Goldsmith, Oliver

Oliver (1728-1774), a delightful English writer. He was born in Ireland. His father was an impoverished Protestant clergyman of English descent and young Oliver was flogged at school for a dunce. He was a rebellious ne'erdo-weel student for five years at Trinity College, Dublin. He waited on table for his board. He sang, played his flute, and danced when he ought to have studied. He was rejected for the ministry and set out for London to study law, but gamed away his money. He studied medicine at Leyden, and set out on foot for a tour of Europe,

His observations of travel are found in The Traveler, a poem full of good thought and noble sentiment. When he came back he lived in a garret in London and wrote for the magazines. Goldsmith bceame a member of Dr. Johnson's famous Literary Club, and was befriended by Edmund Burke, an old classmate at Dublin.

Dr. Johnson tells of a message from Goldsmith, one day, saying he had been confined to his room by his landlady, legally imprisoned until such time as he should pay his room rent. Dr. Johnson visited him, calmed his excited brain, found that he had a novel by him, took away the manuscript, examined it, sold it to a publisher for $300, and brought the money to Goldsmith. The latter paid his debts and berated his landlady in no measured terms. The novel was The Vicar of Wakefield, one of the world's immortal books. It is improbable that books will ever multiply to such an extent that a well chosen library, however small, can be without this simple tale.

Goldsmith wrote excellent comedies, the best of which are The Good Natured Man and She Stoop to Conquer. He was a famous writer for young people. Goldsmith's Natural History was long the most entertaining book of animals in print. A history of England, of Greece, and of Rome were favorite volumes with generations of young people.

The real nature of the man is poured out in a touching poem called The Deserted Village. It is one of the simplest, most sincere and sympathetic, hence one of the greatest and most endearing poems in the English language. If a reader has the idea that he does not enjoy poetry, let him try The Deserted Village before giving himself up. Goldsmith was in debt and difficulty up to the last day of his life. It is said he could keep neither money nor clothes, being able always to find some one poorer than himself to whom he felt like giving. Though not buried in Westminster Abbey, a monument has been erected there to his memory.

SAYINGS.

SAID OF GOLDSMITH.

Let not his faults be remembered, he was a very great man.--Dr. Johnson.

Let his faults be remembered, since their tendency is to endear.--Washington Irving.

Think of him reckless, thriftless, vain if you like--but merciful, gentle, generous, full of love and pity. He passes out of our life and goes to render his account beyond it. Think of the poor pensioners weeping at his grave; think of the noble spirits that admired and deplored him; think of the righteous pen that wrote his epitaph--and the wonderful and unanimous response of affection with which the world has paid back the love he gave it. His humor delighting us still; his song fresh and beautiful as when he first charmed with it; his words in all our mouths; his very weaknesses beloved and familiar--his benevolent spirit seems still to smile upon us; to do gentle kindnesses; to succor with sweet charity; to caress, to soothe and forgive; to plead with the fortunate for the unhappy and the poor.--Thackeray.