Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-06
CARLYLE A HUMAN HELPER
Rev. Washington Gladden's Estimate Of
Great Scotch Bssayist,
STRUGGLE FOR his CHANCE IN LIFE
YounE Man who stood for Truth
aad Suffered for His Opinion,
bat Finally wen HTS
Fight.

AZ a finale Of the semi-centennial jubilee
week OF the Congregationalists, and con-
shutting the seventh lecture Of the Peo-
pies Institute course, Rev. Washington
GLADDEN. Friday night delivered his feature
on '"rhomas Carlyle" at the First Con-
gregational church. The edifce was filled
10y the audience and DR.. GLADDEN. was ao-
corded an ovation. His discourse was liz
lumined by personal conclusions and inn
pressiohs.
Before he was 10 Carlyle knew arlth.
metic and algebra, had learned to read
Latin and French huently, and, OF course,
had read everything he could lay his
hands on" said DIR. GLADDEN.. 1T was per-
eeived in his family that he was the stun
men are made of. and his father made
sacrifices for him that were net expended
upon a thsnkless boy. The boy made the
most Of his opportunities Going TO the
universities in those days was TO most Of
those Scottish lads somewhat different from
that Of our own boys TO-DAY. Thomas
Carlyle set out one bleak November morn
ing to walk to Edinburgh, 100 miles away,
to seek the university. No preparation
had been made for his advent there His
father had never seen Edinburgh and
never did. The most promising member
Of the family was the one sent to college,
aud great confidence was placed in him.
Poverty protected them from vicious
amusements
settling Down 60 Literature.
Carlyle had entered upon his college
course with the ministry in view, and
although there had been misg,vings in
his own mind, when he left the university
he continued on with his studies. Finally
more and more clearly it appeared TO
him that he could not be a clergyman Of
the orthodox Scottish church He then
turned his attention to the law. Thus
he went on teaching little, studying law
continuously, but not con amore and drift
ing steadily towards literature. He be-
gan to mediate all kinds of work in this
field, but the state Of his anairs, dyspepsia
and doubt-twin demons-ma6e this period
of his career one Of tribulation.
AT the age of 2S he knew what his mis-
sion was and he prepared himself for its
fulhllment. steadily his star rose The
reputation Of his books opened the doors
Of the Lyceum and series of well-man-
aged lectures brought him fame. He was
heard of across the. sea, and before his
publishers had paid him a cent for his
French Revolution he had received 500
from the sale OF his work in America.
Truth HIS Guide.
I'm all large matters C=rlyle's virtues
stand unchsllenged. A more dauntless
soul the world has never beheld. No word
would he write that to him was not a
true word. He endured the bitterness OF
poverty for many a long year when by a
little temporizing he might have lived
with ease. with defiance he hurled from
him every temptation to palter with the
truth.
Carlyle was as far from matsrialism
and agnosticism ON one side as he was
from orthodoxy on the other AS to i'm
mortality he would not dogmatize, but his
I. hope did not fail. Beyond all controversy
& his influence has been wide and benefi-
cent stream of wholesomeness that has
been pouring for over two-thirds OF a
century upon the English speaking world.
lie gave the world tonic for it's moral
/. stability and antiseptlc for its decay.
Most OF the singers and seers who
have lifted up the standard OF morality
in the last half century have admitted
their Indebtedness in no small share to
the message of Thomas Carlyle"