weary noise and constant crying of infants are extremely irritating, and, having brought an excellent English nurse with us, I soon became glad to escape from a source of annoyance which I could not remove, and which would soon have tried a less nervous man than I then was. Unfortunately the adjoining town-like most German spas-had its kursaal, and its gaming-table. At first the beauty of the gardens there, which were laid out with great taste, attracted me. An excellent band played on the grounds; and when my wife was prevented by her domestic duties from accompanying me, I frequently walked there alone, wondering that so many people could bear to throng those close and crowded rooms, when there was so much that was at tractive outside. "One unlucky morning a heavy shower of rain compelled me to take shelter within the building. I walked about from room to room to wile away the time, and at last found myself by the rouge-et-noir table. At first I looked on out of curiosity; and was surprised to find, after all I had heard of the horrors of gambling, that here it was conducted in so quiet and orderly a manner. I watched the croupiers, now raking in, now doling out the glittering coin. I watched the players, men, women, even children, throwing down their florins with apparently a listless air. I little thought beneath that assumed indifference what aching brows and anxious hearts were there. A little girl of ten had just won a large heap of gold, and ran away with it to her mother, who was knitting on a bench outside. How well I remember her smiling happy face as she poured the money into the woman's lap....(Good God! what may that mother have since had to answer for ?).... I could resist no longer. I flung down a napoleon, and presently doubled my stakes-another, and won again. I left the table richer by some pounds than when I went to it. Would that I had lost every sou in my pocket! I might then have left the rooms for ever. As it was, encouraged by success, I went the next day, and the nextsometimes losing, sometimes winning. At last I grew bolder, and played for higher stakes, and then....why should I linger over the details of this misery? It is an old story. I went on and on, incurring fearful losses-still hoping to retrench-and rose at length from that accursed board—a beggar. "If even then I had had the courage to tell my wife everything, to implore her forgiveness, it might not have been too late to retrieve my fortune, or at least have gained our bread in some humble, but honest employment. But I dared not. I have braved since many a danger by sea and land, and faced what seemed to be inevitable death in many shapes, but I could not then endure to meet her calm sweet face-to take our child upon my knee again, and bear the agony that must ensue from such confession. I knew that my wife expected her old guardian and his family to join us the day after my ruin was completed. I knew that at least the little property she would inherit on coming of age would be hers. Little as it was, it might keep them from starvation. Why should I return to a home which I had blighted, and drag those innocents down. into the slough of misery which my own folly had created? I was still young, strong, and healthy, and I determined to seek my fortune alone-to earn subsistence by the sweat of labor. My mind was made up. I wrote a few hurried lines to my wife, and then tore myself away-from her-from my little one, for ever. My life since that never-to-be-forgotten day has been one of extraordinary vicissitude; my means sometimes rising to the level of a competence, sometimes reducing me to the verge of mendicancy. For years past I have sought my living in different countries, and in various ways, and had nearly realized a little fortune in California, as a gold-digger, when I lost everything on a voyage home by shipwreck. I worked the rest of my passage to England before the mast, and an artist who was on board, knowing my straitened circumstances, gave me his address in London, and has since employed me as a model. This led to other introductions, and among others to yourself, sir. You were good enough to express an interest in me, and I have told you my story; but I beseech you, spare me the sad humiliation which a knowledge of my previous life would surely bring me in the eyes of those from whom at present I must earn my living. I have suffered long and bitterly for the past, though, God knows, not more than I deserve. But I still retain pride enough to beg that you will not inquire my name. Let me be known to you and to your friends as George,' the artist's model." The fog had cleared away at the conclusion of this strange recital, but I had no heart to paint that day. I was almost sorry I had heard poor "George's" story. I was in no position to help him, and the aspect of his bronzed and weatherbeaten face, now rather excited my sympathy as a man than raised my admiration as an artist. It is lucky, thought I, that the head of Leontes is nearly finished; this story would have altered its character considerably on my canvas. The man was fit for better things than this-yet how could I help him? I was only just beginning to support myself-and moreover, if I had had the means, I felt sure he would have