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

hArt's early misdeeds in respect OF bitter
ness OF comment, he was not absolutely the
master. or the slave, OF tho Quarterly Re
pfcp. His own essays. numerous ne they are,
contain not many phrases which deserve GEN.
sure. On politics he did not write q single arti-
Gle. Touching this subject, an extract from an
article attributed to Dean Mlllman is repro
duccd with approval: There was ono thing
which set Lockhnrt far above all common crit
les; high over every other consideration pro-
dominated the general love Of letters. Whatever
might be tho fate OF those of more doubtful pre-
tensions tcvcn to the lowest, the humblest OF
authors, there was one kind of generosity In
which Lockhart was never wanting; it his
heart was closed his hand was ever OPEN. yet,
II any great work of genius appeared his kin
dred spirit was kindled at once, and his admira-
tion and sympathy threw off all trammels We
have known where he has resisted rebuke or re-
monstrnnce in order to do justice to the works
Of political antagonists"
1t Ia admitted by Mr.. Lang that Lockhart was
not through all his life. q man OF sweet and
placable temper In private. On this point 10
quoted an anecdoto transmitted by his friend
Mrs. Norton to lord Duferin. Lockhart said
to her: To-day II ia as II I had seen a ghost.
My wife. whenever I got cross and spoke
sharply. had n trick of putting her two hands
together and plncinE them with the palms over
my mouth. The other day my little daughter
came across the room when | was angry about
something, and using exactly tho same gesture
as her mother, placed her hands over my mouth"
1t will be remembered that Lockhart married q
daughter of Sir Walter Scott. Unfortunate in
many things. he is pronounced most happy In q
wife and a daughter who inherited the sweet
ness of spirit OF their father and their prand-
father. To their influence are attributed the al
mirable qualities which. In his later years. con-
trasted with the acerbity of his early manhood.
or all the contemporary reviews OF Lockhart's
Life of Scott" one only Is still read. that,
namely. which was written BY Carlyle. who WAS
then q distant acquaintance of the author:
afterward they became friends. Carlyle finding
in Lockhnrt, as he says, "A thinking man."
When penn,ng tho review. Carlyle was not In
his most genial mood. He objected to the guam
tity OF the work. as II 1t were what Lockhart
styled It, a mere compilation" q collection
OF materials. Carlyle did not then foreseo
his own immense Life OF Frederick tho
Great" He said, however, that "sngarity,
decision, candor, diligence, good manners.
good sense, these qualities are throughout
observable" and tho compilation is the work
of a mantul. clear-secing, conclusive man.
Lockhartts free speaking has laid him open to
censure, a censure better than q good MANY
praises" 1t was added that the biographer had
NOV lotL SCOtt III tuo WHlto, ptdtlllcu Ruoot
condition" AS to the Ballantynes, by whose
failure Scott had been ruined, Carlyle detected
"nowher the smallest trace of Ill will or unjust
feeling" He also demolished the absurd theory
attributed to Rogers that Mr.. Lockhart at
heart has a dislike to Scott. and has done his
bes: In an underhand. treacherous manner. to
d,shero him." On the contrary. Carlyle thought
that II Lockhart had a defect. It was that
Scott is altogether lovely to him; that his
very faults become beautiful, his vulgar world.
Illnesses are solid prudences, proprieties. and of
HE worth there 10 no measure" Hero. accord
ing to the author OF these volumes, Carlyle was
undeniably in error. Lockhart records Sir
Walters own remark that he had "a thread of
the attorney in him" In money matters. Lock-
hart's sentiments about SCOTS commercial
dealings. about his too close association with
iatterers and creatures Ike the Ballantynes,
are plainly expressed. and not merely to be
read between tho lines. LockhRrt does not
disguise. though he understands IL so well
that he ~forGives it Sir Walters respect for
rank. Nor does he conceal SCOTS fnan-
cial recklessness. He tells the tale of SCOTS Sc
verify to his unhappy brother Daniel. and OF
his subsequent repentance. He shows how fra
ternal feeling caused Scott to behave uncivilly
to Lord Holland at a Friday Club dinner; and
he reports their eventual reconciliation. Mr..
Lang would not contend that, in the case OF all
men. biography should be written thus. Not
this rnsnarin,,v Ala Io.kh.-t htm,.IT ,hink
!, hscomin, -, vii. .hor, po,.r, r.. W.,
:, :. nro,nnnn.d . ,h,na ~ r.to,o. ~ ,n., 49,
,rII .,orvo, a., i..., Nv. oro., 80. ne. 90
be told as Lockhart has told the story OF
,ar. ,. ho,o Oh. trI ,or,r.i, -, .m.,. -.
ds,sc,s .ro hror,b, ont hv m. ,nton.. i,an,
-, oon,,. .,d aooa,a.. .ns ,,,. a,..I...a
how slight they seem. Scott. assuredly. was
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mrch Tor IN. yyo-,d Va, h.. ,Iv.d ,or o,hor
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- a,oaIIana. ~, ..,ein,. ,.p.
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and vanity shine IN IocLo-,,s naas. =, ~
.,.,,aI =, nau ho O.
goo1 man could have an CLEARLY ohso-ys, an
thorou,hIv .do,.s ava ohnir.hIu $1,000
,ho.o y,r,r.. .nd o,,hornh Io.L.r,. oh..
acter r.rv faulty az veil az comn,.r .nd
occostona,, $780, :, ,,or,a ~. 80 49,