ed in his demand that in writing a book a
man should be allowed to "go cluttering away like hey-go mad." "You
may take my word"--it is Sterne who speaks, and in his very first
chapter--

"You may take my word that nine parts in ten of a man's sense or
his nonsense, his success and miscarriages in this world, depend
upon their motions and activity, and the different tracks and
trains you put them into, so that when they are once set
going--whether right or wrong, 'tis not a halfpenny matter--away
they go cluttering like hey-go mad; and by treading the same
steps over and over again, they presently make a road of it, as
plain and smooth as a garden walk, which, when once they are
used to, the devil himself sometimes shall not be able to drive
them off it."

This, at any rate, is Sterne's own postulate. And I had rather judge
him with all his faults after reading the book than be prepared
beforehand to make allowances.

* * * * *

Nov. 12, 1895. Sterne's Good-nature.

Let one thing be recorded to the credit of this much-abused man. He
wrote two masterpieces of fiction (one of them a work of considerable
length), and in neither will you find an ill-natured character or an
ill-natured word. On the admission of all critics My Father, My
Mother, My Uncle Toby, Corporal Trim, and Mrs. Wadman are immortal
creations. To the making of them there has gone no single sour or
uncharitable thought. They are essentially amiable: and the same may
be said of all the minor characters and of the author's disquisitions.
Sterne has given us a thousand occasions to laugh, but never an
occasion to laugh on the wrong side of the mouth. For savagery or
bitterness you will search his books in vain. He is obscene, to be
sure. But who, pray, was ever the worse for having read him? Alas,
poor Yorick! He had his obvious and deplorable failings. I never
heard that he communicated them. Good-humor he has been communicating
now for a hundred and fifty years.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] But why "elder"?

[B] "Pan might _indeed_ be proud if ever he begot
Such an Allibone ..."
_Spenser (revised)._

SCOTT AND BURNS

Dec. 9, 1893. Scott's Letters.

"_All Balzac's novels occupy one shelf. The new edition fifty
volumes long"_

--says Bishop Blougram. But for Scott the student will soon have to
hire a room. The nove