Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-28
THE LIBRARY TABLE
By the B0OkIOuer

David Alec Wilson, Scotchman and
Carlylc's most recent biographer. has
completed the fourth volume OF his
"Carlyle" at His Zenith, 1S48-
So The previous volumes are Gar
lyle Till Marriage, 1795-ls26": Gar
lyle to The French Revolution 1925
81" and Carlyle on Cromwell and
Others, 1837-48" Two more volumes
are to round out the work-"Carlyle to
Threescore and Ten" and Carlyle IN
Old Age" The volume just published
contains an unusual number OF the
pithy sayings, often cynical, usually
gruff, but always expressing his sim
cere views, for which Carlyle was IA
nous. MY idea Of Heaven" he once
said, would be to be turned into an
inexhaustible library of new and good
books, where could browse to all
eternity" Carlyle never had much ap.
probation for poetry. except that OF
Bobby" Burns. Once when discus
sion of Petrarch's poetry was going on,
he contributed: "All have to say is
that there is one son of Adam who
has no sympathy with his weak, washy
tWaddle about another mans wife. /
cast it from me as so much trash. un-
redeemed by any quality that speaks
to my heart and soul" He liked Shell
ley no better Shelley is always mis-
taking spasmodic violence for strength:
I know no more urned books than his. "
To write a novel was, he said, Ito screw
ones self up on ones big toe" Troll
lopes novels he called alum" and
Jane Austen's dish washings." Max
ing happiness the aim of life he
termed the philosophy Of the frying
pan" Suggestions of friends about a
biography OF him moved him to con-
fide to his journal: II would say to my
biographer, II any fool undertook such
a task. 'Forbear, poor fool! Let no
life OF me be written: let me and my
bewildered wrestlings lie buried here
and be forgotten swiftly OF all the
world" In spite OF this view, more
biographies have been written OF Car
lyle than of most philosophers. On a
visit to Dublin he was badly bored at
a breakfast by voluble. conceited man
who attempted to enlighten him re-
garding the truth about Ireland. Car
lyle impatiently interrupted him: Sir,
I have lived long enough to appreciate
the value of time: and have Harmed to
brad the fluent man far more than the
sufferer"
~
Many characteristic pictures OF the
nervous, gloomy philosopher are given
NTH Carlyle visiting at Scotsbrig,
the farm of his parents near Eccle-
fechan. hid away in his bedroom from
visitors and made no reply to his sis
ters calls, but when discovered reluc-
family descended In his old dressing
gown and was soon talking and laugh
ing heartily with the guests. On his
way to Scotland by boat. he spent the
night on deck. cursing his discomfort.
because sixteen of the gent species
were packed into the gents cabin.
with no ventilation, much snoring,
and a smells Ach Gott!" Once at
Malvern Carlyle took a water cure for
a month, with daily baths. packs and
congresses. but he left still possessed
OF his dyspepsia, and years later called
"water as medicine the most de-
structive drug ever tried" In Paris,
visiting Lord and Lady Ashburton, he
left the hotel late at night and paced
the street below because he could not
endure the 'patter" Of Prosper Meri'
meetings of Carlyle and Herbert
Spencer were not productive Of enjoy
ment or profit TO either philosopher
Spencer wrote in letter after a first
visit to Cheyne Row: 1t Is so useless
10 reason with him that do not want
10 see much of him. shall probably
call TO look at him two or three times
q year. His wife is intelligent but quite
warped by him" Visiting Elm Weimar.
Carlyle was invited to dine with the
Grand Duchess and received from an
anonymous German friend a present
OF a high hat, such as was de rigeur
at court. Putting IL on. Carlyle gravely
surveyed himself In mirror. then
flung the hat upon the floor and
kicked II into q corner. Society had
TO suffer the sight OF Carlyle going TO
court in q wideawake." Always SUI
ferer from insomnia, Carlyle was ex-
aggeratedly sensitive to unfavorable ex-
ternal circumstances when he attempted
to sleep The absence of bed curtains,
any discomfort in bedroom or bed. and
of course the slightest noise would drive
sleep away for the night. Ringing
bells. Growing cocks and barking dogs
were his especial enemies. Many
we're the appeals made by him and
Mrs. Carlyle TO their neighoors in
Cheyne Row apropos OF cocks and
dogs. One letter OF Carlyle to Q next
door neighbor pathetically pleaded weak
health and ended: IF you would have
the goodness TO remove that small ami
NAL Ga cock. or in any way render
him inaudible from midnight 70 break
fast time. such charity would work
a notable relief TO certain persons here.
and be thankfully acknowledged by
them as an act OF good neighhorsh!p.
The cock promptly disappeared.
The first expedition of Road Amund-
sen over ice and snow. in definite
preparation for the devotion Of his life
10 polar exploration. was over q bleak,
storm-swept plateau Of his native
Norway~-that lying between Oslo. then
christiania and Bergen. When he Was
- he started with companion from
the farm Mogen, OH the east Of the
plateau. 10 cross on skis 10 the farm
Garen, on the west. 1t was Mid
blow before they had been long on
their way. So continuously and thick
~ did IL fall and so deep became the
drifts that the youths were glad 10 take
refuge In herdsmans deserted hut
where they were overjoyed To ind n
sack OF rye -four. Here they remained
for two days. with the temperature
many degrees below zero. When n
fresh start was made. the going was
diificuit and slow because OF the SNOW
and at night while they slept In the
open In reindeer sleeping bags. their
scanty provisions OF crackers and
chocolate were stolen from cache al
their feet by some prowling animals,
The next night Amundsen dug a snow
cave for himself. 1hich froze around
him in u block. 50 that his companion
had to dig and chop him out III the
morning, Finally. toodlcSS. cold and
exhausted. they gave up the hope Of
reaching The farm Uaren and turned
back toward Mogen. where they ar
rived In very forlorn condition,