Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-16

I
, Bv advice of Emerson it seems that he
once decided to beard Carlyle in his world
renowned den in Cheyne Row. and this
was the manner of his reception: The
hous,a was a modest three-Story brick.
such as could be rented in Philadelphia
for Twenty-Five dollars "A month; a modest
hallway extending to the foot of the stairs
where on the left. doorway opened into
what would be a back parlOr or dining
room out of this doorway there came
figure of Thomas Carlyle Assuming, as
il seemed to me, an unusual. unnecessary,
| and unnatural dignity, and looking to-
ward the doorway where | stood waiting.
only about ten feet from me. the great
man. wrapped in his famous long black
wrapper-lookinG something like the cas-
sock Of a priest-said to me somewhat
stfrnly: You want to see me, do ye?
here | am, if that's all We want He did
not move but Il, who revered him. and
saw in a flash the blunder of soul that he
had made. stepped directly in front OF
him, ready to weep for him. not for my
self. | saw that he had utterly misun
derstood my motive and my being-as
unfortunately some would-bc great men
persist in doing to this day. The TWO mo-
tives of self-reSpeUt and pity for him were
uppermoSt in me. and | said very quietly,
but with an intensity that he seemed to
understand in a second: 1 have read your
works these many years. and | have
vered their author. l am not seeking tn
gaze upon any man. but, being in Eng
land, felt that | would love to see the au-
thor and speak with him a moment; that
Is; II perfectly agreeable to yourself, sir.
Inc attitude. the manner, the voice OF the
prophet all changed instantly, as sun
burst out of a cloudy day, and quiet as
moonlight on the water or the true voice
OF noble and brother man. he extended
both hands to mine and said, with infinite
politeness: Will you walk in and be seat
ed, SIR? -
p. c; Benson. author of "Dudo" and
THE Relentless City" is one of three
brothers who are all literary men: \. c.
fn ifa a. wEote life Of TennSs" n
ems. and Robert Benson who recently
entered the Roman Catholic Church. is
also an author.
Will Carleton. author of the famous
Over the Hill to the PoorIIouse had
his first poem printed when he was not
schoolmatc. who had a atural talent
for printing. had begged. borrowed. and
found enough type to print a few verses
at time; and his output consisted of
copies of the popular songs of the day.
which he sold to his felow-pupils for
lew cents Il copy Learning that
asked him to compose something orig
inal for his home made press. The
lad was delighted at the prospect OF
getting INTO print. and the next day
Il poem entitled The Land of the
Wolvernc.' But after reaching home
| the youthful poet, lovingly pondering the
lines,
And am not ashamed to own
That in W"lvcrine-Land is my home,
At evening, noon, or morn,
discovered a false rhyme in Gown"
and home" greatly to his dismay. Next
morning AT dawn there came Il Knocking
| at the door of tie other boys parents.
| Who's therc?" growlcd the iratc father
Of the printer. thrustinS his head out OF
Its viii Carleton" replied timid
voice. Il want to see Bob. l have to
change my poetry before he gets it
| What, Did you wake us up out of our
sleep lust for that? Well. I'll he - the
rest of the sentence was lost in the re-
| CcSSeS of the room. Presently Bob aD-
| pcarcd; but it was too late. for the whole
edition of twenty copies had hcen run off
during the evening. The sorrowful and
conscientious young poet had to content
himself with the two copies he received
as his royalty.
Novels are to he read ut odd times not
as literature. but in the way of diversion
There are appropriate hours for several
sorts of reading As Miss Repplicr points
out in her attractivc way, there are
bedroom: and she quotes fhacicrays die
| tum. 'MonaiGnc and IIowcIl's Letters
the dozy hours and only half-remembored
| them Macaulay said, Some books
which | would never dream of opening at
dinner. please me at breakfast. and vice
versa. | think that | should prefer
MontaiSnc and the Itpistola Ilo-eliance at
some moro widcawakc time. Ella at bed
time Thackeray in the afternoon. with an
linStaiment of Dickens in the bright clear
morning. and perhaps. De Quincy
Holmes or Lowell at noon. would he more
in accord with my personal feelings. If
one is fond of BalZac or of Scott, two
diSSimilar beings, one might wedge them
in somehow. d" not know when | could
} contrivc to appropriate time for Henry
\ James or Mrs. IIumphry Ward. hut they
might hC reserved for a season of in
4 Somnia.-AdriaT II. Joinc.