accepted nothing in the form of charity. Warmly expressing my sympathy, and assuring him that he had not misplaced his confidence, I excused myself from further work that afternoon, determining, in the mean time, to reflect on the best means to adopt for his assistance. He thanked me for what I had said, promised to return on the following day, and went off to fulfil another engagement. It was only when he had gone that I remembered many. questions which I should have liked to ask him respecting the fate of those whom he had so cruelly deserted. And yet if they had been alive-if he had tried, or wished to find them out again-would he not have told me? At one moment I felt ashamed for commiserating a man who had thus selfishly abandoned those who should have been dearest to him (even under the circumstances which he had detailed); at another I realized the bitter trials he had undergoue; thought of the anguish he must have endured, before he could make up his mind to take that fatal step, and felt how heavy had been his punish ment. I determined to consult my good benefactress, Mrs. Wyllford, on the subject. She was coming the next morn ing with her daughter, to look at my picture. I confess that the prospect of seeing Mary generally put everything else out of my head; but on this occasion I was not sorry, when the time arrived, to find that her mother entered my studio alone. The "little housekeeper," as she used playfully to call her daughter, had been detained by some domestic matters, and would follow her presently. I thought I would first show Mrs. Wyllford my picture, and then, while his portrait was before her, detail the outlines of poor "George's" story, and endeavor to enlist her sympathies in his behalf. She sat down before the easel, looking, as I thought, younger and prettier than she had ever seemed before. The subject that I had chosen was familiar to her-indeed she had herself suggested it. Camillo was supposed to be addressing Leontes in the lines: "My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on: Which sixteen winters cannot blow away, So many summers dry scarce any joy Did ever so long live; no sorrow, But killed itself much sooner." She kindly praised the attitude of Hermione, the dresses and acessories of the picture, which I had studied with some care. At last her eye rested on the figure of Leontes. She looked at it long and earnestly. "I want you to be interested in that head," I said at length, in joke. "Why?" said she quickly, and growing, as I thought, rather pale as she spoke. "Was it studied from nature? I see you have only just finished it: thethe paint is hardly dry, and-would you mind opening the window?-the smell of the oil is a little too strong for me." My studio window was one of those lumbering contrivances which swing on a pivot. I went behind the chair to comply with her request, and while engaged in arranging a prop to keep the sash-frame in its place, I began to tell her briefly the story of my model's life. I was interrupted by a loud cry of pain, and turned round to find Mrs. Wyllford falling from her chair. I rushed to her assistance, and found that she had already fainted. There was water in the adjoining room, and I hastened to fetch it. As I hurried back I was met by George, who had just come to keep his appointment, and to whom I hastily explained what had happened. Between us we lifted the poor lady up, and laid her on the sofa. In doing this, her head had fallen on my arm, and it was not until I raised it, that we saw how deadly pale she was. I poured some water between her lips and begged George to get some doctor's help without delay. But he stood like one transfixed, muttering incoherently. "For goodness' sake," I said, "make haste-no time is to be lost! What is the matter? " "I think I am going mad," said he as he fell upon his knees beside the couch. "Raise her head a little more this way, boy, this way," he shrieked, in pitiable accents, "Heavens! how like she is to -Mary-Mary.-O God! it is my wife herself!" It was indeed the wife that he had left ten years ago who had survived his cruel desertion-struggled with poverty and many trials-maintained herself heroically by her own exertions, and was now, thank God! in a position to save him from the misery which his folly and selfishness had occasioned. She had recognized his portrait while I was telling her George Wyllford's story, little thinking how closely it was interwoven with her own; and it was the sudden shock which occasioned her swoon. I have little more to add in explanation. Within twelve months from the date of this event, I married Mary Wyllford. Her father is an altered man. His wife's fortune was an ample one, but he never spent a penny of it without her consent. My picture was accepted at the Royal Academy Exhibition, and, wonderful to relate, was well hung. Since then I have painted from hundreds of men, women, and children; but I can safely say that I never heard from any of my sitters, any narrative which has interested me so much as the Model's Story. Sir Charles is the eldest son of Charles Lyell, Esq., of Kinnordy, Forfarshire, who died in 1849. He was an accomplished author, and possessed great literary taste. He was also warmly attached to scientific