The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
LanR,n

In the two volumes entitled The Life and
Letters Of John Gibson Lockhart tScrieners).
Mr.. ANDREW LANG has given us one of the most
valuable and delightful books Of the year.
Indeed. the biography deserves TO rank with
Lockharts Life of Scott" The book was
Q dificult one to write. for Lorkhnrt', enemies
were many. and they had contrived to make q
deep impression on public opinion. Their
numerous charges and imputations nre sepa-
rately and carefully considered. and the result
must be acknowledg god to be. upon the whole. a
satisfactory defence. Let US mark some Of the
conclusions which Mr.. Lang has reached
concerning Lockhart as a man. as an editor. and
q, q bioRrapher.
Mr.. Lang's conclusions are set forth in the
form OF impressions rather than of judgments.
He does not presume to sit in Judgment upon
the character OF any human being. least Of all
when the character is so strong and so complex
as that of Lockhart. The suthor of the Life
of Scott has been often spoken OF as cold.
heartless. incapable of friendship. Mr.. Lang
submits that his own letters printed In these
volumes have been vainly displayed, II It be not
now recognized that the intensity of his affec-
ttons rivalled and partly caused the In
tensIty OF his reserve. The truth seems
to have been that LockbArt felt too strongly
for words: his Rriefs were too great for
tears. HIS silence was not SO much the
result OF q stoical philosophy as OF the c~oustitu-
tional and inerad!cable ply OF nature which.
when he was n child. left his cheeks dry while
others wept. and ended In a mslady OF voiceless
grief. He was born to DO SO. and to DO miscon-
strued. The loyalty of his friendship and the
loyalty of his friends to him were certainly re-
markable. His great devotion to Sir Walter
Scott. SO unaffected. so enduring. colored all his
life and thoughts. To have won the entire
trust and love of Scott and the singular aflec-
tion or Carlyle. who saw him rarely. yet who
remem bered and regretted him keeuly. having
fallen in love with him. as It were. is n proof Of
extraordinary qualities In heart and brain.
His generosity In giving. even beyond his
means. is abundantly attested. His affections
within the circle of his family were tender and.
perhaps In one instance. even too considerate.
In society 1t Is obvious from the number and
character OF his acquaintances. and from the
houses which were open to him.. that he could
both take and give pleasure. 1t is true enough.
on the other hand, that instances of shyness.
petulance. and GOODNESS In suciety strange or
uncongenial. were un forgotten and unforRiven
by those who had never met Loekhart where
he was himself and at home. That he was
strenuously industrious and con scientious In
hi, editorial and other literary duties.
courteous and punctual. is. In these
volumes. conclusively demonstrated. His
editorial work involved the Cancellation OF sew
eral tempars and interests: he had to shiIe In
compromise. and. OIL tho whole. he succeeded.
Reviewing all that Ito has learned OF him in the
researches incident to the composition of this
book. Mr.. Lang finds that the final impression
left upon his mind Is one OF respect. admiration,
affection. ana regret. The close of Lockhart's
life. admirable for courage. kindness, endur-
ance. sweetness OF temper, and considerRteness.
is com pared 10 a yelled sunset. He might. In
deed. speak OF himself as weary old man.
1T for nothing but to shut myself up
and DO sulky." The gay fortitude OF
his letters. however, proves that he
did himself injustice. Sorrows In O succession
and q severity almost without parallel. disap-
pointed hopes, frustrated ambitions, the CEN
sures which pursued his monumental work. did
not sour him. In spite OF q retreat which Was
forced on him by his bodily health. he mellowed
under years ana griefs. His end, as we have
said. was fitting and beautiful. a continuation
in a softer key Of the close of the life of Scott.
The presence of his dust at Dry burgh makes
the place dUubly sacred.
No attempt Is made to conceal Lockhart's
errors In tho book before us. Those errors.
such as they were, were mainly the faults OF his
conduct in criticism. The worst of them had
whatever excuse can DO supplied by youth. ig-
norance, the heated political and literary pas
sions OF q small town, and the example OF an
elder comrade. In his later years eyory one who
had or fancied that he or she had n grievance
against the Quarterly Review cried out against
the editor Of that periodical. Among the
wounded and fostering vAnitles of a generation
OF scribblers Was gradually evolved a legend
or myth OF Lockhart. On this point a good
deal has been written 10 these volumes, and II