Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

;78 WOTTON REINFREDno children ; at least they are now childless ;thoughthereby hangs some secret, for a tale goes of onechild having been mysteriously stolen from themwhile abroad ; but on this subject you shall neverhear them speak, nor is it safe to question them.For the present they may be said to live, or,at least,to endeavour to live, in the element of intellect andwell-doing ; their hospitable house is open to all goodmen; persons of culture, and still more of any worthypurpose or decided capacity, they study to attract andforward by all kind appliances, of which, with suchample means, there are many in their power.Withthe neighbouring gentry, all this passes for quixoticor even hypocritical; nor will I deny, such is theimperfection of human things, that a certain spicing ofvainglory mingles with so much benevolence ; but whowould quarrel with goodness because it is not perfection? If Maurice Herbert cannot claim the praiseof charity and active public spirit, there are few menin England who will deserve it.Far and wide he goesand sends and gives in furtherance of all improvementand useful enterprise ; making this, indeed,his occupation, the chosen business of his life. Today,for instance, he is out with your friend Bernardif I mistook not, there was something in the wind.is true, there can no Utopia be realisedIton earth, andmany a time the pure element in which a man likeMaurice moves and works will be polluted by baseradmixtures ; but for constancy of generous endeavour,