marvel!ously
gifted preacher who rose on this aforesaid
'world of Sodom'' like glory-only to van
| ish after fuctuating interval, semi-ignomin-
iously into obscurity and death. Poor, sour,
and Numbering as these "reminiscences are
and inadequate as they seem regarded as de-
| liberate commemoration of Mrs. Carlyle, they
| are nevertheless valuable for the pen pictures
given of Irving and Leigh Hunt,-poor Hunt,
in whom another contemporary saw only the
qualities and peculiarities ont of which he
constructed Harold skimpole.
Indeed, Hunt is almost the sole individual
to whom praise is accorded for attractive man.
illness, and the impression given OF him is
thoroughly acceptable : which forms a
pleasant offset to some conflict
ing memories OF Hunt = from
his association with Byron in the publication
of periodical called the Liberal, down to the
grotesque presentment by Dickens in Bleak
House, which seems to have been pretty gen
orally recognized as embodying some of Hunts
characteristics.
Not so complete in wholly generous con-
cessions are Carlyle's memoranda of Irving.
1IdlsC uC SlfCo W tHC tttilS louuy1 iOouce ssuo
handsome young man, and admiration of his
brilliant mental gifts. But later there's a
bitter dash in the mention, while half con-
contemptuous affection and belittling flavor
interpenetrate all the description.
Could it arise from Irving's early relation to
his "dear Jane,'' when between teacher and
pupil the warmest affection subsisted, which
grew and strengthened with daily intercourse,
until Irving, in the warmth of his generous
heart, introduced a young man from Dumfries-
shire named Thomas Carlyle.
1t is to DE wondered whether "dear jane
ever regretted that Irving didn't speak for
himself, because it is certain that he always
loved his dear and lovely pupil. 1t is likewise
to be 9ueried whether it would have made any
difference in the fate of the magnetic preacher,
who drew such immense crowds to hear him
that ladies of rank sat on the steps of his pull
pit, ii his sweet and attractive pupil had
"unwearledly forwarded him." instead of the
man who had that sentence carved on her
tomb. That Interrogation echoes beyond
| time.
DeQuincey has written the finest, most COM
prehensive, and, alas, the most melancholy
| paper on Edward Irving, but it took friend
| to show him to the world a la Carlyle.
So, then, by contemporaneous testimony,
| Mrs. Carlyle was not only handsome woman,
but one admirably qualified Intellectually to