The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1893-05-19

~ 4oVf s'A ~ y thcI HH AfhcfACaH
then travelling in England, got ac-
Qnainted with Thomas Carlyle, OF
whom lie records this estimate:
Mr.. Carlyle imprcsses me as n man
who, having adopted theory Of ex-
isting mankind In the concrete, cares
little for the exception, and still less
for the individual. The single man,
whoever he may be, is too microscop-
ic an object TO be taken into his -ac-
count, ana when this object protests
against the Carlylian view, his voice Is
regarded as of about the same account
ms that OF a squcaking chicken just
coming through the shell Is to man
who is incubaIing eggs by steam to
obtain fowls for market.
Mr.. Carlyle has a nervous irriiabili-
" that III brooks inconsiderate oppo-
sliion. lie easily gets into a ylriuous
rage on an abstract topic. 10 attack
his views Is very much as Il would be
ia the case of an ordinary man to
attack his person. To question Iis argu-
mcnt Is 10 pull his nose, 10 dispute his
facts Is TO knock him down.
Il Is simply nonsense to complain Of
this. II is 10 find fault with him for
what he is. II he were cool and judi
icial and mild aud forbearing aud tame,
be would not be Mr.. Carlyle.
In eminent men lhoro oflen seems 10
be two distinct forces. One may be
called nervous force, the other pure
understanding.
In Mr.. Carlyle the nervous force
prcdominates. II generates an amount
of steam that drives his understanding
at n velocity for which nature never in
tended the machine to travel. The con-
sequence is II IS sometimes forced of
tho track. Restore the equilibrium OF
forces aud beautiful results arc produc-
cd. 1t is not so much the force of un-
Outstanding that ono.fccIs in Mr.. CAL
Iyle's presence as Ii is bis fierce perccp-
lions, his glowing spirit, bis intense
nature, bis scholarly acquisitions.
One never ceases to DO impressed |
not only with the lofty aud individ-
nalesque character OF his mind, but
with its unique compound. We may
sec in Mr.. Carlyle combination of
hc quality of John Knox and David |
Humo. lie Is a tremendous believer
md a gigantic skeptic. Ho talks as he
writes, as though be believes there 10 q
jod In the universe, bat that the devil
s moro than match for Him.
lie knows that man is a totally de-
,raved and worthless wretch, and feels
hat there Is neither heaven or hell
IA The universe that should consent to
,e encumbered with him. Ills destiny
hould be 10 pass iulo tho Nom Exist
mt and Unknown. IIo is but Rubbish
md should perish. Nevertheless there
re sanity men who do Gods will and
viii be saved. But there are not more
ban six such In the British Islands,andl
u California not one. Il
On the whole Mr. Carlyle Is Just a
Of electricity aud volcanic
res Touch him anywhere aud he
toes off like spark out OF battery.
man must stand well on bis legs not
o be shaken by the concnssiou. His
mental shock Is prodigious. Ills mind
.
J full and brimming with aIl sorts OF
picturesque illustrations. No man
alks so much In pictures. All bis !
ileas are forged al a white heat His {
lceds are tompest-footod, wonderful ]
Or agility, strength, and mottle. They {
o over the ground like so many quad
upodal devils, but they are shaggy as
ufialocs, uakempL as hyenas. and
ractious MS hungry wolves.
But, dropping figures Of speech, 1
'hich are, however, almost our only i
aethods OF painting character so &C. {
ontric aud 50 conspicuous, we may
omposedIy testify TO bis virtues OIL
10 lofty sincerity, hls uncaIculaiing ,
his manly independence,
ID unrelenting rulhfulnoss, his scorn i.
( meanness aud hypocrisy, bis unse-
uced and unseduceable virtues of ev-
~ name, there eau be no question.
% all those high characteristics tho
gorId must always render M invoIun~
ary homage. These be VIII leave as |
n invalunblo aud imperishabIe legacy
0 posteuty.
The composition Of The sun i
early the same ~ that Of the