The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-28

ment. No doubt / appreciated more than
could person with sight Carlyle's wonder-
fui voice. 1t had. think, greater COM
pass and fexibility than any other voice I
nave known. From the soft. tender flow
OF pathos and sympathy it rose
70 the full, vibrant tones OF
iorce and eloquence and still higher up to
tnose OF indignation and rage. When
deeply interested he would unconsciously
iail into the chanting or intoning style of
delivery so often heard among the Scotch
people. 1t is characteristic OF all classes.
W hen first heard it was nonplussed to
understand the origin of such q custom,
OF perhaps should say habit.
learned upon q subsequent visit to Scot
land that ever since the days of John Knox
the ministers of that country have intoned
their sermons. 1t became fixed in the ears
OF the peasants until the whole people fell
INTO that way of speaking. All the strong
emotions of the human heart-love, grief,
rage-naturally take cadences as they find
expression in words. This universal man.
ner OF speech in that country illustrates the
power of the Scotch pulpit over the popular
ear and heart.
Carlyle, who sprang from the peasant
classes OF Scotland. was most fascinating
and entertaining talker. He drew around
him in intimate social relation the bright
est and best people of Great Britain, to say
nothing of other countries. Generally
speaking, literary men in England at that
time were only tolerated by what we may
term the upper classes. They were not
welcomed In society except as lions SO to
speak. On this account Carlyle often
refused to accept invitations from
dukes and lords If they want to
see me let them come to my house, he was
wont to say. He even carried this feeling
SO far as to decline an invitation from the
queen to visit Windsor castle. knowing
his peculiarly in this respect, the queen
etO0k no offense at his refusal, but she was
SO earnest in her desire to meet him that
she invoked the aid of Dean Stanley, who
was Carlyle's warm personal friend. He
arranged a meeting at the deanery Of
Westminster, where Carlyle was presented
to the queen or the queen was presented
to Carlyle, whichever way you choose to put
it. Carlyle was a commoner in the fullest
sense of the word. He had little reverence
for mere royalty-she person who wore
the crown must be worthy to command
his respecS. do not imagine that he con-
sidered it a great act of condescension on
the part OF the queen to meet him. At
this interview were present also two or
three ladies of the court and Dean Stanley
and his wife. In the presence of
the sovereign etiquette requires that
all remain standing until the
queen gives the signal to take
seats. Let me tell you how Mr.. Carlyle
managed it. The ladies and gentlemen of
the company were in the drawing-room,
the presentations had been made and the
queen graciously expressed her pleasure at
meeting one SO distinguished in letters.
Carlyle thanked her for her kind words
and added: But / am getting to be an
old man now suppose we all sit down and
talk it over, himself setting the example.
"In going to and taking seats at dinner
precedence, based upon official rank or
particular grade of mob ity, is most inn
portant and delicate question. The rules
governing such matters are adhered to
with scrupulous care. Even General Grant,
unless dinner was given in his special
honor, would have been compelled to
sit at the foot of the table,
even below the American minister,
for when he was in England he was only q
private citizen. The fact that he had been
great general and president of the United
States of itself counted for nothing. All
the lords and ladies, the dukes and the
big-wjgs pass to the table and take seats in
their order. the place being an index to