The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-18
cARLYLE's "REMINISCENCES. =

Nowadays the engrossing topic in literary
circles is the "reminiscences OF Thomas Car
lyle, as edited by James Arshony Froude.
Generally these "reminiscences are unpopu-
lar They don't please. Why? Does Mr..
Carlyle bear false witness against the living
and the dead? Did he write falsehoods and
preserve falsehoods to be published only
after death? Thomas Carlyle hardly de-
serves such verdict If then he told the
ruth why denounce him when the truth is
made public? 1t is said "to the honor and
glory of Thomas Carlyle that "he con-
tended without ceasing for what he termed
the dynGn'ieal energy of the human
soul, IN opposition to the tendencies of a
mechanical age. His whole work was an
indignant protest against the materialism of
modern science, and an assertion of the
spiritual dignity and duty of man. he
poured forth torrent of scOrn and INJECT
i've against the vulgar passions and motives
which degrade society; he poured forth in
a perpetual anthem his veneration for the
higher powers to which he attached all that
is noble, heroic, dutiful and true in human
life" Hence, we conclude that Thomas
Carlyle's "reminiscences are truthful,
and to this prominent and all-per-
vading feature Mr. FrOudes book
chiefly owes its unpopularity. A contem-
pOrary refers to numerous instances in the
"Reminiscences where people are harshly
criticised, and adds: ITO us Americans, it
seems very strange that the British public
should be so much disturbed about the
"reminiscences. especially that they should
be surprised at their quality. Carlyle was
always unamiable, bitter, cynical in the
extreme, and why they should expect him
to be benevolent, generous, and sentimental
in his recollection of men and things is past
diyining. One might think from their in
tense feeling on the subject that he had
been, in life, one of the mildest gentlest
and tenderest of men. If the volume of
"Reminiscences had contained anything
very different from what it does, there
would have been good reason for doubling
its cenuineneSs. TohavesuppressedC arlyle's
injustice and downright bad temper would
be equal to ignoring the man." Thomas
Carlyle was always bold enough to speak
the ruth, and never in the worlds history
so much as now have Thomas Carlyles been
in demand Never had sham such an army
of devotees. 1t is said that Lincoln, when
told that Grant had drank too much whisky
at the time of various battles where brilliant
victories we're gained, inquired particularly
as 10 the brand, and where the whisky could
be had, as he wanted several other Generals
10 have a supply on hand when battles were
to be fought. 1t is said that Carlyle, when
he wrote his "reminiscences, was the victim
OF dyspepsia, but it is not said that the dis
ease, however violent the attacks, ever inhu-
enced him te lie-to whitewash sham or to
decorate villainy in the costume of virtue.
II may not be required at all times
10 speak. Silence is sometimes golden.
But when circumstances do require utter
ance, the truth should be told, and he who
withhOlds it is something worse than a
coward. If dyspepsia helps to boldness, if
il invigorates veracity, if it wars against
mendacity, if it exalts virtue and dethrones
vice, then the world is in need of more dys-
persia.