The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2645, 9 August 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1871.

To-day we rest from the hard matter-of-fact fight with the world, to recall to memory one who has done much to lighten labor, by scattering pleasant pictures to be thought on by the wayside. The hundredth anniversary of the birthday of Sir Walter Scott will be celebrated to-day, in all probability in every part of the British dominions. Two generations have risen since first his works attained celebrity, and in consequence of the continual pouring out of light literature by a number of able modern writers, many of our younger members of society are but partially acquainted with Scott s works. We leave it to others to pronounce a judgment as to their style and character. At the meetings that will be held to-day, they may perhaps be critically handled, and approved or condemned according to the idiosyncracy or attainments of the speaker. But whatever the judgment of tins generation, those only wlm remember the avidity with which his writings were read as they were successively published, can speak as to their effect upon society. Nor are we to imagine that they were merely an agreeable relaxation from severe study or labor. They mark a change of sentiment in the public mind, and helped materially to hasten its spread amongst all classes. Notwithstanding the genius that characterises the writings of De Foe, Smollett, Fielding, and perhaps we ought to add Richardson, a coarseness of sentiment runs through many of their productions, that leads us in these days to feel no surprise at the frequent philippics against works of imagination that were so freely indulged in by religious and moral . reformers. Even Swift’s sarcasms are but another illus-, tration that “ very nice . men have oc- “ casionally very nasty ideas ; ” and Sterne, with his mock sentiment, very often painted vice in such alluring colors as to give it the (appearance of virtue. The writings of Sir-W alter Scott opened up a new field and a purer style of thought. Previously to his day the legends of the past were little known beyond the nursery. The “ Seven Cham- “ pions of Christendom,” the “ Castle “ of Otranto.” and some oral traditions respecting Robin Hood and Little John, were current among the people, especially in the districts which formed the scene of their exploits. Even to this day, the country people in Nottingham Forest, in parts of Derbyshire, and the south of Yorkshire, preserve traditions of their fame and prowess, and tell the very spot where they stood when certain miraculous displays of their archery or courage took place. Occasionally metrical ballads were published giving more succinct accounts of those redoubtable scoundrels. But Sir Walter Scott gave brilliancy to pictures that previously were but dimly perceived, and prominence to historic characters and events that might otherwise have been forgotten. He also showed how the imagination may be legitimately employed in giving vitality to history. We do not say that his historic pictures are always true’ to life. He had not had that training to patient investigation that alone can give the power of strictly accurate conception of historic characters. His delicacy of constitution in early life prevented the acquirement of habits of close application. He was therefore chiefly remarkable as the pioneer of a new style of historic writing, and it has been left to others to apply more or less accurately the plan that he struck out. But there can be no question that he showed the way by which history may be divested of the character it previously bore of being a mere list of Kings, Queens, Acts of Parliament, battles and sieges, and dates. People may differ in opinion as to another effect of the writings of Sir Walter. Previously to the French Revolution of 178!J, and during the wars that followed, there was a growing disaffection in Great Britain to its institutions. The bonds that at one time united the mass of the people with the aristocracy were weakened and the country was fast verging towards a war of classes. There is a great reason to believe that Scott’s writings tended to stay the spread of this political discontent, and to attach the people to the aristocracy and the throne. Perhaps, on the whole, this was an advantage ; for it gave time to ■mature and Carry out peaceably those plans |of reform that have since been adopted, and which on account of their being based on reason,, will not be disturbed, Since he went to his grave, in September 1832, education has progressed with a speed that could not have been anticipated, and thanks to tjie progress of art and science, Scott’s works can be had for a mere trifle. Many who left Home comparatively young are now verging on old age, and have had the privilege,of reading the talented writings of authors who lived since his day;

but evcn now At pleagant pleagant t) take up' his works .aiM - trace in his descriptions" scenes once familiar to.ua, which are so' true to nature that'every feature of the country can be recalled. It is not often in the lifetime of a man that he has opportunity of joining in public homage at the shrine of genius. The Centenary of Sir Walter Scott is therefore an event to be remembered.