Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-28
STORIES OF CARLYLE.
Parson Milburn's "reminiscences of
the Great Scotch Writer.
APPRECIATED In AMERICA FIRST.
England Frowned on Sartor Resartus and
Kept 1t Out Of Print.
now his WIFE BECAME EsTRANGED

II. Milburn, the blind Chaplain of Con.
gress, about Thomas Carlyle. Dr.. Mil.
burn was intimately associated with Car
lyle during the six years which he spent in
Europe. These years were scattered through
the most stirring periods of Carlyle's life,
and the Doctors acquaintance beginning in
1857, when Carlyle was at the beginning Of
his prime, extended from that time on until
1876, a few years before his death. I asked
DR.. Milburn how he became acquainted
with Carlyle. He replied:
st had a letter Of introduction to him
from Judge Mitchell King. of Charleston,
s. c. King was fellow Scotchman, and
he and Carlyle had long been friends. Now
you must know that in England letter of
introduction means much more than it does
with us. 1t is in the nature of draft
| drawn BY one person upon the courtesy and
hospitality of another. 1t must be honored
by an invitation to at least one meal at the
| gentleman's house, with presentation to his
family and a few hours of social inter-
course. Here we give letters of introduc-
tion to anybody and everybody, and few of
them have more than a mere passing sig
nifcance.
| HoNoRED HERE FIRST.
| "Mr. Carlyle was then famous as man
of letters, and he was deluged with intro
ductions. Like Thackery, he had been a
long time in securing public recognition,
| and it is a singular fact that he was appre-
ciated and honored in America before he
was in England. Here his popularity was
almost boundless, and this fact explains
why SO many going abroad sought the per-
sonal acquaintance of one whom they so
greatly admired. But the truth is, Carlyle
tired of it, so many called upon him from
little apparent motive save sheer curiosity.
He once wrote of the United States, "a
nation of 10000 900 of people, chiefly
bores.'
"These Americans who intruded them
selves upon him were to a large extent men
and women of one idea-people with 'isms,'
vegetarians and enthusiasts upon one SUBJ
ject or another. They thought to get a hear
ing from Mr.. Carlyle and find in him an
encouraging and sympathetic friend. But
they were disappointed in this, Eor he was
not in any broad sense a philanthropist
These drafts upon his patience made him
somewhat irritable, and gave to many of his
American visitors the impression that he
was brusque and testy TO a most unpleasant
degree.
WARM WELCOME.
"Mr. Carlyle seemed to feel that q letter
OF Introduction from his old friend. Judge
King, meant something, and both he and
his wife received me with warm-hearted cor
diality. Ny welcome could not have been
more sincere and hospitable. believe one
reason why he seemed to like me was that
smoked with him-a thing which most of
his guests from Boston and other parts of
New England did not do. You know-that
is, presume you do-that pipe is won
derful promoter Of sociability. was with
Carlyle many times and never saw even a
sign OF the brusqueness OF which had
heard Americans complain.
Thomas Carlyle had," continued DIR.
Milburn, "a number Of Americans among |
his intimate friends. He liked Longfellow, |
and he was especially fond OF Emerson.
Longfellow noticed his work in the English |
reviews long before he had gained great |
reputation as an author. The first copy of |
Sartor Resartus that came to America was
brought by Longfellow. It was made up of |
from FTaser's Magazine. in
which part of the book was first published
cut these out, he had them
bound and brought them over to America
with him. He once told me that it was he
vino once called Emerson's attention to
Carlyle, and through him Emerson began
to read those strong reviews which emanated
He had learned to admire him before he
went 10 Europe, ana Whlle at Home ne fell
! 70 WIN mau wno kne" Oariyle, ana got
ietVer 10 Nun; Eine,son eook this Ietter and
went to Scotland and called upon Carlyle at
Cralgenputtock. ne spent some time here
with Cariyle, ana tne Two lay out upon the
mis- among tne srees anu overlooked the
country "heIe Mo!uswortn "aIkeo. ineY
Oecahe quite ln'!lnate, anu emerson left
ocotianu Win an ,ner9aseu aohiration Ior
Carlyie. tnink, put am not sure, that
ne took . COPY OF oartor nesartus IN the
e1tracts rom tne magazine nome Win MIN,
anu n ,has ne PuD,isneu s .nese IN oosson' ana
mat tnls was she nrst p"Dilcation OF oartor
hesartus.
1t was certainty oetter appreciated in
america tnan IN Engiano, ana IL was not
until after our literary circles were talking
loou1 ~ tHa' ene EheIsn .ook u up: nave
,hatted with carlyle ABOUT Its writing, and
ne mas toio me OF tne trouoles ne had In get
.ing PuDilsner. ne carried the manu-
scrip iroiI onH PrIn.ihs mouse 70 anoIner In
Vain; anu nnaiiy Eos 'n9 Tt eui1o, OF IrdSe, 70
PUBLISH IL as serial: Inc euiIor Iound u
not a' al popular Win HIs subscribers, ana
le at once pegan 10 receive protests against
me cOn'in uance VI its pupiicalion.
A NoBLEMANs PROTEST
Finally one OF the noblemen wrote him
IND asked MN Wnetner ne was gong to
Keep on puDllSnlng the WRITINGS OF That