pursuits, and his researches in botany resulted in the addition of numerous valuable discoveries in that particular branch of science. Sir CHARLES LYELL was born at Kinnordy, on the 14th of November, 1797. He received his early education at Midhurst, in Sussex, and subsequently entered as a student at Exeter College, Oxford, graduating as Bachelor of Arts in 1819, and taking his Master's degree in 1821. At Oxford the youthful student was afforded the opportunity of attending the lectures of the celebrated Dr. Buckland, then professor of geology. This opportunity he seized with avidity, and thus acquired a taste for the science which he has since cultivated so successfully, and in connection with which he is justly regarded as the leading authority. Sir Charles was intended for the bar, and commenced practice as a barrister, but what Shakspeare terms "father antic the law," had few charms for him, and not being dependent on his profession for a livelihood, he soon cast aside his wig and gown, and devoted himself to the culture of geology. On the opening of King's College, in 1832, he was ap pointed professor of geology, but this position he subsequently relinquished. Sir Charles Lyell was one of the early members of the Geological Society, and, from the time of the formation of the society to the present, he has enriched its Transactions with his contributions. One of his earliest papers was published in the second volume of those Transactions, and was entitled, "On a Recent Formation of Freshwater Limestone in Forfarshire, and on some Recent Deposits of Freshwater Marl; with a Comparison of Recent with Ancient Freshwater Formations; and an Appendix on the Gyrogonite, or Seed-vessel, of the Chara." This paper was published in 1826, and another in the same year, in SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. Brewster's Journal of Science, entitled, IN connection with the accurate like-"On a Dike of Serpentine cutting ness of this eminent geologist, who is also president of the British Association for the current year, we present our readers a brief sketch of his life. C. L. E. through Sandstone in the County of For- In Quarterly Review on "Scrope's Geolo- | condition of the globe and its inhabitants. gy of Central France." These papers all indicate powers of observation and comparison of a high order, and prepared the geological world for the appearance of the work on which, above all others, the reputation of Sir Charles Lyell mainly rests; this was his Principles of Geology. The first volume of this work appeared in January, 1830, the second in January, 1832, and the third volume in May, 1833. Such, bowever, was the impression produced by this work, that second editions of the first and second volumes were required before the third volume appeared. A third edition of the whole work, in four volumes, appeared in May, 1834, a fourth edition in 1835, and a fifth in 1837. This work treated geology from two points of view. First, the history of the earth was examined with regard to its modern changes, and the causes producing them; second, an account was given of those monuments of analogous changes of ancient date: the first comprehending an account of the forces at work producing geological changes, and the second presenting a survey of the changes that had been accomplished in the past. As new editions of these works were required, and materials accumulated, the author was induced to separate the two parts of the work, and in 1838 he published a volume, entitled Elements of Geology, which contained a more full and elaborate treatment of that part of the first work devoted to the ancient history of the earth, or what may be called geology proper. A second edition of this work, in two volumes, appeared in 1841. This work was again produced in one large volume in 1851, with the title of Manual of Elementary Geology. A fourth edition appeared in 1852, and a fifth has since appeared. The Principles were again published in three volumes in 1840, and in one large volume in 1847, 1850, and 1853. Of these works, Sir Charles says, in his preface to the ninth edition of the Principles: "The Principles treat of such portions of the economy of existing nature, animate and inanimate, as are illustrative of geology, so as to comprise an investigation of the permanent effects of causes now in action, which may serve as records to after ages of the present Such effects are the enduring monuments of the ever-varying state of the physical geography of the globe — the lasting signs of its destruction and renovation, and the memorials of the equally fluctuating condition of the organic world. They may be regarded as a symbolical language, in which the earth's autobiog raphy is written. In the Manual of Elementary Geology, on the other hand, I have treated briefly of the component materials of the earth's crust, their arrangement and relative position, and their organic contents, which, when deciphered by aid of the key supplied by the study of the modern changes above alluded to, reveal to us the annals of a grand succession of past events—a series of revolutions which the solid exterior of the globe and its living inhabitants have experienced in times antecedent to the creation of man." Such