CARLYLE'S WIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 19

CARLYLE'S WIFE

"PORTER AT THE GATE"

'CONGRATULATORY YANKEES'

The following extract from "The Lonely Wayfaring Man." a biography of Thomas ■ Carlyle by Townserid Scudder, appearefi recently in the "Christian Science-Monitor," It gives some idea of the trials that beset the wife of that great man. ' ','.:' Thomas Carlyle was obliged to show himself to his visitors.. But on Jane fell not only the duty of being gracious hostess, but also of being the great man's wife^ porter at the gate, and housekeeper: She loved to entertain; her little .parties at Cheyne Row were acquiring a ; fame second to that of no other house in Londpn for the quiet skill with which she conducted them, and, the delight offered by her witty conversation —a deft bbbligato to her husband's bass. Yet surely a hostess should be : accorded the right to choose her guests!

And whole cargoes of Americanscelebrities arid non-celebrities, properly introduced by Emerson, or not introduced at all—were landing at the Chelsea doorway. Generally the un-vouched-for visitors were the most trying. On one occasion Mrs. Carlyle, returning from a morning drive, found Helen,-the maid, in a great state of agitation, and "a precious specimen of the regular Yankee," who looked like a terrestrial red herring, lean and tall and legged, in command of the house —seated, indeed, at Carlyle's desk littered with private correspondence. r "Oh, you are r Mrs. Carlyle, are you?" remarked the unknown, surveying her from head to-foot. "I have come a great way out of my road to congratulate Mr. Carlyle ■on his 'increasing reputation, and, as,l did not wish to have my walk for nothing, I am waiting till he comes in; but in case he should not come in time for me, I am just writing him a letter,, here, at his own table, as you-, see,'. Mrs. Carlyle!" ... . ■ Mrs. CarJyle saw well enough. Indignaittly she spun' on her heel and marched out of the room. But the. •Yankee, with all the*adhesive quality' o£ the barnacle, refused to be pried away. When after half an hour Jane returned, there he was, still enthroned on the chair.. Erasmus Darwin, brother of Charles, and Mr. Wedgwood, of the pottery family, had dropped in, and the American-, much to ,their covert amusement, was loquaciously doing,the honours of the house. .: . LIKE THE LOCUSTS OF EGYPT. If* Mr. f Carlyle's -increasing ?eputa : tion bore no other fruits ,than congratulatory Yankees, Jane decided, she for one was prepared to vote for its abatement with all" possible dispatch. These New Englandejs were becoming like the locusts of Egypt. "I counted lately fourteen of them in one fortnight, of whom Dr. Russell was the only; one you did not feel tempted to tafcd the poker to." Jane might well withhold her poker from assault on Le-Baron Russell, chief mover of the "Sartor" enterprise in the "States. That venture in publishing was largely .instrumental in suggesting to Emerson the idea that "The French Revolution" be converted into American cash ..for the hard beset strugglers .in London, and Jane, in those difficult, times, had remembered Emerson and his associates with gratitude and alTection.--

Frau MeJitta Schueller, the only woman in Germany; to possess pilot's licences for every kind of aeroplane, stunt flying; gliding, and stunt gliding, has been made an honorary flight captain by General Gocring,