, 1881-04-24
THOMAS CARLYLE.
Translated bu r. O. R.*sr.l tram tie French n G.
IuiLtrt IN the Irrut dies Deur -Mytdes " AuTch,

I"ibtrt In The Isrrus dts Dtur -Myndes of March,
ISL
PART T.
On the 9Th Of February, 1881, there died at
Chelsea, in the suburbs OF London. all Eli
glish, or rather q Scotch, writer who had ell
tered lis seth year. His task had been long
completed. Some men of genius possess the
gift OF immortal youth, the precious faculty
Of lneta1norpllosis, and Of unexpected uevel-
oplnent; experience makes them wise; they
rpen without becoming old, and thus as it
were cliange their lives many times. Thomas
Carlyle exhibited his full powers in his first
books, and since then he has scarcely
added to the stock of IDEAS which 1t:
acquired i'll his youth. Itmay be said that lie
ou1Iiyeu his genius. and that nothing would
be deducted from his fame if the writing Of
his later years were entirely suppressed.
Still Ills death has created q sensation in
England; his splendid services are reuen-
bcre., as are also the influence of his charac-
ter aud the purity OF his life. lie has been
la,nented as il in the beginning Of his career
But lattcrly that once eloquent tongue spoke
only to repeat itself; and it generally hap
pens that in repeating thought it is either
strained or spoiltd; yet it is right that the
people should honor the man who has hoN-
orcd them, and i'll consideration Of past serv-
ices tu pardon the errors Of Old aye.
From 1895 to IsCO there was not 4 more re-
markaule literary man in England than Car
lyle; none possessed more influence or chi
pire over mems minds. He was 1T the same
time writer, historian, and a thinker; is
Il writer he was admired and held sway; as L
historian he was largely read; he was the
centre of Il literary circle, and Ills disciples
regarded him us an oracle. But if it be true
that an author ought to have as many differ
ent styles H. he has subjects, Carlyle was
certainly not a great writer. His style was
always the same; it belonged solely to I,inl-
self; it was simply Carlyc's. He brought
into every subject the same style and tone;
even the same accent and oratorical gesture,
for he gesticulateu much. Ilc was proliiSal
of exclamation and absurd figures Of speech.
No matter what lie spoke about he mounted
tie rostruln; lie ranted, and, with forehead
cuvcloped in cloud outof which shot light
nings,-full Of the god that agitated hin. lle
stamped and stor1ned like 4 sybil. When
one has read Il good deal Ut Carlyle, It Is q
tairc; the syLiIs art frequently admirable,
but they affect us roo l.1Uch and we soon tire
Ut their gesti:ulatln@ elouucnce:
Neither was Carlyle Il great historian. One
cannot study his CROMWELL hls " History
Of the French Revolution or his 'Frcl-
cric!s the treat" without ginning 4 great
deal Of profit: but that which constitutes
tI,e historian is the desire tD understand all,
and t. be void Of prejudice; but Carlyle
cared less to understand titan to lallu wtlat-
Whatever tic ,iisliked. liz has not given The
history Of Cromwell, he has deIiicd him; nc
las not explained tile French Revolution. he
las sung il OF his Tyre, and bus introduced
nr;tzvn chord that ein!1s sllabolicAi souhdS.
When WE get craZcd with. this Music, sol!li;-
times lleayeiliy and sometimes Internal,
which flies to the head and attacks the nerves,
VIZ experience Il singular pleasure III reading
a few chapters Of Thucydltlcs; it IS Il saio-
tary both that Gains the senses ana sets tllc
'.. mi1 1t tDs rust: v{sor ea's'en sd " iberaty ty
Of Of" his .ie ideas: CARLYLE was not
!: great thinker. lie proclaimed great truths,
but often m:tle nonsehsc "f then: IN hl5
reasoning anu in his nonsense tlleIS ; Wa1 Ia a
was the first to discover the greatness ot
Germany in literature. and the discovery
titled him with clthnslasin,-|'Illnsed NH nm
into long Transports OF JOY. lie Imagined
tlMt profound and salilme thousn{s H. wetf ,i
like current coins III tic country that li2a
rrouuccu Schiller, Goethe. Fichte. and ile5el,
and that one had only II stoup ~ gather
them. On arriving At Il yl!la@: in Elsiorauo;
Candid saw boys playing qnolts, anu hot1ced
with surprise that t!ielI Ilolt9 nGic loP"]to'
r.,bes, aud cHeral,ls; tie W;ts stu! more sur
pr;srd to learn thar these cnleralds anu ruDlcs
ty.r;. u,ftl far paving the country roads. Car
iylc was as much :,sionlsied as Candid and
brought into England so,1.c Of the precious
stu,,es which llc had gathered in lis I'ereEri-
nations through Gcrmaay., lie sgt them and
rnshri,eti tllen1 beautifully. and they were
Greatly admired. Eut if hi. borrowed from
German, philosophers sotne OF their most Sc
tluct;yr thoughts, solnc of their lisust subtle
thcories, lie failed to learn from them thGt
art Of which they are masters, ana wnl'n
consists in tracing from principles all thelf
consequences, in deducins ideas from one