The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-06

Mr.. Hutton suggested In 1882 what has bcen
remembered much longer for the singular in
sight OF his literary judgments than for that
transcendental philosophy for which he was
once famous In our authors opinion no man
has compressed more authoritative penetra-
ton into his sentences than Emerson. He dis
csrned character more truly than Carlyle.
though he did not describe with half the glow
Ing viRor. As an examp pie Of superior percep-
ton. II 10 pointed out that while Carlyle wor-
shipped Goethe blndly Emerson pierces to the
very core OF the fact. when he says: Goethe
can never be dear to men. His is not even the
devotion to pure truth but to truth for the
sake of culturs:' and again. Goethe has
one test for all men. What can you
teach me?" or Goethe as an artist En-
erson said: His affections help him like
the women employed By Cicero to worm
out the secrets OF conspirators." Goethe as q
poet was thus summed mp By Emerson:
These are not wild. miraculous songs. but
elaborate poems. to which the poet has con-
fdsd the results OF eighty years OF observa-
tion." In such marks OF insight Mr.. Hutton
sees something more ROYAL and certain than
In all the humorous brillisnce OF Carlyle. Un-
known to CARLYLE. too. was tho tone OF serene
authority with which Emerson's judgments
sonal or aggressive; there was about him the
regal suavity which settles a troublesome
matter without dispute. His sentences read
often like decreea 1t Is now half q century
since Matthew Arnold recognized In Emerson
. voice oracular."
When he proceeds to compare the two as
transcendentAl thinkers. Mr.. Hutton does not
hesitate to declare CARLYLE much the greater
OF the two. To his eyes Emerson never seems
SO little secure Of his ground as he is In utter
ing his characterization. He takes no dis
tinet aim. and hits only ths vague His trans
eendental essays are full OF dark symbolism
which carries weight only in proportion to
the extent OF our Ignorance. not to the extent
of our knowledge. The various disauisitions
in which Emerson tried to assert the absolute
unity OF the material aud spiritual laws OF the
universe are pronounced UNREASONABLE.
though decidedly Interesting failures You
can drive MIR. Hutton thinks. a coach and six
through almost any OF the geusrAliZAtions
which pass for philosophy In these imagi native
speculations. IL Is maintained. on tho other
hand that Carlyle. so FAR as he was a trans
csndentalist stuck to the very truth
and reality Of nature. He showed US
how small q proportion OF our life We
can realize In thought; how small a
proportion OF our thoughts ws.cAn figure forth
In words; how immense lie the difference be-
tween the pretensions OF human speech and
the real life for which II stands; how vast the
forces amid which the human spirit strives
for its little modicnm OF purpose; how infinite
the universe. both In regard to space and time.
on which We make our little appearances only
TO subside again before we can hope ma
teriAlly to change the great stream OF ten
denotes which contains us; and he made Us
feel as hardly any other has made Us feel how
In spite Of all this array OF immenslties In
which We are hardly q dlstlnguishable spsck.
the spirit. whose command brings US into
being. requires Of US ths kind OF life which
dsnes necessity. and breathes into the order
OF our brief existence the spirit OF impAs-
stoned right aud indomitabls freedom. This
was but narrow aim compared with that OF
Emsrson's philosophy. but 1t succeeded while
Emerson's did not
But II held inferior in genius as q man
Emerson IL compared fAvorAbly with Carlyle.
He possessed his soul In patience. which Car
lyls never did: he had maguanimity In which
the other was altogether wanting; he SYM
DathlSsd GTdsntly With all the greatest prActi-
cal movements Of the dAI. while Carlyle held
aloOL Emerson WAS one Of
the irst to strike heavy blow at the instItu-
ton OF slavery. He had . genuine desire to
see all men really free while Carlyle only felt
the desire to see all men strongly governed.
Then. again. EmsFson's mind was heartily re-
ligtouS. though HE characterization gave .
esEtAin air OF patronage to his manner OF
speaking Of Ahy Of the greater rsllgionA To-
ward man be WAs always rsVsEsnt-Hhleh Car.