The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-10
JANE WELSH CARLYLE'S
LOVE STORY.
A Woman's Views.

The publicity given to Jane Welsl
CArlyle's life, since her death, cal
only be equaled by the seclusion AM
retirement OF that life while she wa
living it. She was then as unknown
TO fame as she is now known, for M
sooner had the grim Carlyle Dreathet
his last than every one who eve
knew them rushed into print with
their "reminiscences, TO which b,
added his own, very much OF which
wac the twaddle Of remorheful ole
man, approaching. when only to-
late, the woman who had frightened
bis home for half century.
Save the story OF Charles and Mary
Lamb, there is no more pathetic life
history in English literature than tina
OF Thomas Carlyle and his wife. JanC
Welsh was the petted and only daugh
ter Of a Scotch physician. who boasteC
OF the family blue blood. and who hac
ample means to live life of ease ant
elegance. Jane was pretty, vivaciou'
child, land a still more attractive wo.
mar, who added the piquancy of vii
and nossmsll learning to beautiful
face and pleasing manner. She wal
too, bit of f1irt, and enjoyed I'M
mensely the signing swains who made
love to their sweetheart's eyebrow, in
the approved Shakesperian style.
None of her admirers succeeded in
winning her favor. It was only after
meeting Edward Irving that che felt
the depths of her heart stirred.
Now came the first grief of her life,
the death OF her father, to whom she
was deVotedly attached. The shock
and her grief made serious iDroads on
a not overly strong constitution. To
the end OF her life she only spoke of
him at rare intervals, in sacred,
hushed way, which told of the rever
entail love with which she cherished
hissmemory.
After this grief she was instiuctively
drawn to Irving, who had been her
tutor and was noG her lover, in fact,
but with serious obstacle OF being
aftianCed to another woman, in the
way of declaring himself. He lid
however, tell his love, and won the
confession from Jane Welsh that abe
loved him in return. but she honor
ably told him that he must first win
the consent OF his betrothed 70 q sew
GRANGE Of their engagement. But a
Scotch betrothal is as sacred as a
Jewish one, and means something
more than is ordinarily received bY
English or American society. The
young lady refused to absolve Irving
from his promise, even after she
heard that he loved another, and Jane
Welsh was too proud to accept a
lover, however willing he might be to
come, with plighted troth broken.
so Jane Welsh and Irving parted.
though not before he had introduced
10 her Thomas Carlyle. This was
really the only love of Jane Welsh's
life. The only spontaneous flow of
affection. and the depth Oft can be
Judged by the fact that she never
mentioned her love affair with Irving
% Carlyle, till on the eve of her mar
'lage tc him. The knowledge of il
almost broke of their engagement. It
'ame about in ascarious way, II
eems that Irving had told the ro-
nance OF his life to Mrs. Basil Mon.
ague, who, imagining Miss Welsh
o be plning away, wrote her letter
n terms which aroused her pride and |
Indignation. She replied that as far
rom being broken.bearted she was |
u the eve OF marrying Thomas Car. |
yle, to whom she was dey0tedly at. |
aohed. This letter decided her Wsy. |
ring fancy and hasteued her mar
iage with Carlyle, which had been |
by poverty and pride as well |
q the paF5 OF Carlyle, who positively
sfused to live with her mother, which |
Towld have been SO plea ant 10 the
aughter,as we'll as more economical
II all parties, but concentrating an
lcome which divided would poorly
rovlde Tor two households,
Here ie where Jane Welsh made
er fatal mistake. There ought neysr
have been marriage between her
nd Carlyle. They were the two on
osite poles of the magnet. She was
patrician birth, fond of society.
roud, sentative and accomplished.
-e was OF the yeomsnry of Scotland.
nd accustomed to the hard life Of its
esk hills; he had no sympathy With
ne lady arts, was not social. wss
i'm, sven In his humor, vas dlcto.
al ana thickskinned, believing most
ndoubtedly in Carlyle. and scarcely
anything else. She married from
nbition, believing that CarlgIe
ould make his mark in the world
'elng his superiority to all around
n intellectually. Was there not
so the hops that closer union
build develop tenderness .snd love |
hieh would compensate her for "the
Iys that we're no more?' But {
n own vail in after years tells the
lie:
Said she to an intimate friend.
Married Carlyle from am bition, and !
has far surpassed all that I
O. hoped from him. yet am mis-
sble."
Had she remained unmarried. with
call on her time, she would haye
rned to literature, of which she
AZ very fond, for her lettsrs, disry
ID occasional poems all reveal the J