Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-10-12
CHAT ABOUT BOOKS.

Life OF Carlyle, dealing as they do with
Carlyle in London are naturally by far the
most interesting of this remarkable biogra,
ply. 1t was not only that Carlyle then
really began his life among men, but that
his second half Of the story covers all his
greatest work. There are passages in these
volumes more absorbing in their personal
interest than any even in the description OF
his first forty years of struggle many Of the
most important are revelations Of the man
in the midst fthe work by which we know
him best. Many readers will remember the
glimuses given in the "reminiscences OF
the terrible trial brought upon him by the
burning OF the French Revolution manu-
script. In the forthcoming volume the
story is told, chiefly in his own words, OF the
rewriting of the book.
I'm ten days" writes Mr.. Froude, The
had made substantial progress, though with
immense difficulty Still, it was and re-
manned the most uugrateful task he had
ever undertaken But he felt he was get,
ting on with it, and recovered his peace OF
mind. He even began to be interested
again in the subject itself, which had be-
come for the time entirely distasteful to him,
and to regret that he could not satisfy him
self better in his treatment of it. Notwith-
standing his defence of his style to Sterling,
he wished the skin was less rhinoceros-
like"
journal.
JulV L., lS35.-The book ! do honestly
apprehend, will never be worth almost any
thing. What deliverance, however, mere
" to have done with it! This is almost my
only motive now. detest the task, but am
bounded into it by feelings still more detest-
able lam all wrong about it in my way OF
setting it forth, and cannot mend myself. |
think often have mistaken my trade. That
of style gives me great uneasiness. So
many persons, almost everybody that speaks
to ne, objects to my style as too full of
meaning. Had it no other fault! sell
dom read in any dud of book, novel or
he like where the writing seems to flow
along like talk Certainly not too full
without a certain pain, certain envy. Ten
pages of that were easier than sentence
or paragraph of mine; and yet such is the.
result What to do? To write on the best
one can, get the free'st, siucerest possible
utterance, taking in all guidances toward
that putting aside with best address all
misguidances Truly feel like one that
was bursting with meaning, that had no
utterance for it, that would and must get
one-a most indiscribably uneasy feeling,
were it not for the hope.
Gradually the story which he was engaged
in telling got possession of him again. The
terrible scenes of the Revolution seized his
Imagination, haunting him rs he walked
about the streets. London and its giddy
whirl of life, that too might become as
Paris had been. All! and what was it all
but pageant passing from darkness into
darkness?
The world Che said in these weeks looks
often quite spectral to me- sometimes, as in
Regent street the other night (my nerves
being all shattered), quite hideous discord
ant, almost Internal | had been at Mrs.
Austin's, heard Sidney Smith for the frat
time guffawiug, other persons prating, jar
coming. To me through these thin cobwebs
Death and Eternity safe glaring. Coming
homeward along Regent street, through
street walkers, tbrough-1cb GOtN I'M
speakable pity swallowed up unspeakable
adherence Of it and of myself The moon
and the serene nightly sky in Sloane street
consoled me little. Smith, a mass of fat
and muscularity, with massive Roman nose,
piercing hazel eyes, huge cheeks shrewd-
ness and fun, not humor or even wit, SEEM
ipgly without soul altogether. Mrs. Mar
cet Unlocking, honest, rigorous, common
place The rest babble, babble. Woes
me that in Meshech am To work.
Amid such "spectral" feelings the writing
Of the French Revolution went on BY
August 10th Carlyle was within sight of the
end of the unfortunate volume which had
cost him so dear and could form notion
of what he had done. His wife, an excel.
lent Judge, considered the second version
better than the first Carl vie himself
thought it worse, but not much worse; at
any rate, he was relieved from the load, and
could look forward to finishing the rest.
Sometimes he thought the book would pro-
duce an effect; but he had hoped the same
from "Sartor,' and he did not choose to be
sanguine second time. On September
23d he was able to tell his brother that the
last line of the volume was actually written,
that he was entirely exhausted, and was
going to Annandale to recover himself
~
Royal Love" is the title Of Wilkie Col
Inns new story.
~
A new edition of Wirt's life of Patrick
Henry" is in the press.
~
Mr.. Hamerton's new book, Human In
tercourse," is dedicated Ito the memory Of
Emerson
~
Mr.. +. I. Palgrave's selections from
Keats will form the next volume Of the de-
tachable Golden Treasury series.
~
Mr.. George Ticknor Curtis contributes to
the November Century" paper on How
Shall we Elect our Presidents"
~
Judge Tourgees book on American illit-
efdCy, Cdltu m appear W Sctoali VIII Oc
published by Fords, Howard and Hurlbert
shortly.
~
"a Narragansett Christina" is the title
Of the book of stories which Rev. Edward
Everett Hale has prepared for the coming
holidays.
~
Mr.. Abbey and Mr. Reinhsrdt have made
some delightful sketches for Mr.. Brsuder
Matthews new editions Of the famous Sheri
dan comedies.
~
Mr.. Bentley has just published the late
Charles Reade's last novel, "a Perilous
Secret" Mr.. Resde's American publish
ers issued the book many weeks ago.
~
A magnificent holiday edition of the play
of Romeo and Juliet" illustrated by pho
togrsvures from original drawings by Frank
Dicksee, is announced BY Cassell 4 Co.
~
One of the most important biographical
works now in press in England is the "Vin
dication of the late Dowsger Lady Lytton,"
with extracts from her autobiography,