castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第4章
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improved the land his claim to preference over every new proposer was
admitted。 The mere plea； 'I have been on your Honour's estate so many
years；' was disregarded。 'Nor was it advantageous that each son；' says
Miss Edgeworth； 'of the original tenant should live on his subdivided little
potato garden without further exertion of mind or body。' Further on she
continues： 'Not being in want of ready money； my father was not obliged
to let his land to the highest bidder。 He could afford to have good
tenants。' In the old leases claims of duty…fowl； of duty…work； of man or
beast had been inserted。 Mr。 Edgeworth was one of the first to abolish
them。 The only clause he continued in every lease was the alienation fine；
which was to protect the landlord and to prevent a set of middlemen from
taking land at a reasonable rent； and letting it immediately at the highest
possible price。 His indulgence as to the time he allowed for the payment
of rent was unusually great； but beyond the half year the tenants knew his
strictness so well； that they rarely ventured to go into arrears； and never
did so with impunity。 'To his character as a good landlord；' she continues；
'was added that he was a real gentleman； this phrase comprises a good deal
in the opinion of the lower Irish。' There is one very curious paragraph in
which Miss Edgeworth describes how her father knew how to make use of
the tenants' prejudices； putting forward his wishes rather than his
convictions。 'It would be impossible for me；' says his daughter； 'without
ostentation to give any of the proofs I might record of my father's
liberality。 Long after they were forgotten by himself； they were
remembered by the warm…hearted people among whom he lived。'
Mr。 Edgeworth was one of those people born to get their own way。
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Every one seems to have felt the influence of his strong character。 It was
not only with his family and his friends that he held his ownthe tenants
and the poor people rallied to his command。 To be sure； it sounds like
some old Irish legend to be told that Mr。 Edgeworth had so loud a voice
that it could be heard a mile off； and that his steward； who lived in a lodge
at that distance from the house； could hear him calling from the drawing…
room window； and would come up for orders。
In 1778； says Miss Edgeworth retrospectively； when England was
despatching her armies all over the world； she had no troops to spare for
the defence of Ireland then threatened with a French invasion； and the
principal nobility and gentry embodied themselves volunteers for the
defence of the country。 The Duke of Leinster and Lord Charlemont were
at the head of the 'corps which in perfect order and good discipline
rendered their country respectable。' The friends of Ireland； profiting by
England's growing consideration for the sister country； now obtained for
her great benefits for which they had long been striving； and Mr。 Grattan
moved an address to the throne asserting the legislative independence of
Ireland。 The address passed the House； and； as his daughter tells us； Mr。
Edgeworth immediately published a pamphlet。 Miss Edgeworth
continues as follows； describing his excellent course of action： 'My
father honestly and unostentatiously used his utmost endeavours to
obliterate all that could tend to perpetuate ill…will in the country。 Among
the lower classes in his neighbourhood he endeavoured to discourage that
spirit of recrimination and retaliation which the lower Irish are too prone
to cherish。 They are such acute observers that there is no deceiving them
as to the state of the real feeling of their superiors。 They know the signs
of what passes within with more certainty than any physiognomist； and it
was soon seen by all those who had any connection with him that my
father was sincere in his disdain of vengeance。' Further on； describing
his political feelings； she says that on the subject of the Union in
parliamentary phrase he had not then been able to make up his mind。
She describes with some pride his first speech in the Irish House at two
o'clock in the morning； when the wearied members were scarcely awake
to hear it； and when some of the outstretched members were aroused by
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their neighbours to listen to him！ 'When people perceived that it was not
a set speech；' says Miss Edgeworth； 'they became interested。' He stated
his doubts just as they had occurred as he threw them by turn into each
scale。 After giving many reasons in favour of what appeared to be the
advantages of the Union； he unexpectedly gave his vote against it； because
he said he had been convinced by what he had heard one night； that the
Union was decidedly against the wishes of the majority of men of sense
and property in the nation。 He added （and surely Mr。 Edgeworth's
opinion should go for something still） that if he should be convinced that
the opinions of the country changed； his vote would be in its favour。
His biographer tells us that Mr。 Edgeworth was much complimented
on his speech by BOTH sides； by those for whom he voted； and also by
those who found that the best arguments on the other side of the question
had been undoubtedly made by him。 It is a somewhat complicated
statement and state of feeling to follow； to the faithful daughter nothing is
impossible where her father is concerned。 This vote； I believe； cost Mr。
Edgeworth his peerage。 'When it was known that he had voted against the
Union he became suddenly the idol of those who would previously have
stoned him；' says his devoted biographer。 It must not； however； be
forgotten that Mr。 Edgeworth had refused an offer of L3000 for his seat for
two or three weeks； during that momentous period when every vote was of
importance。 Mr。 Pitt； they say； spent over L2；000；000 in carrying the
measure which he deemed so necessary。
IV
As a rule people's books appeal first to one's imagination； and then
after a time； if the books are good books and alive； not stuffed dummies
and reproductions； one begins to divine the writers themselves； hidden
away in their pages； and wrapped up in their hot…press sheets of paper； and
so it happened by chance that a printed letter once written by Maria
Edgeworth to Mrs。 Barbauld set the present reader wondering about these
two familiar names； and trying to realise the human beings which they
each represented。 Since those days Miss Edgeworth has become a
personage more vivid and interesting than any of her characters； more
familiar even than 'Simple Susan' or 'Rosamond of the Purple Jar。' She
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has seemed little by little to grow into a friend； as the writer has learnt to
know her more and more intimately； has visited the home of that home…
loving woman； has held in her hands the delightful Family Memoirs； has
seen the horizons； so to speak； of Maria Edgeworth's long life。 ＇Now
published and edited by Mr。 Hare （Nov。 1894）。＇ Several histories of
Miss Edgeworth have been lately published in England。 Miss Zimmern
and Miss Oliver in America have each written； and the present writer has
written； and various memoirs and letters have appeared in different
magazines and papers with allusions and descriptions all more or less
interesting。 One can but admire the spirit which animated that whole
existence； the cheerful； kindly； multiplied interest Maria Edgeworth took
in the world outside； as well as in the wellbeing of all those around her。
Generations； changes； new families； new experiences； none of these
overwhelmed her。 She seemed to move in a crowd； a cheerful； orderly
crowd； keeping in tune and heart with its thousand claims； with strength
and calmness of mind to bear multiplied sorrows and a variety of care with
courage； and an ever…reviving gift of spirited interest。 Her history is
almost unique in its curious relationships； its changes of step…mothers； its
warm family ties； its grasp of certain facts which belong to all time rather
than to the hour itself。 Miss Edgeworth lived for over eighty years； busy；
beneficent； modest； and intelligent to the last。 When she died she was
mourned as unmarried women of eighty are not often mourned。
The present owner of Edgeworthstown told us that he could just
remember her； lying dead upon her bed； and her face upon the pillow； and
the sorrowful tears of the household； and how he and the other little
children were carried off by a weeping aunt into the woods； to comfort and
distract them on the funeral day。 He also told us of an incident prior to
this event which should not be overlooked。 How he himself； being
caught red…handed； at the age of four or thereabouts； with his hands in a
box of sugar… plums； had immediately confessed the awful fact that he had
been about to eat them； and he was brought then and there before his Aunt
Maria for sentence。 She at once decided that he had behaved Nobly in
speaking the truth； and that he must be rewarded in kind for his
praiseworthy conduct； and be allowed to keep the sugar… plums！
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This little story after half a century certainly gives
