The times., 1899-06-11
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GIimnses of Grent Men.

pedred, cannot lall 70 prove interesting ~
those who care for such records. There
are two kinds of "reminiscences which may
be set before the public, those of brilliant
men and those of the friends Of brilliant
men. The latter are apt to prove more
valuable, since the man with a genius for
friendship frequently gets 4 clear and i'm
partial view of characters so dissimilar
that neither ever understands the other.
For instance Mr.. Mccarthy might have
known Carlyle, Tennyson, Emerson, and
Hawthorne much better than any one of
the four would ever have known the 9TH
ers.
In the preface OF the book 1t is explained
that the writing OF it was done at quiet
little seaside village, during the first real
ly restful period which the author had had
for many years. in which. on account of
preceding Illness, all serious work had
been forbidden. II is suggested that this
was as favorable a time as could have
been chosen for the preparation of such
work This is probably true, but the one
fault, from literary point Of view, which
the book possesses may perhaps be traced
to this cause. Mr.. Mccarthy seems to
have determined TO say nice things about
everybody and everything encountered by
him during a long and decidedly evenful
life, and this results in a somewhat curl
Gus though agreeable nonotony. Of course
one would not wish him to say ill-natured
things about those whom he describes, but
it seems hardly possible that a man could
normally have such unvarying kindliness
and admiration for the whole world as this
book would indicate. But, after all, this
is not a very bad fault.
The London career of Justin Mccarthy
began in 1852. when he came from the
south OF Ireland 10 the great cosmopolitan
metropolis. and became what they called
in those days journalist. Almost at once
he fell in with some of the notable charac-
tiers Of the time. and in the course of a long
career as author public speaker, and men,
Der Of Parliament, he has come in contact
with most of the famous men in both Eng
land and America.
Some Of tie earlier "reminiscences are
tinged strongly with the spirit of hero
worship. The author at the time OF his
arrival in London was barely twenty-one,
and II was during the reign of that ma znifi-
cent triumvirate. Dickens, Thackeray, and
Tennyson. AS an obscure member of the
staff of a daily newspaper, Mr.. Mccarthy
had of course nc immediate Opportunity of
becoming acquainted with these men, and
he mentions with deep regret the fact that
the fates interfered with a plan for meet
ing Thackeray. A story which he tells of a
friend who did meet Thackeray is decided
ly amusing. 1t runs as follows:
] remember that toward the close of Thack-
eray's life used TO have great discussions as
10 whether he was or was not a great adrnrer
Of rank-whether he was not, in fsct, as some
Hlnutnred critics declared him 10 be, 4 person
age who ought 10 have had place III the col
lection Of characters represented 10y his own
Book Of Snohs' So far as | knew or could
olafFTsp TlsafE4rHv I had no "a hnlipVa
that he had any defect Of the kind. had known
him TO be on the most kindly and friendly terms
with men and women who had nothing whatever
Of rank or station to recommend them to his no
tice- One 2necd0te. however, which was told 10
me as a proof Of Thackeray's alleged veaknes= Tor
aristucTatic rank, ! feel bound TO narrate-it is
50 whimsical an illustration Of an utterly per
verse reading Of character by oddly preju-
diced observer. Among my casual acquaintance
al the time a who was, like myself,
struggling TO get into literature. He was q man
who claimed to belong TO a good family, and
who WIS always boasting Of the fact and telling
YOU Of his high connections. bringing out the
VINES Of his first cousin, the marquis, and his
lond cousin. the duchess, and his aunt in the
country. whose father had been in the royal
household We all understood the weakness Of
Ilr poor friend. and made fun 0; him when his
sack. was turned. lie had been lucky enough 10
make the acquaintance OF Thacheray, and was
fond Of abiding 10 the fact. One day ] met him
at the G1rrick Club. and he Suddenly began to
AaAh 10 INT aitll tNANhtfa.- NuW- Aooh mere. ne
szid. ''you always refuse to believe that Tlack-
eray worshps the aristocracy. I'll give you a
convincing proof that he does; a proof that
got only this very day, Do you see this cigarI''
lie held out between his fingers and ] ad.
n, ted that l did see H. well" he said. that
ar was given by Thackeray; and do you
Know what he said when he was giving il 10
mef ] had TO admit that ! could not form any
guess as 10 what Thackeray might have said.
So he went on. with an air Of triumph; well -
he said, "Thackcray's words to me were these:
Nov, my dear fellow, here is a cigar which
know you viii be delighted to have. because II
Is one Of box that was given 10 me by a
marquis. Now what have you 10 sayf' had moth.
ing 10 say. Ny friend told the same
story, and with the same purpose, 10 several 9th,
er men whom ! knew. and never seemed to have
the Temotest suspicion that the great satirisi
ssw his ioibie. and saw. too, that he was toe
dull Of understanding TO know when he was made
The mark for satire.
London was In a peculiar condition then,
from a literary point of view. and per-
haps Mr.. Mccarthy has described 1t as
well as it could be described. It was per
meated with the influence OF the great
men of the time, and originality was al
most impossible. He says on this subject;
About that time some Of US talked Dickens and
some Of Us thought TliaekeTay. and some Of Us
who considered ourselves above mere absorption
in novels, talked and tried TO think CARLYLE.
his yoiaries than mere outsiders could imag.
ine. The process OF thinking CARLYLE most o.
Is imagined TO be getting up determination in
Cur own minds that all '.shams" and '-simulacra'
should be abolished forever squelched" was tho
favorite woodland that the ''forloln hope o.
Gods battle 90 he cleared of them. The
yotaries applied this to every possible institution
or person whom they did not favor; and ther,
WAS 4. Carlylese system Of thinking made easl
and ready TO hand. The Carlylese yernacular wa,
usually acqu red BY the simple process Of invertin,
some Of the words Of sentence that might other
wise have been commonplace In our debating
societies. Il we desired to say that some publi
man whom admired had certain cause a
heart. declared that il was ''in the heart 0
him. or, better STILL that il Sin the BIZ
heart Of him." and were full Of the belief tina
the mere uiterznce made genuine Carlyles al
Ht once The young literary men who wrote II
periodicals or in newspapers either thought aite
Thackeray or talked after Dickens. Tn
atmosphere WAS impregnEted with Dickens here
with Carlyle there. with Thaekeray yonder. VI
could not escape from initiation, no matter hoy
hard might have tried 10 be original. and. in
deed, suppose nobody ever became original Will
striving n originality. We lived on imitation; I
was the very breath oi our nostrils. A man VIII
inlales smoke must breath out smoke: and a mai
who inhales Dickens, Thsckeray. Carlyle wa
sure 10 give out 4 weak smoky imitation
Tennyson, matter how large th
number of his devoted admirers never inlu
encod the ordinary spoken style Of his age t
anything like the extent that these other grea
writers did. Fer reason, there was not man
nerisn enough about Tennyson 10 enable anyon
Of as TO produce q colorado imitation Of him
NacaulAy only influenced the style Of th
young men who tried to write essays, and di
not affect the spoken or written style oi the OF
dinary public-eycn Of the literary public
all.
His impressions OF Tennyson and Brown
ing are also interesting and rather Gu
rious:
Ny personal acquaintance with Tcnnyson was bu
slight ] met him, indeed, several times, and ca
easily understand the Kind Of personal worshi