Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-03


faith that was dominant He believed
with all his soul in unbclief. There are
striking points of likeness between the
two men, however, in their ways of eX-
pressing themselves. GordOn's diary scin-
tillates with the same sharp, bitter, I'M
sparing spirit of criticism and cavll which
marks the writings of Carlyle. The two
men are agreed in not believing in one
thng-the sincerity and honesty Of their
fellowmep. Gordon spares not the civil,
the military or the social institutions with
which he was more Immediately connected.
Carlyle welded broader blade, but not
more keen. Gordon's style of writing,
too while lackir, the sublime swing and
power Of CARLYLE Is the same unstudied
IRREGULAR, sometimes iICoherent style
witch marks he writings of the Scottish
cynic BDtn men seem to have over much
! to say in little space and time, and both,
! to pour out their observations in torrent
| and tumble of language that almost hides
the THOUGHT itself, but is full of nervous
expressions. if one can follow the clue
running through it all. As an illustration
of Gordon's fnagmcntary, and yet strong
and picturesque style of writing, take the
| following extract:
must say | am against doctors. If Il
man is sulcriu- intense pain and is in Il
more or less desperate condition, ! would
| give as much morphine as would still that
| pain. There is nothing like civil war
to show what skunks men are. one of
my greatest worries is the Shaggyeh, who
are continually feathering toward me or
| the Mahdi. | expect both sizes desplse
them equally. If in two DAYS find the
news correct that the Mahdi is still in
Kordofan | shall let out all of the political
prisoners, which will shock the townspeo-
pie, but VIII be true JOY and delight to
me, for it has been work utterly lepug
nant to me. | like free will. ! hate Il
forced subsection and feel sure that tc
let those people out with free will to go tc
the Arabs or not, will be good policy.
must say that feel it great compliment
when my counsellors say to me: "Dc
what you think right irrespective of oul
advice when they know am ignorant
of all that goes on, ignorant OF the Arabic
| language, except in my style, ignorant OF
the Arab custom, etc, etc. "1 on Will dl
better than we do, is what they say, anc
|, poor devil do not know where to turn
Oh, our government. our government
what has it not to answer for? Not to me
but to these poor people. | declare, If
thought the town wished the Mahdl,
would give it up, so much do respec
free will.
Gen. Gordon was man of great person
al resource and influence, rs are all mel
of Astounding and lofty faith, but h'
was weak in accomplishment. HI
was II hero, but not finally Il vic
tor. 1t was noble, a brave, yes, al
heroic thing to stay at khartoum long af
ter his mission had failed, or ut least, wa
finished so far as it could he by his person
al efforts but was it wise, a soldierly
Il reasonable thing to do He might have
escaped but with that unreasonable
stubbornncss, that blind faith in the i'm
probable, not to say the impossible, whicl
characterized his whole life, he stayed an,
met his fate The world can probaDl.
gain few positive lessons from the perusa
of this mans autobiography, but it can a
least gain one negative lesson-of the fol
ly of fanaticism.