Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-08-06

NV iht' tuhiltt AuEhSiuh NdIus
who WIS long In business In May
fair as the Alasco Wine company,
but retained throughout his life the
ambition to be regarded as n literary
man, published at long Intervals
three books, and was a frequent con-
tributor To- antiquarian periodicals.
His curious collection of some 1900
volumes has been presented by his
executors to the London library, Of
which he was life member. togeth-
er with an important series of let
ters written 10 him between July.
1854, aud November. 1871. fifteen of
which are from Carlyle, three from
Mary Carlyle Aitken, Carylcs niece.
aud In this instance his amanuensis,
and one from Froude. or these let
ters. which have hitherto never been
published. we give number OF ex-
tracts below.
The great literary event of Mr..
Wards life was his interview with
Carlyle. of which his diary contains
a record. II relates how Carlyle list
oned attentively for three hours and
a half while Mr. Ward read the MS
of one OF his books. and then gave
him his Views as TO the possibility of
publication This Is borne out by the
letters. which are fun of frank yet
kindly words OF criticism of Mr.
Wards work and comment upon the
adoption Of literary life; thus Car
lyle writes from Chelsea in the first
of the letters, dated july 6. 1854:
have looked little into your man.
uscript and am sorry to report that
do not see any likelihood OF II ever
in the present form. being success
ful as Il literary production.
II you resolve to devote yourself
to literature, and the questionable
enterprise Of unfolding whatever
gifts may be IN YOU In the shape of
more spoken or written words
which. for a young man in earnest
with his life and possessed of real
capabilities and opportunities for
work In this world. | consider very
questionable enterprise indeed-it Isl
clearly necessary In the hrst place,
that YOU instruct yourself, acquire
knowledge far and wide. anass ex-
periences, and digest the same into
definite results--in short, that YOU
should have attained to some con-
quest of what at least seems to your
self Wisdom and beautiful Insight, /
before you attempt uttering yourself
before the whole world for audience. |
You are otherwise q mean to say,
every man is otherwise, for what the
special you may be in this case is
not known to mel, In the condition
of a man speaking without having
ANYTHING To say.
This letter evidently was painful
reading to the aspiring young author
for on the day following Carlyle writes
again.
| should be sorry indeed If my hard
word went farther than | intended,
and were to discourage you from any
noble impulse you may trace IN your
self, | did not. and do not deny your
talent. even for writing books one
day, / only sought to make you aware
of the inexoiahe conditions that de-
termine whether possibility shall be-
come reality In such cases, or snail re- /
main always futile.
by all means employ your spare
time In seeking knowledge, redeem
IL you can, few hours OF every day
read books and try to make sure that
they are wise books consort with \
wise men, avoid the company of fools;
think, reflect, inquire, study earnestly
to find some true and noble thlng IN
this world to which you can swear
fealty. the day may come when you
are really called to speak TO your
fellow creatures; but | can tell you
1t will be happier for you II 1t never
come; If whatever nobleness and WIS
dom are in YOU can come out In the
way of silent work and successful con-
to the Eternal Pow
ers (who are good judges and can re-
ward, not the Ephemeral Reviewers
who have no power except IN the CIR
libraries, and no judgment
that is infaIible for the guidance OF
man!
The Silences.s
A further letter. dated June ., lsesl
tho year in which Mr.. ward pun
lshed his book Eng and suhslsts hS
Miracle shows that the acluaint-
ance was continued along the same
lines
You manifest the elements oil
a very considerable gift for writing a.
a man should write In the England
that now is, but give me leave to say
they are in good part only elemental
as yet aud viii require long tough
struggle on your side, bringing them
into the perfection they are worthy OF.
Your contempt of Penny Newspapers Is
as it ought to be- but
think You have not perhaps enough
mediated. and above all praetieed'
what l call the Silences' tahout
also differ altogether as 20 the prop
able results Of French national en-
thusiasm" in defending Paris, etc. NO
'enthusiasml except that Of bitter
vanity-terribly wounded and
irritated, and Justly deserving to be SO
lis visible to me among these poor 1
French who surely are :
behaving. at this moment. in as mad |