The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-04-09
OUR LITERARY TABLE
SIR ROGER DE COyERLEY,

reward to the assiduous reader of Addison. at leas
Tor the delightful hours spent with the kindly re
NAL, urbane Spectator? To Macauay too wha
thanks not due for that familiar acquaintance
his pages have given US of him whom he style.
the greatest of English essayiss the gentlest anC
most modest OF men, Is it not Just as we'll to re-
yect the lmputation of Macaulays partially fo1
his subject, and, for the sake of such an almost
faultess acquisition to literary gallery accept
his beautiful portrait of Addison without question
ing Its absolute accuracy!
But after the Spectator himself with his al
turing shyness, his interesting tacurnitv his sim
pie but soundly rational views on the manners of
his day, his sly but telling observations. and his
humor, so quiet that you must keep wide awake
not to miss It's laughing undertones-after the
Spectator comes Sir Roger de Coverly his best
friend.
Yes Sir Roger is, without doubt the prime
tavorlte of the Spectator Club,-"the first of our
Society writes Steele in No. 3; for it is here we
are introduced to this gentleman of Worcester
shire, OF ancient descent baronet, and learn at
once his honorable pedigree and the prestige he has
himself won In his shire by his aniable idiosyn-
CRASHES, well as by his sturdier merits The
secret of his baehelorhood is an open one his very
coat and doublet being an ever-present reminder of
the days when dressed in the same fashion, he
courted the beautiful widow and was repulsed with
such refinement of barbarity by "that excellent
creature" Later, we learn all the particulars of
sympathy for the rejected lover while it provokes
our amusement at the embarrassing and ludicrous
situations into which his chivalrous sentiments
thrust him. This disappointment, however much
we may deplore it in our fondness for the old
knight, certainly enriches not little the eoloring
OF his character. Before he had been the "fne
gentleman afterwards, he grew careless even so
tar as persstently to adhere to the vogue of that
day IN his coat and doublet. True, he was properly
serious for year and a half after the event but
the sweetness of his nature perforce rose upper
most SO that in his hftysixth year. he was cheerful
gay and hearty, keeping a good house in both town
and country, loving his fellows greatly and being
In turn universally beloved
AT that time the education of lord of the
manor was not far above that of his interiors;
whatever he may have learned at college being
speedily forgotten in MS preference for the sports
ana amusements OF the age. Sir Roger, however
vas an honorable exception this rule for he con-
lnued his reading while managing his estate. and
1ls conversance with matters literary is evident in
he nicely of his choice of Chaplain and the ar
angement made with that functionary regarding
lis sermons How solid was the basis on which Sir |
foger principles were founded may be seen in his
evere judgments passed upon men of farming who |
10 not make good use of their talents In fact
lie charges them with almost all the i'll habits of |
lie, and says that none but men of fine parts |
eserve to be hanged" His reasons are elaboratelv
rgued IN the Spectator No. 6.
HOW benevolent the character of Sir Roger
hows forth in his attitude toward his dependents
lis orders were received as favors rather than
uties; and the distinction of approaching him was
art of their reward for executing his commands.
ruly was such more like father or prince
nan a master in his family.
Again, the description of Sunday at Coverley
srves to bring into view the religious side of this
lterestlng character. Sir Roger was like pa
larch among his tenants; for he not only used his
leans for the material improvement of the parish
1urch, but also contrived ingenious devices for
'curlng regular attendance at the services Thus
} employed a singing master to go among the
9ope and teach them the tunes of the Psalms
also provided every one with hassock ON which
kneel and prayer book from which to read the
sponses. Then he would allow no one to sIeen
lrlng the services, and if he found himself nod
ng, he forthwith stood up and looked about and
he saw any others doing the same he woke them
l. lie was wont to lengthen out the verses so as to
several words behind the rest; and we can fancy
w this and his feryently repeated Amens after
same prayer must have spurred ON the less
vout or If not aids to serious devotion they must
least have helped to break the monotony of the
sellhg Tor the brewster ones. Certainly Sir
'ger as model to his people, must have had lit
to account for at the final reckoning.
But our worthy knight knew how to keep his
dy IN good condition well as his soul for he
S champion hunter. Before describing the
hlerating chase at which he so eisurey assisted
the Coverley estate, the Spectator sets forth his
rvs on the necessity of exercise to the ply
al well-being. thus warding off any possible sus
hon that Sir Rogers famous triumphs, as a hun
;, We're mere idle sports How pleasingly vivid
this chaper on the day of the hunt Addison
surely the forerunner of our modern novelties -
which OF these can show us such delightful
%! 1t may be doubted whether anyone but that
ute Spectator himself could have discovered
N happy mixture of the elements, character s
compact of humor, good nature and loyeable
vete. Can we not see the kindly old man bowling
5 way and that to every passing stranger not I
y In the country but in London? The little v
ldren get gentle patting OH the head with an
ortation to be good and mind their books. We a
not wonder that all the boys in the coffee room
l with each other in serving him. And at the
n, he must look out rover with wooden leg.
ne wants San honest man who has been wounded
he Queens service" p
All, there is but one Sir Roger de Coverly: and .
J, that he must die! How quaint and touching =
letter of his sorrowful servant Edward Bis =
, IN which he relates the particulars of the dear "
squire's death,-the various legacies and how a q
vous his loss was to all the people, Even the old 9
se-dog Joined in the mourning. ut would have
g to your heart to hear the means the dumb II
lture made on the day of my masters death n
has ne'er joyed himself since no more has anv n
rs Twas the melancholiest day for the poor Il