Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-05-02
THE Fortunes of Nigel"
from Tie Waperly Progress, by ]. l..
LODGE, d. D., Editor

The appreciative reader OF Sir waite
SCOTS works, the greatest Of all romanc
writers, living or dead, finds it difficult
among so numerous products of u versatile
genius backed by an indomitable persever
ance and industry, to decide which Should
be accorded the highest place. After thirty
years, re- perusal affords infinitely more
pleasure, and Of far more elevated kind
than did first reading, perhaps because
from necessity arising from better intellec
tual training, the caution in the introduc
ton to the present volume is from choice
duly observed, namely, to read first for the
sake OF the excitement the story affords
and then deliberately review for the sake OF
the instruction which fills these brilliant
pages. The difficulty is enhanced, too, by
the great variety OF subjects, and the conse.
quent difference in the style of their treat
ment. And the natural or acquired taste of
the reader will inconsciously operate in the
formation OF Il judgment. One who is likely
to feel deep interest in the principles of the
Scotch retormers, their efforts to dispace
idolatry, Journalism, and all the woes of a
State church, and plant in their stead the
pure doctrines of revelation, will find the
portrayal of their conflicts, sufferings, and
triumphs, their zeal, fanaticism, and some
times cruelty, impartially executed in "Old
| Mortality"
Those who take most pleasure in vivid
descriptions of the characters, lives, employ
ments social circumstances, and heroic deeds
of men and women in the days when chiv-
airy had reached its zenith, will find their
ideal verified in "Ivanhoe." That small
class, which is daily growing smaller, who
are not satisfied to waste time that is pre-
paratory to eternity on what is amusing
merely, but who require instruction TO be
happily blended Herewith in works of fic.
ton, will find in "rhe Fortunes of Nigel"
| the realization OF their most commendable
and intelligent demand. At its first ap-
pearance it at once took rank with the best
of the Waverly Novels: and We heartily
agree with j. G. Lockhart, the learned,
critical, and impartial son-ln law and biog
rapher OF the Author, that, besides giving
US invaluable hints of English drama, it is
the best, il not the only faithful portraiture
of James /. and his period.
| The signs of the times were not discerned
clearly by the wisest; and if n faint NUT
tering like the far distant roll OF thunder
presaged Oliver Cromwell and the Rev0lu
| ton, there were none to heed or to take
measures against the threatened evil. This
fact is clearly brought out in the passage
where James intimates apprehension that
troubles of government, successfully re-
pressed during his own reign, were destined
| to break forth like flood and overwhelm
the administration OF Baby Charles" as
he dotingly called his son and successor,
and the scorntu answer that we-that is,
he and Buckingham-would attend to that.
The entertainments and amuscments of
Elizabeth's time, while sufficiently extrava-
giant and protligale, were yet covered with
gauze OF refinement, as bettted the court
of maiden Queen. Besides the impression
made by reauing "keniiworth," Burke end
others testify to the FACTS There. is self.
consciousness about vice, where the pro-
toundest depths have not been sounded,
which causes it to secretc, as much as posi-.
bic, its native hldeousness In the palatial
hotel the gilded bar, with cut-class decan-
tiers, glasses by ART traced with vines, liquors
OF varied colors, reflected in the polished
mirror, the whole scene flooded with artiti-
cial light, is attractive TO gentility, which
might be at first repused by the cheapness,
the filth and stencil, OF IL low GROCERY, but
in both instances alike death lies conched.
On the accession of James, all restraint
was cast off, and the coarsest pleasures and
criminal courses openly and shamelessly
INDUCED. Intoxication and sensuality were
nearly as common among women as with
men. In times when debauchery and court
intrgues are mere matters OF course, it is
not to be expected that female virtue shall
be the rule and not the exception. The
beautiful Countess of Blackchester among
the court danes, and Mrs. Christie in the
lower rank of ordinary mortals, afford speci.
mems of weak ambition which proves too
strong, nevertheless, to be withstood by the
instincts and obligations of womanly and
wilely prudence 1t is bitter commentary
upon our own Boosted superiority and
progress, Il sharp answer to the claim that
the world grows constantly better, that
there are so many practical denials OF what
is said of women who need no counting,
that Zone must love partridge very well to
accept il when thrown into his face" We
feel no commiseration for the misery and
remorse OF such women; but feel profound
sympathy for John Christie, honest soul,
who, though twenty years his unworthy
wife's senior, did what most men would
have done in preierring a young and beau
tifnl woman TO an old and ugly one.
Lord Dalgarno is such Il consummate viii
laiu, SO adroit in his nefarious policy, and
so utterly heartless and unsparing of his
victims, that one charitably hopes his pecu-
liar circumstances and environment were
essential to the production of so unspeak
ably base character. His betrayal OF the
lovely and innocent Lady Hermione, under
the forms of a mock marriage; his conniv-
ance at her capture and confinement in
convent; his delivery Of her into the hands
OF the Duke of Buckingham upon the rep.
resentation that his faithful and loving wife
was apsed woman I; his harsh and upright
eous measures TO secure possession OF the
Glenvarock estates; go far to reconcile us
To the Justice in his sudden and awful
| death NJ the hand of an assassin for the
sake vi i'll gotten gold.
Court etiquette gave rise To the most
abominable hypocrisy. Bitter enemies, at
the command Of the King, did what Thack
cray tells US men constantly do where com
mon interest and selfish considerations Ol
moment suppress genuine feeling, or, at
least, its exhibition-"they met and shook
hands wi Ii perfect animosity." When in
suited in the presence of the King by Buck
ngham, Lord Dalgarno dares no more than
10 point his finger toward his sword,
| In one Of his other works Scott has this
passage: "a forward prater in society, like
busy hustler in Il crowd, besides all other
general points OF annoyance, is eternally
nibblng upon some tender point and gall
ing mems feelings without knowing or re.
garding it," The type and prototype OF all
such detestable vermin is Sir Mungo Mala'
growther A hanger on of the court, re
tanned, now that his influence and wealth
are gone, for no other reason than his noble
birth, it is his one business in life 10 be deal
as an adder to all duns, but To have every
faculty in perfect and vigorous exercise
when there is possibility OF aggFavatng
the mental distresses OF the unfortunate
through the ceaseless and senseless waggins
of his tongue. That scene in the Tower,
where Nigel Ollaunt is confined under the
awful apprehension Of losing his right hand
for violating the sacred precincts OF the court
by striking Dalgarno in the Park, in which
Malagrowther dwells with cruelest particu
larity upon the execution of Stubs, an
offender in the preceding reign tells how
the unfortunate pamphleteer laid bis hand
upon The block, and the executioner ad-
justed the cleaver upon the JOINT ana with
one blow OF his mallet sent the hand culver
ing out among the horror stricken crowd !
narrates with flemish delight how the hiss
ing hot iron was applied to the bloody stub
and the poor, suffering wretch cried Out
"God save the Queen" and counsels Nigel
TO behave like lord when his hour OF trial
baa come 10 at once one of the finest Das.