The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10

III
N wrecked nerves, that rnarred her
IX1EI life with Carlyle, his self-accu-
Stations much prated about by
the great mans enemies, one finds them
reduced 20 an appreciation OF the fact that
he did not take his wife's physical condf-
ton into sufficient consideration. Carlyle
himself tore into tatters the veil that ordi-
narfly cIoaks the intimacies of private life,
but whatever he discloses IL is not a pam
Drama OF connubiaI unhappiness. This man
and this woman, who, for forty years wrote
TO each other daily whenever temporarily
separated. were not engaged in a comedy.
They never ceased TO love and respect
each other.
Both were strong-headed and storms were
frequent Listen to this from Carlyle QS25):
"Oh, thou, my beautiful patron saint
my kindly. hot-tempered angel, my loving
,quarrelsome wife, thou shalt help me to
win success and console me if disappoint-
ment comes"
Jane unhappy neither in Edinburgh,
where the couple spent the first twelve
months after marriage. nor in Craiggen-
puttock, her farm, where they lived dur
fng the next six years with intervals. BY
her own free Will she had rendered herself
penniless. turning her small fortune over to
her mother. Thereafter the scant revenues
from Carlyles literary labOrs and his in
come from a farm, indifferently admnis-
tered by a brother who soon went into bank
ruptcy. were their sole resources. But
poor as he was Carlyle never shirked his
duty towards his mother, and even helped
out his brothers and sisters with considera-
bic sums.
Froude tells us that at Craiggenputtock
Mrs Carlyle was obliged to get along with
out a servant, but It is untrue.
Jane was a born letter-writer. as her cor
respondence from that early period
ahundantly proves She had an irresistible
passion for putting on paper. with grace
and wit, her every acknowledgements hing
that happened within her knowledge. At
the same time household cares. always up
permost In her mind. held first place in
her letters. even when the wolf no longer
laid siege to her door.
Besides, she was one of those women
who never can keep a servant; changed
them as she did her linen; was always fight
ing with them: Carlyle actually had 10
force her &c employ "a second help" On
account of these domestic unpleasantnesses
he suffered much annoyance and less of
time. Witness :he great Thomas escorting
placing her in the poste chaise, sitting on
the outside himself, sitting there freezing.
and looking in once In a little while TO
allay Noras attacks OF inconsistencies. But
whatever sacrifice he made in that direc-
ton. they were largely in vain. To make
housekeeping a burden, turn her home up
side down under pretense OF putting things
IN order was James passion. But it must
be admitted that Carlyle looked upon her
activity as unavoidable; ne had seen so
much hard work done by his mother and
sisters. that performing the simple duties
OF a small household did not strike him
as a hardship. His own incessant labors
should also be taken into account.
Craiggenputtock was comfortably fur
nished. there was even room for occasional
guests, but the climate thereabout was
raw and the situation very lonely The
nearest baker for instance lived MANY
miles away and Carlyle could not stand
his bread anyhow. So Jane had to take
20 breadmakng.
zone night" he says, ct was kept awake
by the fear OF uncanEy things that might
happen in the oven. I felt as II | was
disgracing myself ~ such work When il
struck buried my face in my hands and
cried. Then I remembered that Benvenuto
too. sat up all night while his Perseus was
I'm the oven and / argued: What is the diff
ference between being a statue and a Loaf
OF bread. provided the duties faith imposes
upon one are well performed? "
The thought was a great consolation e
Jane. which proves that she was an ex-
traOrdinary woman.
Taking all In all. James was a hard
iaborious life. but there were compensa-
lions. Above AL. she loved her husband
Every fine morning she went horseback
riding with Thomas: I'm the afternoon they
studied together. Spanish and Italian and
rad Don Quixote and Ariost There were
hours when Carlyle's eioquence made hel
forget her troubles. when she was trans
ported b. his genius. She criticised nj:
writings. gloried IN Goethes letters and
sent 10 the people. whom she adOred,
lock OF her black hair She firmly believed
IN Carlyle's star. In his greatness, for sh'
was wise far-seeing woman.
During their worst years. from a pecun
Nary standpoint, Carlyle went to LondoI