Evening star., 1932-10-30

the law, and while he read hard at 1t,
II does not appear that he hoped for
anything more than some legal sinecure
which would enable him to read other
things. 1t is doubtful if. at that time,
he entertained the idea of writing him.
self. His ambition as to job was Curl
ously fulfilled, for as early as 1899 he
obtained the Office Of sheriff depute Of
Selkirkshlre and in 1906 the position of
clerk of session, which he held for a
quarter of century. The job required
but three or four hours work day six
months In the year. The remainder of
the time was his. The remuneration
was some $4,000 year. He was a be-
lever that literature should be a staff
and not a crutch' and held that it
should be pursued for it's own sake and
not for profit. He was forced to alter
that standard.
Poetry and Prose.
SCOTS first literary ventures and his
first reputation arose from poetry.
Starting with translations from Ger
man ballads, he then began original
composition and produced "Glenfilas,"
The Eve of St. John and the Gray
Brother" His work on compilation of
"Minstrelsy Of the Scottish Border"
heightened his interest and in 1905,
the tremendous Lay OF the Last Min
strel" appeared his first mastery orig
inal work, destined to stand. appar-
emily, for all time. Here he began
| TO write prose, but was discouraged
by friends to whom he showed his
manuscript, and returned TO poetry,
bringing out "MarTnion" in 1906. The
Lady OF the Lake" and The Vision Of
Don Roderick" followed after Scott had
associated himself with the publishing
house of John Ballantyne of Edin-
burgh, the step which caused his over
WheImlng mls1ortuneS
Scott had acquired Abbotsford on
the strength of his job and the success
OF his ballad writing when disaster
overlook his publishing house He re-
called, in his dismay, his old prose
manuscript, unearthed it, finished it in
four weeks and published it as Wa
Verley," anonymously. Even his fame
as poet was eclipsed by the fame
which this new prose career brought
him. Guy Mannering" by the author
OF "Waverley," appeared, written in
six weeks, and then, at amazingly fire.
quent intervals, that great library of
of Midlothian" Bride of Lammer-
moor" 'Kenilworth," Quentin Dur
ward" 'Ivanhoe' and the others.
which constitute perhaps the happiest
body OF historical romance ever pro-
duced in the language. For II years
he kept his head above water finan-
cially, at times even enjoying a gust
of prosperity, but in 1925 he found
his position shaky indeed He owed
/ S650,000. He was too proud 10 invoke
the bankruptcy laws and. although in
such ill-health that sometimes he cried
| out in pain while debating, he wrote
at the rate of three novels year, each
one about three times as large as a
modern novel, besides performing other
/ literary and legal labors In two years
| he earned 100000 for his creditors
/ But even his great heart could not
stand the strain. His mind faltered
as had his body. Friends prevailed
upon him TO go to sea and so great
! was his reputation by then that the
! government provided a vessel for
| Mediterranean cruise On this trip he
sensed his nearing end and asked to be
taken home to die by Tweedside. He
] lies in Dryburgh Abbey.