The sun., 1890-11-09


| sitlon always diluted some passages, and
abridged or omitted others; and personages
were rendered important or insignificant
not according to their agency in the original
conception OF the plan. but according to the
succsss, or otherwise, with which was able to
bring them out only tried to make that
which Was actually writing divertinR and IN
tsresting. leaving the rest TO fate. have been
often amused with the critics distinCuishlna
some passages as particularly labored. when
the rem passed over the whole - fast ~ II
could move. and the sye never again saw them,
except In proof Verse write twice and
sometimes three times over. This may be
called In Spanish the Dar donde diers mode Of
composition, In English hab nab al a rsnturs; II
10 perilous style, grant, but cannot hslp
II. When chain my mind to ideas which are
purely imaglnatlve-ior argument Is o differ
ent thinR--it seems 70 mo that the sun leaves
the Landscape. that think away the whole vi.
vacity and spirit Of my original conception,
and that the results are cold, tame. and spirit
less. 1t is the difference between q written
oration and one bursting from tho unpremedi-
tated exsrtions Of the speaker. which have al
wars something ofthe air Of enthusiasm and in
spirstion. Iwould not have young authors
initiate my oarelessness, however: consiliu'n
non ostrruna cape"
II we had only this journal before us We
should say that Scott was sinsularly ready to
receive criticism. and exceptionally modest
with regard to the merit Of his writingA His
printer. James Bsllantyne. was constantly
making stricturss on the manuscripts sent to
him. and Scott would often defer to bis su2-
sestions. But then there WAS between him and
Ballaptyns IN absolute solidarity Of pecuniary
interests, 1t appears from the following entry
Hak -tR-1 1nSw Akh - Anti cAA ht,vN
now and then. but lectured In vain.
~. G, l. kindly points out some aolecisms in
my style. % amid for amidst scarce
for scarcely whose he says. IL tho
proper genitivs Of which only at such times
- which, retains It's quality Of impsrsonifi-
cation. Well! Iwlll:try to remember all this.
but after all write grammar as speak. to
make my meaning known. and aolacism in
point Of composition. like a Scotch word in
speaking, 10 Indifferent to me. I never learned
grammar; and not only Sir Hugh Evans but
even Mrs. Quickly. might puzzle mo about
Giney's horum harum horum. ] believe the
bailifi in The Good-natured Man is not far
wrong when no says, One man has one way
Of expressing himself. aud another another,
and that ia all tho difference between thcm,''
Hero is alpasssge which seems to evinoe hu-
mility and which should bs appreciated by the
thor Of " Pride and Prejudice" was the proro.
typo, or at least tho precursor, Of Mr.. Hows!ls
ana Of Mr.. Hsnry:James, Jr.:
Road again, and for tho third time at least.
Miss Austen's very finely written novel OF
Pride and Prejudice That young lady had
talent for describing the movements and
feelings and characters OF ordinary life. which
Ia to mo tho most wonderful ! ever met
With The Big Bow-wow strain can do my
self like any now going; but tho exquisite
touch. which renders ordinary commonplace
things and characters interesting. from the
truth Of the description and the sentiment. ia
denied to mo. What pity such gifted creA.
ture died so sarlyr'
Wa shall presently produce evidence for tho
belief that Scott had an adequate estimate Of
his:own doserts- Meanwhile some extracts from
this diary and the accompanying notes will
undoubtedly show that he had contempt for
ordinary comrliment and. In fact for the
opinions OF the multitude. except as they
might be transmitted into Ruineas:
Whom I flrst saw that q :literary profession
vas to be my fate. spdsavorsd By all efforts
OF stoicism to divest myself Of that irritable
degree OF sensbility-or, to speak plainly. OF
vanity-whieh makes the postlcal race misors-
bio and ridiculous Tho anxiety OF poet for
praise and for compliments have always en-
deavored Ito keep down.. No man that over
wrote . line despised tho pap OF praise SO
heartily rs do. There is nothing scorn
moro. except these who think tho ordinary
sort Of praise or censure is matter Of tho least
consequence. People have almost always
some private view Of distinguishing them
solves or Of gratifying their ouriosity-somo
point In short to carry. with which you have
no relation. when they take tho trouble to
praise you. In general 1t is their purpose to
get the person praised to pufl away In return"
The reader may also like to see what scott's
printer. James Ballantyne. has recorded en-
this subjects:
"Sir Walter at all times labored under tho
strangest delusion ss to tho merits OF his own
works. On this SCORE he was not only inacces-
sible to compliments. but even inssnsibs to
the truth: In fact, at all times. he hated to
talk OF any Of his productions; US. fer In
stance, he greatly preferred Mrs. shelley's
Frankenstein' to any OF his own romauces. I
remember ono day. when Mr.. Erskins and I
were dining with him. either Immediately be-
fore or Immediately after the publication OF
one OF the bast Of tho latter. and were giving
1t the high praise We thought 1T deserved. no
asked rs abruptly whether We had read
Frsnksnstein.' Wo answered that We had
not. 'Ah.' he said. have patience. read
" Frankenstein." and you will be bettsr able to
judgs OF You will easily Judge
OF the disappointment thus prepared for US.
When ventursd. a. sometimes did, to press
him on tho score OF the reputation he had
gained hs merely asked. as II he determined
to be done with the discussion. Why. what is
the value OF q reputation which probably will
not last above ono or two generations? Ono
morning. / rscollect. went into his library,
shortly after the publication OF the Lady OF the
Lake and finding Miss Scott there. who was
then very young girl. asked her. We'll.
Miss Sophia. how do you like tho Lady OF tho
Lake." with which everybody 10 so much on
cbanted?' Her answer was. with affecting
Oh. I have not read 1t. Papa says
thers's nothing SO bad for young girls us read
Ing bad poetry"
No attentive reader Of this journal will dis.
pute that modssty and humility regarding the
merit OF his literary productions were scott's
prevailing moods But there are strange con.
tradtctions in human nature. It is ono thing to
depreciste our compositions ourselves, aud
another thing to hear them depreciated by