THE MENTOR
WALTER SCOTT

The Wizard of the North

THE causes of Sir Walter Scott's ascendancy are tobe found in the goodness of his heart, the integrityof his conduct, the romantic and picturesque accessoriesand atmosphere of his life, the fertile brilliancy of hisliterary execution, the charm that he exercises, both asman and artist, over the imagination, the serene, tranquilizingspirit of his works, and, above all, the buoyancy,the happy freedom of his genius.

HE was not simply an intellectual power, he was alsoa human and gentle comforter. He wielded an immensemental force, but he always wielded it for good,and always with tenderness. It is impossible to conceiveof his ever having done a wrong act, or of any contactwith his influence that would not inspire the wish to bevirtuous and noble. The scope of his sympathy was asbroad as are the weakness and need of the human race.He understood the hardship in the moral condition ofmankind and he wished and tried to relieve it.

HIS writings are full of sweetness and cheer, and theycontain nothing that is morbid—nothing that tendstoward surrender or misery. He did not sequester himselfin mental pride, but simply and sturdily, throughyears of conscientious toil, he employed the faculties of astrong, tender, gracious genius for the good of his fellow-creatures.The world loves him because he is worthy tobe loved, and because he has lightened the burden of itscare and augmented the sum of its happiness.

From "Over the Border" by William Winter