New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-11
DEAN SWIFT.
AN INTERESTING STUDY.


DEAN SWIFT AND HIS WRITINGS BY Gerald al P
Imported By Charles scribner's sons.
Swift las been much written about and opinions
concerning his character and career have dihereo
widely. This Inevitable. for there are phases OF
his life which hardly any theory will ht ana so cN
IRENE was he In nearly all his manifestations that II
Is not difficult TO find support in his actions OF MS
writings for almost any conceivable view OF h'm'
The stella and Vanessa episodes have always been
the great stumbling blocks Of his biographers most OF
whom have probably taken an unphilosophc ana
erroneous view OF the Deans conduct toward these
women The present writer has reached a con-
cusion in The case which certainly offers plausible
explanation nj Swin's behavior. while IN grea'
measure absoving him from the oboquy wtich
hearted critics like Thackeray have heaped upon
him. On the surface OF the facts rs known IL GER
tanly appear that swift treated these two women
very badly. Mr. Moriarty now suggests tha' 'he r'''
solution Of the mystery physiological rather than
psychical, and he addresses many points WHICH ha"'
In favor OF this idea.
1t will probably always be impossible TO persuade
the majority that Swift did not treat Stella ana
vsnessa badly but the old legend OF his marriage 10
Stella WILL think. have TO be abandoned h''i!
There never was any but the fimsiest hearsay eV
dence concerning it, and all the best ottested iac's
negative the story. swift, doubt, was super
latively selfish man and an Unfortunately vain one
He clearly held that he was doing stella and Nancssa
the greatest Of favors in bestowing his friendship ana
correspondence upon them. and Thought mat 'hey
ought to be grateful ard conented. This Stea rea'S
appears to been. but Vanessa expected more anu
prolonged disappointment at last broke her hear''
Nothing can be sadder than this story. nor. II must
he frankly said does Mr.. Moriartys explanation
acqult Swift OF misconduct In the case Clearly
less self absorbed more considerate and magnanmons
man. would have avoided tie ENHANCEMENT IN wmch
he isvolvcd these trusting. loving women. Bu' 'he
Dean cared for little beyond his satisfaction ana
the Inst thing he desired to do was TO explain Hill
self and take up definite attitude.
Swift vas during the greater part Of his lifo' I'M
doubtedly a very UNHAPPY man. lie had some cause
for COMPLAINT against his partisan allies. who USED
him md neglected him. But after all these politicians
were not altogether b'arievcrhv. Swift hai himself
made It exceedingly difficult 10 give him what ne
wanted. Nothing less than bishoprc woho nave
satisfied his ambition. and whenever it came - a
serious question Of this his own writings rose IN inc
wsy and blocked IT, The savage and unmcrciini
pamphlctecr micht have passed but the author OF
the "Tale Of a Tub" ard The Battle OF the Books
was marked down for oStracism Since then. indeed
mon have been made bishops, ard in Encland' 100
who might thought have given far gravcr cause
OF offence than swift did, but in his time pre1noicr
was stronger and much narrower than at present ana
moreover swift terribly incisyc that all MS
blows told and the MARKS OF them remained.
This fearful force and venom OF his attacks mao'
him dangerous indeed TO his enemies. but perhaps
only less TO his friends These Knew tha'
n no thoroughly angry no consideration OF past
alliances would stop his pen and that under such
circumstances he would not conlne himself TO the
truth and nothing bit the truth Then. too. there
was his masterfu arrogance and assumption some
may think with his present biosrapher that lie DID
we'll to assert himself befor men like BolirGbroRc
and oxford. and perhaps he did But there are
bounds 10 that kind Of sckassertion. apd he over
,ooyrt Nd IA trnili
ate men who, though too welfralned In the ways or
the world ard Of politics openly 10 resent IN" Ill
breeding OF one whose service they needed. ncverthe
less may vel. have remembered his behavior against
him subsequently. In fact his lnsolence during the
brief period Of his prosperity was ovcrwcening ana
II cannot be seriously doubted that 1t had much 10
do With his ultimate failure. Tho disfavpr in which
Queen Anne held him OF course counted bat probably
that might have been overcome had there been
any resolute effort made 10 overcome it. Swift did
not rsc high with his party, and he Inevitably fell With
It. But II not this fall which soured him. The
truth 10 that he had always boon Disconnected from
the time no made his first appearance In Temples
house. He was OF geEius but splenetic beyond
all reason. He went through life snaring al nearly
all he met. Open his poems or his prose WORKS
anywhere and redundant malice Is the first fenturc
10 be noted. II Is the utspar!Dg cruelty 81 the
analysis that gives 70 "Guliivers Travels their flavor
and piquanoy. One cannot but feel that the book
was written BY hater of his race Regard his fugi-
tive poems also. They swarm with the btcrcSt and
most reckless hbcs. All his views OF society. Of
politics. Of religion. 81 education are not only sonbrc
but malignant. Nothing in the world OF his time
suited him. and while he ragged with all his con'em-
poraries and while he manifested a monumental heart
lessncss In his relations. his chronic III humor
was constantly exacerbaed by the thought that he was
not considered and deferred 10 In accordance with
Ids trnnsccndent merits.
Interesting. no doubt, is Swift. but 1t canrot be
said candidy that he Is attractive personality and
however much one may feel for bis wretched condl-
ton at the last 1t is difficult TO avoid the reflection
that he owed mos, OF his misery to his own savage
and unsocial temper. Mr.. M1riar'y has made an
interesting study Of the man. and has added an
analysis OF his principal writings which may be
useful ia this age hurry. The volume is enriched