The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-18

Z ,vANll1 FAX III
z By VIM. M. THAcKERAY 81
) CONSERVATION by 81
s Miss Carolyn Wells
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Twice In his later years did william
Makcpeace Thackeray seek temporarily
smother career than that Of authOrship.
shortly before writing "The Virgin
1nnss he tried unsuccessfully to cap
ture q seat in parliament. Politics had
always attracted him, although his
temperament was wholly unsuited to
popular demands.
He was q radical, sympathfzfng with
Richard Golden In his anti-corn law
Aght. 81 would like to see all men
equal,~ he wrote I'm 1910. "and this
bloated aristocracy blasted to the wings
Of al Winds" He was nevertheless
absolutely opposed to any attempt ON
the part Of the people to win their
rights by force. His attitude II i'm
ieresting In the light of tOday's radi-
calism, an II also his Arm advocacy of
IreIand's right to have home rule.
After finishing "The virgfnians,"
Thackeray became the first editor OF
the Cornhfll Magazine. His own wide
popularity practically insured the
initial success of the venture. OF the
Arst number 10000 copies were sold.
The most distinguished writer's of the
day were attracted ms contributors
through the editors prestige, and the
mr. fxxpn ah0H vrnnO
with better fiction and articles than
can be found today In any successful
English periodical.
Although Thackeray was a good
editor In many why's. he was handi-
capped by too tender a heart. He could
not refuse poems ana articles, however
uninspfred and even maudlin, IL the
writers needed money. So n few months
latter he gladly resigned his position
md returned to novel writing.
a FTER six years at Miss Pinker-
~ toms school, Amelia Sedley
went home, guaranteed pol
ished and refined young lady. Amelia
was a dear little creature, all rosy
and bright good humor, though the
silly thing would cry over dead
canary bird or a mouse the cat had
seized upon. She was accompanied
by her dear friend, Becky Sharp, who
was to make short visit at the Sed-
ley home before beginning her career
Of self support. as governess.
Becky was small, pale and sandy
haired, with eyes habitually cast
down; when they looked up they were
large, odd and attractive. As Miss
Eharp's father had been an artist and
4 drunkard, and her French mother an
opera girl, it Is not surprising that
Rebecca asserted she had never been
q girl-she had been a woman since
she was eight years old.
At the Sedley home Becky met Anne
Has brother, Joseph, stout, puffy
man, who wore buckskin and Hes
sian boots, several immense neck
cloths, a red striped waistcoat and an
spple-green coat. He was lazy, peev-
ish, glutton and q hard drinker, but
Rebecca decided instantly to set her
cap for him and began BY whispering
TO Amelia, rather loud: "He's very
handsome I" Rebecca's plans, how
ever, were foiled by George Osborne,
IN admirer Of Amelia, and Miss Sharp
took her departure from the Sedley
house.
She went to be. governess In the
home Of Sir Pitt Crawley, which place,
In her letters to Amelia, she dubbed
Humdrum Hall. There were many
Crawleys, the most important being
Sir Pitts spinster sister, and his sec
md son, Rawdon Crawley. The old
lady possessed f7OOOO. and had al
most adopted Rawdon, who was her
favorite nephew, while several menu
bers Of the family fought to supplant
him In her favor. Capt. Rawdon
Ctawley was a large young dandy. who
spoke with great voice, and swore 9
rood IDEAL. He remarked Of the demure
Rebecca: by Jove, she's neat little
Al1yfr and both he and his aunt took
4 decided fancy to the clever and fas-
clnating little governess. Though, In
deed, she made conquest Of pretty
much whoms0ever she chose. i
Now we must fit back to London
- see what became Of Miss Amelia.
EAr less interesting than Becky, and
With nothing but her wax doll face to
recommend her. yet all the young men
clustered round her chair and battled
for 1 dance with her. She was now
ENGAGED to George Osborne. albeit hil
aanfera wondered. ssWhat could George