Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-29
FINE WORD PICTURES.
: con IL. Vincent Lectures Entertainingiy
Upon Carlyle.

1t Is to be regretted that the audience
was not larger at the Fourth Street
Methodist vestry last evening TO hear
Leon II. Vincent lecture upon Thomas
Carlyle. The uninviting weather
doubtless had much to do with keeping
many away, and the vestry was but
little over half filled.
The speaker started out by saying
that England was slow in learning Car
| lyle'S works, but when once learned she
was not slow in doing the author
homage. Mr.. Vincent said that Car
lyle had long been favorite of his.
He proceeded to sketch one period OF
Carlyle's life, so often referred to, that
depressing and gloomy occurrence, the
burning of the manuscript Of the
''French Revolution" through the
neglect of servant in the household
of John Stuart Mills. He told of how
painful it was for Mills TO call and in
form Carlyle that five months work in
manuscript had been destroyed. But
Carlyle, though naturally exasperated
at the time, was undiSmayed, ard again
proceeded to prosecute the work, into
which he had thrown his whole soul,
with renewed spirit and vigor. And
right here the speaker drew compari-
son between Carlyle and smaller writer's,
who are often discouraged and van
quished at the slightest obstacles.
We as Americans have special pride
In CARLYLE, because it was from America
| that the first substantial monetary rec
ogniton was given to his works. A sin
gular fact connected with the work of
Carlyle is the fact that at the age of 81
or 40, though he had then written q
great deal, he had not succeeded in gain
ing tangible hold upon the iterati.
He was not looked upon as a prophet.
His position in the literary world was
insecure, and it was only as people be-
gan to study and reflect upon his writ
ings that his brilliant intellect and mag
nihcent powers began 10 dawn upon
| the world.
There are men born to see, and If see
ing, to speak for themselves. Such d
man was Carlyle. He was one of those
writer's, so to speak, who would soak
himself in his subject, and when he was
in molten and Seething condition he
would toss it off on paper. His
chapters appear to have been cast in
mold OF oratorical art Carlyle had
none, but of information he had fund.
MIR. Vincent then called attention to a
course of six lectures, which he once
delivered in London upon German lit
erature, which were marvels in the
fund of information they contained.
They fairly awakened the literary
world. But he never liked the plat.
form, and whenever he lectured it was
against his natural inclination. In con-
| sidering the distinguished author one
fact should be bourne in mind, and that
is, that Carlyle had ''call.'' He was a
devinely inspired writer Others be-
sides preachers have a call Frequent
| ~ men make mistakes in their calings.
There are horse car drivers who ought
TO be preachers, and on the other hand
there are preachers who ought to be
horse car drivers.
Mr.. Vincent then gave detailed and
extended description Of the home life Of
Carlyle. in which Mrs. Carlyle formed {
conspicuous feature. The lecture wa:
intersperSed with many witty illusions
and was heartily enjoyed throughout
Tonight Mr. Vincent will give talk or
| Charles Dickens.