is the author's account of the two great works, which more than any others have exercised an influence on the progress and development of geological science. It was undoubtedly the Principles that called the attention of geologists to the necessity of regarding the past changes of the earth's surface as resulting from causes now in operation. It demanded that geological science should be placed upon the same foundation as the other inductive sciences, and that those causes which could not be demonstrated to have existed should cease to influence the theories of the geologist. This work was at once acknowledged by the abler geologists of the day as an expression of the principles of their science. It met, however, with great opposition from those who imagined that it interfered with the authoritative declarations of Scripture. Sir Charles Lyell's own university was most decided in its opposition to the new views, although its able professor of geology was not so. At the present time, the position taken by the author of the Principles is generally acknowledged as the only one consistent with a philosophical pursuit of geological scienc, and the theologian has admitted the necessity of adapting his opinions to the requirements of correct reasoning and undoubted facts. But whilst Sir Charles has thus the merit of having placed geology on a true and scientific basis, he is at the head of a school of geologists! whose views are not so generally accepted. But though a heretic to the orthodox, he is yet orthodox to the heretic. He opposes the development theory of Lamarck and the author of the Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation, and denies that in the history of the strata there is any evidence that the lowest forms of animals were created first. This controversy has given rise to numerous schools of philosophy, on whose principles, however, it is not necessary that we should here dilate. In 1828, Sir Charles Lyell undertook a journey with Sir Roderick Murchison (then Mr. Murchison) to France and Italy. In this journey they visited the volcanoes of Auvergne, the south of France, Nice, and the north of Italy. The two geologists made public the results of their researches in three memoirs, read before the Geological Society, and printed in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. But Sir Charles Lyell has not only travelled over the greater part of Europe in pursuit of science; he has twice visited the United States of America for the same object, and has delivered courses of lectures before the scientific institutions of this country. His chief aim, however, has been to examine the geology of the New World. His papers on this subject are very numerous and important. In addition to this series of papers, Sir Charles has published two works giving an account of his travels in this country. The first appeared in 1841, and was entitled Travels in North America, with Geological Observations on the United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, 2 vols. 8vo, with a geological map. These volumes contain an account of personal incident, as well as popular descriptions of the geology of the districts visited. They also describe the educational institutions of this country, and strongly insist on their superiority to similar institutions in Great Britain, on account of the extensive cultivation of the natural sciences. In his second journey he more particularly visited the Southern States, and records in his work his personal adventures, together with an account of the geology of the districts through which he passed. The work is entitled A Second Visit to the United States, and was published in 1845. Sir Charles was married to the eldest daughter of Leonard Horner, Esq., in 1832. In 1836 he was elected president of the Geological Society, an honor which he again enjoyed in 1850. For his great and valuable scientific labors, he, in 1848, received the honor of knighthood, and in this present year her Majesty has still further recognized his eminence as a scientific man, by conferring upon him a baronetcy. In 1855 he had so far outridden the early unpopularity of his views of geological science that the University of Oxford, his own Alma Mater, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Civil Law. Sir Charles Lyell has been long connected with the British Association, in which he has held almost every office, and he is generally admitted to be one of its most active and efficient members. The Transactions of this body contain many papers from his prolific pen, and the geological section of the Association would not be deemed complete unless assisted and graced by his presence; his attendance at these sections, and the great intelligence and research he brings to bear upon the various theories started, always adding much to the interest of the meeting. In electing him to the distinguished position of president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, the learned body have evinced a just appreciation of the valued services he has rendered to the cause of science; they have paid a well deserved tribute to an eminent savant, and have certainly succeeded, if we may adopt a familiar expression, in putting "the right man in the right place." |