The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-24
THE SC0TCH WRITER'S
John 81 az It 3lackie, Grand Old
MAJ, Busy at 80.
,iE GREAT PHILOSOPHER.
p ann Black. Robert BsSnassn, Rob-
srt Louis Stevenson, Andrew Lang
and Mrs. Oliphant.

TO be a power in the literary world, The
conditions, of course, are very different
from what they were before Scotland was
incorporated with England; but that incor-
poration has not been so complete, in the
matter ofIetters, as TO make il impossible to
separate and to particularize the contribu-
tions of Scotsmen to the general stream of
English literature. 1t is true that the
achievements of Scottish writers in the
vernacuiar are much more linn
+ tied than they used to be. There
is no Burns of the present gen.
GRAFTON, and there is no Scott. Our
present day writers for the most part use
the old Scots tongue only to such an ex-
tent as will conciliate Scottish. without re-
polling English, readers. The greatest of
Scottish men of letters in the present gen.
Grafton are Scotsmen who have earned for
themselves place in the wider field of
English literature.
OF these men the foremost. undoubtedly,
is David Mason, the author of "a History
of the Life and Times of John Milton"
md of many other substantial and stand
ard works. No other Scotsman of the
present, or the Immediately past, genera
ton, except Carlisle, has taken so high
place in the roll of great English writers.
yet appear in the catalogue of the
Edinburgh free library, founded by An
drew Carnegie, 1t is a monumental work
pne of the few works by living authors
which will be remembered some genera
tions hence. when the great mass of the
books of today are forgotten. 1t is some
thing to have known such a man, and to
have talked with him Familiarity in the
midst of his books and his work. In
Former letter / spoke of him as a popular
professor and as an ornament to the
University of Edinburgh. / speak of
him now as a literary man, as a successful
author and as friend of men of letters. w.
=. Hole has depicted him for his friends in
the attitude in which they best love 10 see
him. He is seated in his armchair in his
study, pipe in hand, and blowing clouds of
bmoke from his lips, while he discourses, it
may be of Shakespeare and Milton and
+ Bacon, perhaps of the British novelists, or
pr prummond of Hawthornden, but more
probably OF she great men with whom he
has been brought into contact in the
/. course of his literary career-of Carlyle,
and Froude, and Thackeray, and Douglas
ycrrold and Robert Browning, and many
others. of each and all of whom he has
much to tell that is extremely interesting,
because it is personal and immediate
| When you get Mason on these lines his
conversation is charming. His writing is
lpt to be ponderons, but his talk is at once
lively and full of matter, and he rolls
put his periods with an emphasis and
z5orce which bespeak man possessed
With his subject. He has splendid men,
Dry. and Is full of "reminiscences. re-
nember once, not very long ago, to have
beard him describe the speeches made by
Hataplay and christopher North" at the
sshugnration of the Philosophical Institu-
l6nsof Edinburgh. The address was quite
ffxtempore, having been suggested by re-
mark of a previous speaker. Yet his con-
xast of the manner of thinking and of
speaking in these two great men was vivid
md pointed and full of graphic and inter-
ssting details. The speech was valuable
ior what it revealed of Mason quite as
much as for what it said of the character
ktics of these heroes of the past.
1t is not my purpose to give hero cata-
ogue of Masson's writings, but I NAV
sote that, after Milton, the men whom he
bas expounded to the British people with
Inc greatest effect are Chatterton, Drum
nond of Hawthornden, Carlyle and De
Quincy. The man, however, is even bet
YER than his writings. His nature is full
Df geniality and eyenness of temper He
, sometimes very wrathful, and speaks
strongly on public questions, but no one
liver heard him say or hint a word of bit
erness about any man, least of all about
my friend. As Mason grows older, his
lace seems more and more to sug-
fcst Carlyle's, in the rugged brow,
he overhanging eyebrows, and the
,risp white hair and beard. His eye is dull.
but kindly, with suggestion of humor
hkring in its wrinkles. His mouth is
irm and indicates force of will His
loicc, though not powerful, is sympathe-
sic, and, in spite of his Aberdonian &C.
lent. his recitation both of poetry and of
prose is always effective.
Ii is Masson's enthusiasm that carries
him through his work and at the same
| .kune carries his students along with him.
1 |. NJ Barrie pictures this side of him to
he life in his Edinburgh Eleven, He
mys' "Masson always comes to nv
memory first knocking nails into his
lesk or trying to tear the gas-bracket from
rs socket. He said that the Danes seat
lered over England, taking such
hold rs nail takes when it is driven into
! wood For the moment he saw his desk
1 a,rncd into England; he whirIed an in.
yisible hammer in the air. and down il
i ,ame ON the desk with crash. No one
4 rho has sat under Mason can forget how
j he Danes nailed themselves upon Eng
and. His desk is thick with their tomb
,sones. Ii was when his mind groped for
in image that he clutched the bracket.
he seemed TO tear his good things out of
1. Silence oyercame the class. Some
4 rere fascinated by the man. Others trem-
4 lied for the bracket 1t shook, groaned
4 md Welded. Mason said another of the
d hings that made his lectures literature.
! he crisis Was passed, and everybody
1 sreathed freely again"
Next 10 Mason among men OF letters
q Nsident in Scotland at the present time no
Il me can have any hesitation in placing
] John SHELTON, the Shirley" of Frassr's
i Nnoa-fae. In SHELTON the historical
1 aculty is largely and fruitfully developed.
4 His fayorite domain is Scottish history
4 md principally the life and times Of
L bueer Mary. of whom he is q devoted
j sdmirer and jealous apologist. His most
important production. indeed, is his
recount of Maitland of Lexington.
md the Scotland of Mary Stuart
"A work which abounds with
] eroofs of original research, and il
I vritten in a brilliant and incisive style.
4 sut Mr.. SHELTON Is successful controver-
3 ialist. rather than an impartial historian.
he present: and his services to his party
lave been fifty rewarded by his appoint
i nent 70 the lucrative post of secretary of
Il nc board of supervision of the poor in
scotiand. Apart, however, from his his
nricai excursions. Mr.. SHELTON is a genial
= md delightful essayist. His ESSAYS in
Romance and Studies from Life is q very