The Portland daily press., 1897-10-06

out of their proper spherioity Now it so
happened that in shop of old engrav-
ings l had come across COPY OF this por-
trait OF LIE Grand Aplatissetir. at once
bought it and had 1t framed. 1t is by 0
means common, and thinking that Car
lyle would value 1t more than 1 did,
took It WIN me to make him present of
much inferior sketch of Maupertius. and
he accepted it, not only graciously, but
with real pleasure. I had proof after
ward that he really valued it; for when
he oled wrote and asked his executors
whether, as 1t was but of small intrinsic
value, they would return 1t to me as a
memorial Of Carlyle, if none OF his family
particularly wished for 1t. OF course |
put the request very modestly; but they
at once sent me back the picture, and 1
found that Carlyle had had it taken out
OF the common wooden frame in which l
had placed 1t, and had had 1t framed In
worthier and more expensive style.
I do not know whether he was in an
exceptionally good humor, and whether
my present Of Mauperttus had specially
made him feel gracious; but certainly
that afternoon he showed none of the
spienetic and dyspeptic rudeness of which
he was so often guilty, and which made
him blurt out so many disparaging-if
sometimes Acknowledgements even Of
contem poraries who were very far superb
or to himself in the moral hero1sm he SO
theoretically preached, but which, in his
life Of deplorable and too often tself-ab-
sorbed wretched ness, he SO conspicuously
failed to exemplify. For nothing is more
saddening about Mr.. Froude's numerous
volumes Of the biography of Carlyle than
the fact that while they abound in severe
and scornful epigraIns against multitudes
of his most eminent and kindest acquaint.
ances, there are but three personages-if
so many--to whom he alludes with cor
daily generous approval. We must have
stayed with him talking for at least an
hour or more, and SO far from showing
any signs of being tired of US, he wanted
us to stay longer. He did nob-as 1t was
pathetic to see-sign his name in the prin-
cesss book, because his hand shook so
pitiably. He told the dean that he must
leave the book there, and he would sign
it at his leisure and send it back.
The conversation suggested by this Incl
dent turned on German princesses, and
we began to talk of Elizabeth of Hungary
Carlyle at first expressed himself almost
CONTEMPORARY about her, in much the
same style as his published estimate of
Ignatius Loyola, whom he characterizes
as If he were among the poorest of God g
creatures. The dean and dwelt on the
noblesand tender elements in her charac-
ter, and, to my surprise, Carlyle, after a
little time, quite came round to our view,
and admitted how much there was about
her history and legend which was touch
ing and exemplary. To many who loved
and honored Carlyle the publication OF
his biography was sad and grievous dis
illusionment-an act of almost profane
iconoclasn. I remember once being told
by friend that he happened to visit
Carlyle just after brilliant man of gen
ius had left him. whom nv friend had
met on his way to Carlyle's door. "Ah,"
said the visitor, II have just been visit
ing poor Carlyle. He is mere wreck-a
mere wreck" $50 you have just had
Mr.--with your said my friend tc
Carlyle "Yes," was the answer of the
"mere wreck" land he thinks good
Almighty never made such another I!