Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/149

 n s. iv. AUG. 19, i9ii..] NOTES AND QUERIES.

143

to death, and quite worn out." However, lie had the satisfaction of seeing the social reforms he had always advocated become one of the chief features of the new paper.

The truth is that, like most novelists, the great pair lacked business methods ; they lived with the people whose lives they were depicting Thackeray so entirely that we find him crying like a child over the death of Col. Newcome. Like Dickens, he left his last work, ' Denis Duval,' unfinished. Strangely enough in the case of Dickens, the author had a presentiment that he would not live to complete 'Edwin Drood,' and most thoughtfully insisted that those who were interested in its publication should be suitably compensated should the work not reach its conclusion. The sale of this in parts exceeded that of any of his previous works in that form, the first number exceed- ing forty thousand.

There is one feature in Thackeray's works not to be found in those of Dickens : that is, his love of music. Dickens was so tortured with the plague of itinerant musicians, which " flung him into fevers of irritation," that he appears to have had but little taste for music. Thackeray, on the contrary, has many beautiful references. One never thinks of ' Philip ' without being reminded of Miss Charlotte playing Beethoven's * Dream of St. Jerome,' " which always soothes me and charms me, so that I fancy it is a poem of Tennyson in music .... and the music with its solemn cheer makes us all very happy and kind-hearted, and ennobles us somehow as we listen." Thacke- ray, however, did not content himself with lofty thoughts : how many instances are recorded of his kindness of heart ! At the sale of the treasures of Gore House, where Lady Blessington had brilliantly entertained, the only person affected among the crowd of those who had been guests was the author of ' Vanity Fair ' : " M. Thackeray est venu aussi," wrote to his mistress the French valet of the Countess, " et avait les larmes aux yeux en partant. C'est peut-etre la seule personne que j'aie vu reellement affectee a votre depart."

I should like to say one more word as to the impossibility of Lord Lansdowne being intended by Thackeray for the Marquis of Steyne. In addition to the respect and admiration with which, as Lady Ritchie remembers, her father regarded him, he was so regarded by all men of letters, for he gave to them companionship and sympathy, and letters were the charm of his life. If help was needed, it was freely given. Well

do I remember his liking very much a poemt which appeared in The Athenceum, and when, on inquiry, he found the author to be in poor circumstances, he at once sent a very handsome cheque. The Athenaeum in its obituary notice of him, which appeared on the 7th of February, 1863, speaks of " the great loss to literature " and of the " harvest of affection which grew to the very last about the kindly old gentleman."

Of all Thackeray's writings, none charms me more than that Roundabout Paper on Hood, for in those few pages we get a glimpse o'f the true Thackeray. There is nothing of the cynic as he tells us of the kind Peel standing by the bedside of the dying Hood,. " speaking noble words of respect and sym- pathy, and soothing the last throbs of the tender, honest heart" Hood dying "in dearest love and peace with his children, wife, friends ; to the former especially his- whole life had been devoted, and every day showed his fidelity, sympathy, and affection";: while " the poor anxious wife fondled the hand which has been shaken by so many illustrious men." Then Thackeray asks :

" What ought to be a literary man's point of honour nowadays ? What legacy should he leave his children ? First of all (and by Heaven's gracious help) you would pray and strive to give them such an endowment of love, as should last certainly for all their lives, and perhaps be trans- mitted to their children. You would (by the same aid and blessing) keep your honour pure, and transmit a name unstained to those who have a right to bear it. You would, though the faculty of giving is one of the easiest of the literary man's qualities you would, out of your earnings, small or great, be able to help a poor brother in need, to dress his wounds, and, if it were but twopence, to give him succour."

That Thackeray practised what he preached we know. A beautiful instance of this is related by Trollope. Trollope heard of a man who was the dear friend of both requiring a large sum of money in- stantly something under two thousand pounds. He had not friends who could naturally provide it, but must go utterly to the wall without it. Pondering over this sad condition of things, Trollope mot Thackeray by the Horse Guards, and told him the story.

" ' Do you mean to say that I am to find two thousand pounds ? ' he said, angrily, with some expletives. I explained that I had not even suggested the doing of anything, only that we might discuss the matter. Then there came over his face a peculiar smile, and a wink in his eye,, and he whispered his suggestion, as though half ashamed of his meanness. ' I'll go half,' he said, ' if anybody will do the rest.' And," continues Trollope, "he did go half, at a day or two's notice, though the gentleman was no more thanu