New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-12

thought there was in the allusion to meagre ior-
tune was shown a little later by the haste win
which Coleridge married Sara Fricker when he
had nothing but prospects depending on an IN
dustry that was never his to command
II he had taken Mary Evans to wife ana 'nen
had been unhappy. he would never nave hau a"'
one hut himself to blame The case was some
what different with his actual marriage. he was
now In love with an idea. that OF Pantisocracy' IN
,vh,ct IN. lady was somehow entangled and he
had 10 deal with mind far more watchfui than
his own on the practical side that OF Sou'hey.
When he ran away from obligations which ne had
enthusiastically taken upon himself ne was soon
brought 70 bay by suspicion which ne had not
ont,cinated. He was obliged to deny mat ne
had any thought Of escaping. He protes'eu
against the feeling which Southey expressed. IL
ne had been In Southey's place and Soutney III
his he insisted that he would have contnVed ex-
nanatons for his friend. not accusations against
him. The excuse which he framed SHOWS inc
strange relations of the three parties 10 th's
courtship. Southey figured as the friend ana
protector OF the Fricker family. Colerioee as .he
uncertain man Of genius who was regarded WIN
affection. but also with doubt. Colridge oeiayeo
h,s latter 10 Miss Frcker. or rather directed 1t
tbroueh southey's hands, because he had not been
authorized to write to the lady herser. IL
was settled" he wrote that through you IN
our weekly parcels were the letters 10
he conveyed" He had not written during many
davs stay In London. because his promise only
required letter the moment he arrived IN cam
bridge. The delay In London was longer than ne
had anticipated. but II did not anect MIN WIN II
sense of responsibility. He conciudes-'his
strange lover who Is for once so sparing OF pen
and ink-by saying to Southey. III you are satis-
fed. tell Miss F. that you are 30. but assign no
reasons--I ought not to have been suspected
Meanwhile Pantisocracy had hourished IN the
minds NJ all its devotees but especially In Cole
ridges Imagination. 1t brought on his marriage
and II caused feeling on his part that Southey
was bound TO carry the scheme forward 10 COM
Melton. He was himself the victim OF circum-
.tances not only In his own view OF the case, but
IN that which must be taken by those who study
the letters especially those hitherto unpublished
IN those yolumcs He was already at the begin
ming OF manhood. without the tyranny OF opium
the same unvolitiona person that he was when ne
became fully awake to his own defects. In view
~ these unconscious confessions OF his weakness.
while there must always be an acknowledgment
Of the praise and gratitude due to Southey Tor inc
care he took OF Coleridge's family. the obligations
nut upon him by his share In bringing about the
marriage of a man so helpless In AFFAIRS cannot
be forgotten.
Meanwhile Mary Evans appears to have made
one effort to reclaim Coleridge Her letter ap-
pears in these volumes as copied by Coierioee
into one which he wrote to Southey. IT was WITH
ont a signature but Coleridge did not need to be
to,d from whom Il came rs this handwriting
altogether erased from your memory she
asked. ITO whom am addressing myself? For
whom am I now violating the rules OF female
delicacy? Is 1t for the same Coleridge whom
I once regarded as a sister her best-beloved
brother? Or for one who Will ridicule tnat ao-
vice from me which he has rejected as onered
by his family? will hazard the attempt. nave
no right nor do feel myself inclined to reproach
you for the Past. God forbid! You have already
suffered too much from self accusation But con-
jure you. Coleridge. earnestly and solemniy con-
lure YOU 10 consider long and deeply. before you
enter into any rash schemes There Is an Eager
ness in your Nature which Is ever hurrying you In
the sad extreme. have heard that you mean
to leave England. and on a Plan so absurd and
extrayaRant that vert I for moment to imagine
Il true. I should be obliged to listen with more
patient Ear to suggestions which have rejected
a thousand times with scorn and anger. Yes!
whatever Pain might suffer. should be forced
to exclain, o what a noble mind is here DER
thrown. Blasted with ecstasy You have
country, does II demand nothing Of you? You
have doting friends. VIII you break their Hearts!
There is a God-Colerdge! Though have been
told Indeed do not believe ip that you doubt
Of His existence and disbelieve hereafter No.
you have too much sensibility to be an lnfidel
You know never was rigid In my opinions con-
corning Religion-and have always thought Faith
to be only Reason applied to particular subject
In short. am the same Being az when you used
to say We thought in all things alike often re-
feet on the happy hours we spent together and
regreat the Loss Of your Society. l cannot easily
forget those whom once loved-nor can easily
form new Friendships. find women In general
vain-all Of the same Trine, and therefore little
and envious. and Il am afraid. without sincerity
and OF the other sex those who are offered ana
held up to my esteem are very prudent and very
worldly. II you value my peace OF mind. you must
on no account answer this letter or take the
least notice OF IT. would not for the world any
part OF my family should suspect that l have
written to YOU My mind II sadly tempered by
being perpetually obliged TO resist the solicitations
Of those whom love. need not explain myself
Farewell. Coeridge! I shall always feel that
have been your Sister" As Coeridge looked at
the matter It was the woman who could write
thus that he was giving up for the wonderful
notion OF founding q society from which evil
should be banished. He fancied that he was
showing sefsacrifce and an effort OF will In CIV
ing her up. II loved her. Solthey." was his COM
ment. almost to madness. Her image was never
absent from me for three years, for more than
three years. My resolution has not faltered. but
want a comforter" But Is II certain that he
was sacrificing himself or exercising his power OF
will? Was he not more likely INDUCING himself
In the luxury OF sef-torment. accepting the guild
ance OF others. while medtating on what would
happen. II his guide were the beautiful and petite
Mary Evans. instead Of the masterful southey?
1t Is worth observing how these two guides
kept pace with each other in Coleridges mind
While Southey was In the ascendant and the out
look Of Pantisocracy was hopeful. Mary Evans
marched forward the lovely ghost OF regret
When Southey deserted the cause on which Cole
ridge imagined his own heart to be set. instantly
Mary Evans became a very real creature. but.
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