The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-08

istics inherited" from such mHiign Ancestors
Is those Just named.
Jane Welsh Carlyle.
In the two volumes Of Letters and Memori-
ais prepared by THOMAS CARLYLE and edited
by JAMES ANTHONY FRouDE tscribners). We
have q continuous narrative OF Mrs. CarlYles
life from the date OF the removal from Craigen-
puttock to Chelsea In 1884 until her death in
1866. The story OF her young WON anhood and
early married years has already boon related
In Mr.. Froude's account OF the FIRST forty years
OF her husband's career. The reader Of tho
former book learned to appreciate the accom-
plshed intellect and amiabls character OF
this remarkable woman. and hc obtained. toe.
some giimpses OF tho perpetual repression and
frequent trials which she underwent In tho
uncongenla. We had almost said the freezing.
atmosphere OF her husbands house. The i'm
pressions then made are confirmed and deep
ened by these letters and extracts from Mrs.
Carlyls's diary. although. the greater part Of
the notes recorded from day to dny having
boon destroyed by her own hand. we cannot
help inferring that more distressing revelA-
lions than any here made lay behind.
1t is impossible not to admire and love tho
woman disclosed to US in these letters. and.
although she preserves for tho most part .
noble reticenco touching the churlsh de-
meanor and pitiless egoism Of her husband.
We can hardly repress feeling OF scorn and
detestation for the man who. in the forvor Of
his preaching and prophecy forgot that insight
and sympathy and humanity and charity
should DO exercised at home. Secure a. il tho
position Of Carlyle the writer In the literature
Of the nineteenth century. the reputation Of
Carlyle the man vii! be irremedaby lowered
and darkened by the publication Of these
Volumes which lift the veil above his private
life and discover the coarse. unlovely. sel.sh
aspects Of his character. 1t will not be soon or
easily forgiven or forgotten that this mans
eye. which roamed 80 far In search Of the
KR6ldssiA JhEight apas. QysrlQaksd the gsnius
he who ransacked history for t-pes Of loyalty
and worth must be reproached with entertain
Ing an angel unawares. 1t is true that when
his heart was reused from its torpor by the
shock of irrevocablo loss no discovered too late
her large deserts and his own lamented short
comings. but the tardy awakening OF his sensi-
biitles Is far from atoning in the readers sight
for the obtuseness OF a lifetime. Yet we would
not fail TO recognize a certain magnanimity in
Carlyle's consent to tho publication Of these
memorials. The penitsnce was indeed sincere
which resolved to render his wife justice
although the act OF posthumous PREPARATION
could only be performed at the cost OF the es-
teem and generation with which in many quar-
ters no has been himself regarded.
Miss Jane Welsh was lady by birth and
breeding. who had been brought up in anu
ence. and was, indeed, a great belle at the time
whom. unhappily for her. sho fell in love with
Carlyle's intellect. 1t is easy to understand he
admiration which CarIyle's writings would kin
die in the breast OF highly cultivated. warm
hearted. and high minded woman but Carlyle
tho husband proved to be. In an almost brutal
and unde ninbly Offep sive aenao IA ua una
as his wife knew when she married him. the
son Of peasants. but that surely was no reason
why he should himself remain n peasant all
his days: much less did the meanness OF his
birth and the shabbness of his early surround
tnRs justify him In condemning n delicateIy
nurtured lady to the lot OF peasants wife. 1t
will appear sufficiently evident in the course
OF the extracts We purpose making from
these letters that 1t was not poverty Of which
Mrs. Carlyle had most reason to complain but
the churs refusal to tighten it by considerable
words and acts. Indeed we shall observe that
whom the season OF pecuniary embarrassment
was over. and when Carlyle WAS able to find
plenty OF money for his own frequent excur-
sions. he virtually compelled the high-brsd
woman who would have adorned a palace to
spend whole day mending one OF his old
boots in order to save the outlay OF q shilling
or two upon the cobbler. This sort OF thing
was the price Mrs. Carlyle had to pay for the
privilege OF reading Sartor Resartus" In the
proof sheets.
or the priyations to which this lady. brought
up in refinement and opulence was subjected
for many years after she came to live In the
small house at Chelsea We find In these letters
many indications. due. however. manifestly to
inadvertencs and not to design Thus. writing
In November. 1884. to Carlyle's mother. she
0ava. Tho weather In vrnwn hnrril,v oold
and am chiefly intent at present on getting
my winter wardrobe into order. l have made
mp the old black gown (which was dyed puce
for me at Dumfries) with my own hands 1t
looks twenty per cent. better than when it was
now and shalt got no other this winter.
am now turning my pelisss." But shabby
clothing. though no slight tribulation to o
charming woman, was the least Of her crosses
What she most pinned for was little sunshine
In tho house-a touch Of tender difference. Of
chivalrous consideration. How egrsgiously
ana pers!stently sho was snubbed In her
own household and even In the pres
encs Of her husbands visitors. may be
inferred from the pathetic eagerness with
which she thanks John Sterling for his cour-
tosy in enclosing little note to her In letter
to Carlyle. You did kindly" she says e. to
send the little separate note. The least bit
all to myself as the children say. was sure to
give me livelier pleasure than any number Of
sheets in which had but n secondary interest
FOR in spite Of the honestest efforts to annihil-
ate my Lefty. or merge It In what the world
doubtless considers my better half still find
myself aself-subeisting and. alas! self see king
me. Little Felix. in the wandsriahre.' when
in tho midst OF an animated scene between
Wilhelm and Theresa, he pulls Theresss gown
and calls out: Mamma Theresa. I. too. am
hersr only speaks out with the charming
truthfulness Of little child what am perpet-
ually foslinG. though too SOPHISTICATED to pull
peoples skirts or exclsim In so many words
Mr.. Sterling !. too. am heroH"
Here again. 10 n Significant passage In a let-
| ter written by Mrs.. Carlyle TO her husband In