The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-16

DO happier contemplating my beau ideal than
a real substantial, ealing. drinking. sleeping.
honest husband"
II was not until oct 7. 1890, that Miss Welsh
was married to Carlyle. Mrs. ireland points
out that the difficulties and prolonged sus-
psnse attending the carrying out OF this mar.
riare took much OF the bloom of OF its near
contsmp lation. Everything had been dwslt on
too long and too infinitely. the reason bad
usurpod the place OF the heart. and contact
with hard. worldly iacts had giveu faded as
poet to loves wings. There was no beautiful
haze OF JOY and thrill OF newnsss In the air; II
seemed worn.o ut story before It ever hap
>pensd. Carlyle himself had nsrvous misRv-
ings fo,t that he was "a perverss mortal to
deal with" and was manifestly depressed. 1t
was doubtless his visible dssrondency which
caused Miss Welsh to regard the wedding prep
aratiops IS "horrid oircu mstancss"-as strange
view for girl to take. Characteristic OF her
mood was the heading OF her final letter to Car
lyle: Tho last speech and marrying words OF
that unfortunate young woman. Jane Baltic
Welsh" It 10 deliciously funny to hear that
Carlyle strove 10 fortify himself against whit
Miss Welsh called tho odious ceremony" by
reading Rants "Critique OF tho Pure Rsason;"
that In his sh,ness he proposed to take the
wedding journey In the public coach. and then
foil back upon q wish that his brother John
should 90 part OF the way with him and his bride.
With great frmness Miss Welsh vetoed these
proposals. Ludicrous is 1t also TO find Carlyle
STIMULATING in advance OF tho wedding that in
the post chaise he should be permitted
to smoke three CIGARS. without criti-
c.sm or reluctance. as things essential
to my perfect contentment." Perhaps this
STIMULATION was 10 Miss Welshs mind whom she
wrote: Il am resolved In spirit and even Ioy-
ful-joyful in tho face OF the dreaded ceremony,
Of starvation. and Of evey horrible fate. Obi
my dearest friend. be always good TO me and
ehall mako the beat and happiest wiie. When
/ read In your looks and words that YOU love
no. then caro- not one straw for the whole
universe besides. But when you fly from mo
to smoke tobacco. or speak OF me ms mere
circums lance OF your lot. thon indeed my heart
is troubled about many things 1t seems plain
from this letter and from ono to be quoted
presently. and witt. which We slall take our
leave OF Mrs. Irelsnd's volume. that. II Miss
Welsh could not transfer to her husband The
passionate love which Irving had aroused IA
her, she was prepared. at all events. to giNo
him q devotion and Q tenderness which would
have proved perhaps rs precious. How she
had come to regard Carlyle was disclosed In
the following letter written to her aunt about
Q month before hsr marringe-a letter which
camo into her husbands hands after her death
In 1866. and came to him. he said AS IL
fash OF radiance from above" AS much
breath" Miss Welsh wrote. has been wasted
ON my situation. l have my own doubts
whether they have given you anv right Idea OF
It. They would toll you. I suppose. first and
foremost. that my intended Is poor tfor that
it requires no great depth OF saRacity to
discover: and. in tho next place. they
have most likely INDUCED In some crit
icisms scarce hAttering OH his birth.
the more likely II their own birth happened to
DO mean or doubtful; and II they happened to
be vulgar flne ueople. with DISPUTED preten-
atoms to good looks. they would. to certainty.
act hin, down as unpublished and ill-lookine.
But hundred chances to one they would not
tell you he 10 among tho cleverest men VI his
day and not the cleverest only. but tho most
enlightened: that he possesses all tho quail
ties I deem essential in my huSband-a warm.
true heart to love me. towering intellect to
command me. and spirit OF fire to be the
guiding star OF my life.
Such then. 10 this future husband Of mine.
not q great man according to the most COM
mon sense OF the word. but truly great In Its
natural proper sense a scholar, poet. q phi
lospher. wise and noble man. one who holds
his patent OF nobility from Almighty God. and
whose high stature Of manhood 10 not to no
measured by tho inch rule OF Liliputs Will
you like him2 No matter whether you do or
not: like him In the deepest part Of my soul"