Clarkson

“ Nor must Starkie: he will have to hurry on to Brindisi; but I'm afraid Clarkson won't care to go on without me.... And he wishes to put it off, too. It is hard; after all these years!'
A pause.
'I have been speaking to him about you,' he went on, 'he knows all my wishes. He is one of my executors ... A brave man: rough and ready: will follow anywhere, but can't lead. Clarkson has all the brains of the party. You must have scientific observation to hand, or you can never do any real good. That is the mistake we have all of us made. ”

“ Clarkson lived with his sister-in-law in a princely style in Detroit. They entertained largely and handsomely, and most of their guests neither cared nor enquired who they were, or whence they came. They had not been there more than six weeks when Mrs. Clarkson made the acquaintance of Count Von Alba, who for some time had been the lion of fashionable circles in Detroit. Von Alba was a Russian, who (for political reasons said his friends, for criminal reasons said his enemies) had emigrated to America and lived on his fortune (his friends insisted) —his wits, said his enemies again. ”

“ Instead of going into the woods, sometimes runaway slaves lived right around the overseer's and master's houses for months. A slave, named Isom, ran away from Thomas Clarkson, his master's son, who was the overseer. Mr. Clarkson was satisfied, as he said, that the unaccustomed runaway, whom he thought was in the woods could not stay from home long, but finding that he stayed longer than expected, Mr. Clarkson hired a slave hunter with his dogs to hunt him. ”

“ He tried to bring the subject before that body, and succeeded in gaining the attention of some members, among whom the most conspicuous was the benevolent William Wilberforce. He soon joined Mr. Clarkson in the formation of a Society for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. [126] This of course gave great offence to the sea-captains and merchants engaged in the profitable traffic. Clarkson met with all manner of insult and abuse, and his life was sometimes in danger. The British government did as governments are apt to do,—it sided with the rich and powerful as long as it was politic to do so. ”

“ Clarkson continued his labours, till excess of exertion, joined to repeated and bitter disappointments, impaired his health, and, after a hard struggle, subdued a constitution, naturally strong and vigorous beyond the lot of men in general, but shattered by anxiety and fatigue, and the sad probability, often forced upon his understanding, that all might at last have been in vain. ”

“ Clarkson. It was received with perfunctory applause, through which a dissipated stockman thundered thickly for a song. Miss Bouverie averted her eyes from Sir Julian (ensconced like Royalty in the centre of the first row) as she descended from the platform. She had not the hardihood to glance toward the great man until the indistinct stockman had had his wish, and Mrs. Clarkson, in her fine new raiment, had both sung and acted a coy ditty of the previous decade, wherein every line began with the word "somebody." It was an immediate success; the obstreperous stockman led the encore ”

“ Clarkson how utterly impossible it was for the most determined sunbeam ever to mingle itself with our most inviting fabrics. Mr. Clarkson pondered a long time. We might build our establishment a story higher; we might attempt to move it. But here were solid changes, and the hopes were uncertain. Affairs were going on well, and the reputation of the mills was at its height. And the carpets of sunshine were never repeated.
THE TWO TONGUES.
Whoever would read a profound political pamphlet under the guise of a brilliant novel may find it in "Sibyl, or The Two Nations." ”

“ O’Grady’s new residence, and removed a short distance from the town, there dwelt a wealthy old farmer named Clarkson. Mr. Clarkson was a bachelor about 65 years old, who, by steady attention to his farm and shrewd speculations, had amassed a considerable fortune, being considered one of the “solid men” of Sherbrooke. Clarkson happening to meet Mrs. O’Grady at the house of one of the principal clergymen, became enamored of her at first sight, and at the first opportunity proposed for her hand. ”

“ Let us leave this painful scene and hie us to the bridge, where Mr. Clarkson stands, with others, as nearly insane as a man may become with an outward semblance of sanity. With him are the captain, the navigating officer, and the gunnery and torpedo lieutenants. Aloft in the fighting-top an officer manipulates a range-finder and occasionally calls out results. The nearest ship of the opposing fleet is but seven miles away, and Mr. Clarkson knows by inspection of his watch that Finnegan has been closeted but twenty minutes with the chaplain. ”

