Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-05-23
RusklN.s eoyHoop.
He Had to Seek liis Own Amusomcr

AS one reads Prteterita IL seems Us III
John Ruskin wrote his history not with
Ink, but painted IL down with light and
color; he brings the very atmosphere of
his life and its phases before us with
such an instantaneous mastery as few
besides have ever reached-the life
within and the sight without, tho sweet
eternal horizons (even though they be
but Norwood hills and ridges). the liv-
ing and delightful figures in the fore
ground.
Its author has chosen to christen the
story Preterita, but was ever book
less belonging to the past and more en-
tirely present to our mood than this ono?
Not Goethe's own biography, not even
Carlyle's passionate "reminiscences, come
up to IL In vividness. There are so few
words, such limpid images are brought
flashing before us that one al
most asks: "Is it book or is
1t something out OF our own secret
consciousness that we remember as we
read?" Are we not actually living in its
pages, in the dawning light OF that
austere yet glorious childhood? Half a
century rolls back, and we see the baby
up above at the drawing room windows,
standing absorbed, watching the water
carts, and that wondrous turn-cock,
''who turns and turns till fountain
springs up in the middle OF the street."
and as we still watch the child, gazing
out with his gray, deep-set eyes, the
brown brick walls somehow become
transparent, as they did for Ebenezer
Sorooge, and we are In tho same mys-
terious fashion absorbed into the quiet
home and silent life. We get to know
friendship and intimacy. The father,
''that entirely honest man" Of rare
gifts and refinement going and coming
TO his wine-merchant's Office In Bill
Letter street; the mother, combining
the spirit Of Martha and OF Mary, un-
tiinching, orderly. living for her hus-
band and her son, not rejecting the bet
ter part, but forcing every member of
her household TO conform to her views
Of both worlds, and binding down their
lives by some emphatic and restraining
power. But how soon the child born TO
such liberty of thought, to such absolute
obedience Of will, learns to escape
from his bonds, to create his own life
and world His very playthings (all
others being denied TO him) he makes
for himself out Of the elements, the air
above, the waters beneath, the craters
Of the coal-heavers as they empty the
sacks at the door. my mothers gen.
eral principles Of the first treatment
were to guard me with steady watchful-
ness from all avoidable pain or danger;
and for the rest to let me amuse myself;
but the law was l should find my own
smBsemeph No toys Of any kind
were Of first allowed, and tho
pity OF my Croydon aunt for the monas
tic poverty in this respect was bound.
less. On one Of my birthdays, thinking
to overcome my mothers resolution by
splendor Of temptation, she bought the
most radiant Punch and Judy she could
find In oil tho Soho Bazaar, as big as q
real Punch and Judy. oil dressed in
scarlet and gold, and that would dance,
- Ny mother was Obliged to accept
them, but sfterward quietly told me II
was not right ! should have them, and ]
peyer saw them again"
This Croydon aunt must have been q
good and loving aunt to little John.
sWhenever my father was ILL.," no says
--''and hard work and sorrow had al
ready set their mark on him-we all
went to Croydon to be petted by my
homely aunt, and walk on Duppas Hill
and on the heather of Addington."
He dwalls With affectionate re-
membrance upon the house and It's
gables and carly destinations for him,
my chosen domain being the shop, the
back room, and the stones round the
spring of crystal water at the back door
tlong since let down into the modern
sewer), and my chief companion my
cunts dog Towser. whom she had taken
pity on when he was snappish starved
vagrant, and made brave and sifee,
tionate dog OF, which was the kind OF
thing she did for every living creature
that came in her way all her life long"
Mrs. Ruskin, with all her passionate
devotion to her son, seems to have had
no idea whatever Of making little child
happy. The baby's education was ter
rlDly COuSlstut, NO was stchuliy
whipped when he was troublesome or
when he tumbled downstairs. 1--WE sell
dom had company even on week days,
and was never allowed to come down
10 dessert until much later In life, when
! was able TO crack other peoples nuts
for them, but never 10 have any myself
nor any thing else Of dainty kind. Once
ut Hunter street recollect my mother
giving me three raisins In the forenoon
out OF the store cabinet" But not all
the rules and rails and restrictions Of
Hunter street and Brunswick Square
could prevent the child from finding out
for himself that brick walls do not
prison make, nor iron bars cage. He
stands In the light OF the window, In his
silent thoughtful fashion, creating his
own existence for himself, and Just as
the turn-cock turned and turned until .
fountain sprang from the pavement so
even In baby.life does Ruskin lay his
upon the stones. and lol
the stream OF life begins to flow, IN |
later days he smites the rock, and bids
the children drink living waters from
tho spring Of life eternal. sometimes
also to be mingled with those waters OF
strife called "Meribah. Anne Thack-
erav Ritchia In Harnar'a Magazina