Pages from a Journal with Other Papers

Pages from a Journal with Other
Papers

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Title: Pages from a Journal with Other Papers
Author: Mark Rutherford

Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7053] [This file was first
posted on March 2, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, PAGES
FROM A JOURNAL ***

Transcribed from the 1901 T. Fisher Unwin edition by David Price,
email [email protected]

PAGES FROM A JOURNAL, WITH OTHER PAPERS.

Contents: A Visit to Carlyle in 1868 Early Morning in January March
June August The End of October November The Break-up of a Great
Drought Spinoza Supplementary Note on the Devil Injustice Time
Settles Controversies Talking about our Troubles Faith Patience An
Apology Belief, Unbelief, and Superstition Judas Iscariot Sir Walter
Scott's Use of the Supernatural September, 1798 Some Notes on Milton
The Morality of Byron's Poetry. "The Corsair" Byron, Goethe, and Mr.
Matthew Arnold A Sacrifice The Aged Three Conscience The
Governess's Story James Forbes Atonement My Aunt Eleanor
Correspondence between George, Lucy, M.A., and Hermione Russell,
B.A. Mrs. Fairfax

A VISIT TO CARLYLE IN 1868

On Saturday, the 22nd of March, 1868, my father and I called on
Carlyle at 5, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, with a message from one of his
intimate friends.
We were asked upstairs at once, and found Carlyle at breakfast. The
room was large, well-lighted, a bright fire was burning, and the window
was open in order to secure complete ventilation. Opposite the fireplace
was a picture of Frederick the Great and his sister. There were also
other pictures which I had not time to examine. One of them Carlyle
pointed out. It was a portrait of the Elector of Saxony who assisted
Luther. The letters V.D.M.I.AE. ("Verbum Dei Manet in AEternum")
were round it. Everything in the room was in exact order, there was no
dust or confusion, and the books on the shelves were arranged in
perfect EVENNESS. I noticed that when Carlyle replaced a book he
took pains to get it level with the others. The furniture was solid, neat,
and I should think expensive. I showed him the letter he had written to
me eighteen years ago. It has been published by Mr. Froude, but it will
bear reprinting. The circumstances under which it was written, not
stated by Mr. Froude, were these. In 1850, when the Latter-day
Pamphlets appeared--how well I remember the eager journey to the
bookseller for each successive number!--almost all the reviews united
in a howl of execration, criticism so called. I, being young, and owing
so much to Carlyle, wrote to him, the first and almost the only time I
ever did anything of the kind, assuring him that there was at least one
person who believed in him. This was his answer:-
"CHELSEA, 9th March, 1850.
"MY GOOD YOUNG FRIEND,--I am much obliged by the regard you
entertain for me; and do not blame your enthusiasm, which well enough
beseems your young years. If my books teach you anything, don't mind
in the least whether other people believe it or not; but do you for your
own behoof lay it to heart as a real acquisition you have made, more
properly, as a real message left with you, which YOU must set about
fulfilling, whatsoever others do! This is really all the counsel I can give
you about what you read in my books or those of others: PRACTISE
what you learn there; instantly and in all ways begin turning the belief

into a fact, and continue at that--till you get more and ever more beliefs,
with which also do the like. It is idle work otherwise to write books or
to read them.
"And be not surprised that 'people have no sympathy with you'; that is
an accompaniment that will attend you all your days if you mean to
lead