“ Mr. Clarkson flung his arms around him and dragged him back by main force.
“What are you carrying on like that for?” he demanded. “What do you mean by it?”
“Fancy!” returned Mr. Smithson, with intense bitterness. “I thought Digson was the biggest fool in the place, and I find I've made a mistake. So have you. Good-night.”
He opened the door and dashed out. Mr. Clarkson, with a strange sinking at his heart, watched him up the road.
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL
The night-watchman shook his head. ”

“ Clarkson very generously lent me the sum, and I repaid it, with interest equivalent to the capital.
Clarkson—But as you were ruined, duke, how could you pay this large capital and this large interest? Did your father or mother die? In France the death of parents is a great resource, I know.
Septmonts—No. I was an orphan, and I had no expectations. I married.
Clarkson—Ah, true! You French people make much of marriages for money! It's a great advantage over us Americans, who only marry for love. Now with us, in such a case as yours, a man goes into some business or other; he goes to mining ”

“ Bashford and Mr. Clarkson had now contentedly fallen. But she had no success; she only made Mrs. Clarkson rather nervous and uneasy with her acid interjections. Dear Miss Gilpin was a little difficult in a plain household; she couldn’t understand that when the men are occupied and happy it is foolish indeed to disturb them. Mrs. Clarkson, more experienced, would willingly have let them go prosing on about their games and rubbish as long as they chose; Agnes and she could sit quiet and get on with their work. ”

“ Such was the last wish of her husband; he really did not have time to tell me as much, but I fancy that I guess it right.
[Mrs. Clarkson calmly takes the letter and goes to Catherine.]
Mrs. Clarkson—I once said to your friend M. Rémonin that if I lost my game I would lose like one who plays fair. Madam, it was through me that your marriage came to pass; and now it is through me that your marriage—is dissolved. [Turning to Clarkson.] And now, Clarkson, my dear, let us get out of this. You are a good and a brave fellow. I will go anywhere with you. ”

“ It will be a valuable addition to the small number of those one may put into the hands of youth, without feeling any secret wish to expunge even a line. Thanks for your eulogium on Clarkson. He is not enough praised by the world. The first promoter of every good work is always less valued than he ought. Like the foundation stone, like the precious seed, his fame too often lies buried.
The opening of your book on old age, reminds me of an anecdote of the late Duke of Queensberry, which I had from an earwitness. ”

“ His attention, however, was drawn from science to the philanthropic movements of his time. He had been interested from boyhood in the agitation against the slave trade. Clarkson became his friend in 1794, and he was on intimate terms with both Clarkson and Wilberforce through life. ”

“ Clarkson's brother William held the sequestered rectory of Adel, Yorkshire, and died not long before the Restoration. His sister was married to Sharp, uncle of the archbishop of York, and father of Thomas Sharp, the ejected minister. Clarkson's powers, which were highly valued by Baxter, are exhibited in his controversial writings, the fruit of much learning and judgment.
He published: 1. ‘The Practical Divinity of the Papists proved destructive to Christianity, &c.,’ 1672, 4to (Calamy reckons this piece one of the ablest of its kind) . 2. ”

“ Mr. Clarkson's academy, I cannot tell at what time; let it suffice, that when he got there, he took me out, and tied a piece of string round my neck, while he showed me to his schoolfellows! He then asked, if any body [Pg 40] had a cage to sell. They none of them had one, except one boy, who came and said he would sell his, but that it would put him to a great inconvenience, as he had a bird in it at present, and could not sell it under three shillings; for he knew Eaton would buy it, let it cost what it would. He therefore tried to make the most of it. ”

