The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-23
Professor Styles Review
of Swift.
STRUGGLES OF A GENIUS.
His Life With Sir William
Temple.
DISAPPOINTED POLITICIAN.
foundations, HaIlucinations and
Amatory Entanglements of the
Dean of st. Patrick's.

terday afternO Don in the university course
on 1.-The Poets and Dramatists Of the
Eighteenth Century" was listened to with
close and we'll repaid attention from be-
ginning to end.
The rush of would-be hearers on the
date set for the first lecture in this course
having been so great as to render its de-
livery impossible, it was necessary. in
order to end the course on December Is as
arranged, to consolidate the two lectures
on Swift into one, consequently the lee
turer was obliged to omit for the time
being all reference to Swift's prose works
and speak of him only as poet and
man.
In speaking of Swift's birth the profess
sor said that though he first saw the light
of day in Dublin he was of an old York
shire fam lily which espoused the royalist
cause. The death OF his father left him,
when very young, to the care of uDsym-
pathetic and unappreciative relatives who
looked upon him as stupid and dull and an
incumDrance. He remained with them
until in 1859 Sir William Temple engaged
him as secretary and general choreman."
and be went TO Moor Park a vertable
ugly duckling," whom no one dreamed
would one day develop into a swan of
whom ali England would have cause to be
proud.
Sir Williams arrogance, self-sufficiency
and egregious conceit were soon unhappily
apparent to Swift. who rebeled in secret
against his patron's pretensions and his
own half mental position. ''Tbe Pin
darics"-"dreadful things" the professor
called them-were written at this time and
contained little hint OF the latent genius of
their author. who never forgave Dryden
for his criticism of them.
Applying to King William, during his
stay at Moor Park, for political prefer
ment, that clear-headed and apprecative
sovereign offered him captaincy in
dragon regiment and taught him the
Dutch manner of cutting asparagus. but
did nothing further to help him ON in
worldly way.
The story of Swift's quarrel with Sir
William. his departure from Moor Park in
1894. and his subsequent success in obtain
ing the living of little church near Bel
fast at salary of so pounds, was told at
length. In this church Swift thought he
would be content. but the quiet of country
life wore upon him, as did the presence of
numerous Presbyterians in the neghbor-
hood, who would not come and listen TO
his dlscOurses. which were often delivered
to almost empty benches. So dissatisfied
did Swift become in his new home that
reconciliation was patched up with Sir
William. and he returned to Moor Park,
though in position far less subservient
there. 1t was there that In 1857 be first
met Esther JohnsOn-then beautiful girl
of 15-whOse education he took in hand,
afterward immortalizing her under the
name of "Stela."
OF Swift's work during these earlier
years Professor Syle said that Ii showed
from the first the contempt of cant anu
love OF truth so characteristic of him at his
best. but that even in his young manhood
fear OF the haunting shadow which al
ways hung over him was often to be seen
in his writings. When Swift was 81 years
of age Temple died, leaving him scarcely
more than remembrance in his will, and
Swift. greatly disappointed by what he
perhaps justly considered ingratitude.
went to Lord Berkeley. with W HON he re-
sided for some time. Mrs. Harris Petit
tion." written during that period, was then
read to show Swift's dramatic power-his
capacity of putting himself in the place of
another and talking or writing as that per-
son would under certain circumstances.
In ITO Swift, who began 10 drift away
! from the Wings seven years before. took
charge OF Tory paper In London and con-
Quoted it so ably that he became very
prominent In political way. ST. John
afterwards Lord Bolngs
Harcourt AMI Swift really ruling England
for three years. Swift actually planned
the Tory. policy OF which the Peace of
Utrecht, in April, 1713, was the result, and
was much disappointed when, as reward
for his work, he was made Dean of st.
Patrick's In Dublin, instead Of bring given
a similar position which he wished for in
| London. Away hating Ireland he went
back to England. remaining in Berkshire
until after Queen Anne's death, which was
the end of his political life, when he retired
| to Dublin.
In the course of his lecture Professor
| Syle said that the journal TO Stella" was
| remarkable for personal sketches of prom
| inent people whom Swift knew intimate
| ly, and whose unlovely side he had many
| opportunities for seeing. Ii was also re-
marka bic as showing the inner life of the
| man himself, who talked without reserve
| to the woman whom he undou btedly loved
very tenderly. although he never would
acknowledge the marriage which most
certainly took place between them in 1716.
| The pathetic story of "Vanersa' was
briefly outlined, the lecturer taking the
ground that Swift's feeling for her
was only friendship, aud that he was
! biamable only In remaining in her vicinity
after he knew the warmth Of her feeling
| toward him. OF Swifrs last poem, 1.-The
Leg on Clab," Professor Syle said that it
| was plainly the work of a man whose
brain was already giving way. The dis
| ease under which Swift labored and t.
which must be traced much of the unpleas-
ant things which we know Of him was,
though then a mystery TO physicians, un-
doubtedly iabyrnthine vertigo, which re-
suits in complete paralysis of the brain-a
fate which overlook Swift three years be-
! fore his death.
The next lecture in the course will be on
Thomson, Collins and Gray.