The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-08

patrOne death In l69y. An inmate OF the mousse
hold-Esther Johnson-whose mother had been
servant or companion to Temples sister was
15.years old when he returned from his brief
clerical experience in ireland. This young
woman, who was afterward to figure AZ Stella
In Swift's correspondence is described by him
at this time ms having grown In perfect health.
and as being looked upon as ono Of the most
beautiful, graceful and agreeable young women
in London. Her hair was backer than u raven.
and every feature in her face in perfection"
Her conduct and character were equally re-
markabe II we may trust the tutor who taught
her to write. guided her education. and came to
regard her with an affection which was ut once
the happiness and the misery OF hiebife
Temple left his amanuensis f100. the advan-
tnge OF publishing his posthumous works.
which might bring him in f2OO moro and a
promise Of prefernont from the King which
was never fulfilled. But although Swift was
disappointed in his expectation Of u settlement
in life commensurate with what he had lost by
giving up his Irish prebend. he loft Temples
house trained intellectual athlete. and the
author OF one OF the most remarkable satires
ever given to tho world. Tho Tale Of a Tub
was written about 1896 and the Battle OF the
Books" o year later: but 1t is o curious proof
OF Swfts Indifference to literary reputation
that both works remained in Manuscript until
1704. The Battle OF tho Books" which con-
stitutes Swifts contribution to the famous con-
troversy as to the relative merits Of the an
clients and the moderns. Is considered by Mr..
Stephen the best example OF that rather dreary
form OF wit the travesty. Swift's power Is GER
tainy much moro conspicuous in the Tale OF
Tub" johnson. who cherished q stubborn
prejudice against Swift. recognized in
this performance such vigor of
mind. such swarm OF thought. 30
much OF nature. and art and life." that he ex-
pressed perfectly groundless doubt whether
Swift could have written 1t. Mr. Stephen
thinks that although the Tale OF . Tub has
certainly not achieved . reputation equal to
that Of "Gullivers Travels" yet there is this
much TO be said In favor OF Johnsons theory.
viz. that Swft's style reaches its highest point
In the earlier work. Swift seems to have felt
this himself. for In the twilight Of his intellect
he was seen turning over the pages and MUIR
muring TO himself: Good God. what genius
l had whom wrote that bookr' 1t may here
be mentioned that the "Talo OF n Tub"
though 1t caused Swift's services as . satrist
to be In great request. led to many doubts Of
his orthodoxy. and even OF his Christianity. II
was the insinuation of such doubts to Queen
Anne by Archbisphop Sharpe which injured
Swifts chances OF q bishopric. The author
bitterly resented the imputation and affixed
to a later edition an apology. which has been
generally accepted by critics. But Mr.. Stephen
manifsstly inclnes TO the opinion that the OBJ
iections to Swift's orthodoxy and fitness for
high preferment in the Church wereiwell taken.
Swift as we have said. gained nothing by
King Williams promise to Temple. but. going
over to Ireland as secretary aud chaplain to
Lord Berkeley he obtained three small livin9s
and prsbend In the Cathedral OF St. Patrick.
which together made up a revenue OF about
1850 year. But the duties which devolved upon
him in his capacity Of pluralist could not keep
Swift from London. and during the ten years
succeeding 100 he seems to have passed over
four in England. 1t was during this period
that he became intimate with Addison. who
| pronounced the author of "A Tale Of Tub"
the greatest genius Of his age" The friend
ship formed by the pair proved. in spite Of
Popes satire. that each could enjoy the society
Of an Intellectual equal. That man." said
Swift once speaking of Addison. has virtue
enough to give reputation to an age;" and
| although political strife led to a complete
| breach with Steele. and temporary eclipse Of
familiarity with Addison 1t never diminished
| Swift's affection for the latter. Mr.. Stephen
cites IN interesting proof of the mutual good
| will which Is afforded by the history OF one OF
Swift's travesties-" Baucis and Philemon" In
this. it seems. Addison made his friend blot out
eighty lines. add eighty. and alter eighty.
| though the whole consisted Of only 178 verses.
| On this and other occasions Swift showed COM
| plete freedom from loneliness OF authorship.
There was nothing petty even In his egotism.
and. as lie himself said. he was too proud to
| be vain.
As is we'll known Swift got nothing but the
deanery Of st. Patrick's by the great services
rendered to Harley and st. John in the politi-
| cal campaign which overthrow Marlborough and
the Wings. though it is probable enough that
| he would have won u bishopric in the end but
| for the unexpected death of Queen Anne. and
| the consequent ruin of Bolingbroke. During
! the remainder OF his life Swift spent most of
| his days In the discharge of his ecclesiastical al
duties at Dublin. Here he encountered epis-
copal authority with his old pugnacity, and
bade an encroaching Bishop remember that he
| was speaking to O clergyman. and not to q foot
man. In one OF his satires he describes Satan
as the Bishop to whom the rest of the Irish
| Bench were sufragans. His theory. repeatedly
| and elaboratoly developed. was that the Eng
| lish Government always appointed admirable
divines. but that. unuckily. all the new Bishops
| were murdered ON Hounslow Heath by high
waymen. who took their robes and patents. and
so usurped the Irish sees In his deanery, on
the other hand. Swift comported himself with
despotic benevolence. He faithfully per-
formed the services. carefully criticised
young preachers got his musical friends
to help him In regulating his choir. looked
| sedulously after the cathedral repairs,
and improved the revenues at the cost OF his
own interests. 1t was observed that. in spite
OF his avarlcc. he would give five pounds more
easily in charity than richer men would give as
many shillings. With the first five hundred
pounds which he possessed he formed a fund
for granting loans 10 industrious tradesmen, to
be repaid by weekly installments. and it is said
that by this scheme he had been the means OF
| putting more than two hundred families In a
comfortable way Of living To personal de-
pendents he was equally liberal. giving one an
annual stipend Of twenty pounds and another
an annuity Of hfty-two pounds. which no made
the recipient believe was not gift. but the
produce Of fund for which he was trustee
These facts show that his o-caed avarice was
not inconsistent with unusual munihcence
and justify the judgment passed by Mr.. Stephen
upon his conduct in regard to money matters
that -" Swift pared his personal expenditure to
| tha nuicl n that ha naioht be- rich hut III nj