“ The triumphant Josephine obeyed the command, dragging her charge after her. Thus convoyed, one companion leading, another pulling, the rest following with many happy giggles, Ivan Ivanovitch marched up-stairs to bed. His life as the community's sunbeam had begun.
The next morning Fraulein von Hoffman met Miss Clarkson in the hall, and turned upon her the regard of a worried gray eye. Miss Clarkson returned the look, her heart sinking as she did so.
"It is that child," the German began. "He is of an interest—and ach, ja! of a discouragement," she added, with a gusty sigh. ”

“ Having these jays come in from the country won't do any good unless we can hold these eminently respectable people who think they're Clarkson society."
"You're dead right on that point," said Margrave; "that's a big card with the jays,—they think they come to town and get right in the push and are tickled to pay ten dollars a ticket for a taste of high life. I tell you what we'll do, we'll get Porter to let his daughter appear as queen of the carnival, and if that ain't a big enough jolly, we can make Wheaton king. That's what I'd call giving the Clarkson National a run for its money. ”

“ Lines Occasioned by the Death of the Great and Good Thomas Clarkson.
Clarkson! revered in every clime
Where Mercy lifts her voice sublime,
Immortal honors—guiltless fame—
Deep in our hearts have set thy name.
The patriot's wreath, though bright, must fade ”

“ Clarkson was naturally very much put out when she learnt how her sister-in-law had acted; but, being both a strong-minded and crafty woman, she determined to put a bold face on the matter, and if possible to pay off old scores with her sister-in-law. She accordingly placed her baby out to nurse, and, as soon as she felt strong enough, set out for Sherbrooke. ”

“ Mr. Clarkson noticed that they had a legal appearance, were long-shaped and inscribed in stiff lettering. Then the dispatch-box was reclosed and set on the writing-table which my lord used sometimes when he was unwell.
"Remind me to send for Mr. Manners to-morrow," he said. (This was the solicitor.)
Getting ready for bed that evening was almost of a sensational nature, and Mr. Clarkson had to keep all his wits about him to respond with sufficient agility to the sallies of his master. Usually it was all a very somber ceremony, with a good deal of groaning and snarling in asides. ”

“ He believed that all people were created alike and always lived up to these convictions.
Surviving are the widow and three sons, Anton and Otto, engaged in the printing business in Clarkson and publishers of The Colfax County Press, and Dr. V. L. Odvarka, dental surgeon, also of Clarkson. Besides his family, the deceased leaves a brother, Frank, living near Dodge, and a sister, Mrs. Rudolph Kuzelka, of Omaha, and two sisters and a brother residing in Czechoslovakia. ”

“ The invaluable services rendered by Thomas Clarkson to the great question of the Slave Trade in all its branches, have been universally acknowledged both at home and abroad, and have gained him a high place among the greatest benefactors of mankind. ”

“ Clarkson was loth to leave his relations and the home of his childhood, but the temptress lured him gradually on, refusing at times even to see a man who valued his narrow-minded friends’ opinion rather than her love, and at length he consented to sell his farm for whatever it would bring, and to rejoin her in Detroit. This was another piece of generalship on the part of the widow, as, did they remain in Canada, she could not, in the event of her husband’s death hold the property which would revert to her hated sister-in-law ”

“ In addition to other lodge activities, he was one of the organizers of the Bohemian-Slovanic cemetery at Clarkson and for many years acted as its secretary. In later years he abandoned the lodge work and devoted himself exclusively to newspaper work and established the “Domaci Noviny,” a Bohemian weekly which was published here for many years and enjoyed a very liberal patronage. Having disposed of his business interests here, he moved with his family to Omaha where they remained for a number of years and then again returned to Clarkson which remained their home. ”

“ It is true that for many years individuals at different times had remonstrated, written treatises, poems, stories, and movements had been made by some religious bodies, particularly the Quakers, but the opposition had amounted to nothing practically efficient.
The attention of Clarkson was first turned to the subject by having it given out as the theme for a prize composition in his college class, he being at that time a sprightly young man, about twenty-four years of age. ”