NOTEBOOK #09 (1888-1889?)

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NOTEBOOK #09 (1888-1889?)

9/1 26) To be good at mimicry sign of weak intellect.

9/2 28)* Best argument agst Shakespeare writing the plays was his being content to be an actor.

9/3 34) Actor though engaged to actress wd not give her good gag.

9/4 37) Fondness of literary men for 3rd sex.

9/5 47) Reason `Hamlet' so popular ∵ [because] longest part.

9/6 51) Husband would not let his wife take stage side of him.

9/7 62) The art [acting] not requiring intellect.

9/8 65)* Shakespeare actor though wrote plays – almost makes one think Bacon did – except that S failed as an actor.

9/9 80) What genius is uncertain, but I think we may be certain that no genius wd be actor (Shakespeare geniuses have something else to do).

[Last note No. 81; next page entitled 'Gavin Ogilvy – novel'; numbering starts again at 1]

9/10 2-3)* Man turning up after supposed dead & buried – mild surprise of wife who sorry iron not hot enough to iron a dicky for him.

9/11 2-4) If this man's clothes given to friends, he demands them back. Curious case. (Other man had been buried for him)

[Last note No. 7; numbering starts again at 1 under heading Chapter 1]

9/12 3-35) Boy who wdnt become a gentleman.

9/13 3-37) Preacher always speaks as if heaven was round the corner. (Not liked)

9/14 3-43)* Among saddest things nearly all girls look best from back.

9/15 3-75) Boy who ran away – father ran after him and took watch.

9/16 3-81)* Liar may tell truth as broken clock the time.

9/17 3-98) Gavin's mother takes his genius as matter of course.

9/19 3-99) Where there's a bachelor there is hope (Play).

9/20 3-102) Gretna Green minister's diary. (Try get)

9/20 3-109) Child putting cork in whisky bottle to keep father from it. (Gavin as child)

9/21 3-167) Thackeray is the young man's first love.

9/22 3-168) Story – Man might marry grt literary man's daughter out of admiration for father.

9/23 3-182) Their interviews after he [Gavin] knows what she [Babbie] is cd be on a different footing. He helps her into woods, &c, now he knows doing wrong – not love now but passion.

9/24 3-188) Gavin continues to make love to Babbie after knows of engagement, but passion now – she is ready to marry him, but in reality he doesn't want that.

9/25 3-190) Once tragedy seen approaching, no more humour.

9/26 3-193)* Nature remaining thro' all time while man dies – the mournful thing in life. Yet glorious that we today have freshness of world & sensations as much as Adam had – so future generations will have.

9/27 3-194)* A woman who cd remain true to one man as long as she wasn't married to him.

9/28 3-195) One strong wave sometimes advances beyond others.

9/29 3-198) In misery wild desire not to drink but to get drunk.

9/30 3-199) Man's agony without tears terrible.

9/31 3-207) Family affection proof of good in human nature, for it is largely owing to the good we find in those we see most of.

9/32 3-211) The robe so many children were christened in.

9/33 3-224) Flichtered = Frightened.

9/34 3-232) Sacket = Rascal.

9/35 3-237) Story of A & B (say alike in appearance), B disappears & detective search years after for body. It is really A who is dead. B has killed him and assumed A's place, &c. This shd lead to strange complications. No one can see why A shd have killed B, though had they know that A was the murderer they cd have suspected B. Queer complications might arise. (Cornhill a xxx Chambers)

9/36 3-259)* Miser keeping money in cheese.

9/37 3-269) Miserable effect of day when snow dripping down in straight tangles (not heavy) & turning to water when or before they reach the ground (breaking into bits like tears).

9/38 3-282) Second childhood begins when woman gets hold of you.

9/39 3-301) Man dreaming married & screaming (heard by housekeeper).

9/40 3-322)* Gavin brooding on his shortness.

9/41 3-358) One looks back with sad wonder at his doings or thoughts in earlier days – so 30 looks on 20 (and 40 on 30?)

9/42 3-366)* Gavin's first shave (self Nottingham).

9/43 3-380) Titles: The Little Minister

When I was a boy

Gavin Ogilvy [&c]

9/44 3-386) Mother (or whoever stays with him) crying, &c, because things Gavin too clever & good to live (His first sermon her tears) – pathetic to recall in light of subsequent events – never get another to think too clever & good.

9/45 3-387)* Thoughts striking one as spider's web does across country road.

9/46 3-395) Gavin's mother might know all time about him & Babbie, though he doesn't know – His agony if finds out after her death. (She supposed to think him idolised all time – also at Defence of Manse)

9/47 3-401) We are children twice – in youth & at 21 – perhaps again when seek rest in God.

[Last note No. 404; next notes (nos. 51-67) appear out of sequence & upside down]

9/48 4-62) He never seemed to appreciate the fine fellows who get 10 per cent.

[Next set of notes appear under general title of `Houseboat Granny'; numbering starts again at 1]

9/49 5-13) Why men smoke. Moonlight scene teaching Jennie to smoke cigarettes.

9/50 5-21)* Barber (to Journalist):

B: I hear you called me a d-d adventurer.

J: No, sir, only an infernal sneak.

B: Ah, I was misinformed – I beg your pardon.

9/51 5-30) A splendid fellow – I hate him.

9/52 5-31) All nice men so nasty.

9/53 5-33) He rescues both girls – makes love to both. [Note crossed out]

9/54 5-40) Mrs Crauston looks for the spectacles, &c. which are on her head.

[Last note no. 49; next set of notes appear under heading of `Meredith'; numbering starts again at 1]

9/55 6-8) No heart.

9/56 6-9) Not dramatic ∵ only clever characters talk naturally.

9/57 6-10) Humour swallowed by wit. Greater by lesser.

9/58 6-15) His women – Hardy's women.

9/59 6-16) Hardy's & Baring Gould's rustics.

9/60 6-22) Fear of saying commonplace making him odd as instead of saying `he laughed', &c.

9/61 6-31) Not dramatic in sense Chaucer is.

6-32) Result of University education.

9/62 6-36) Wordsworth.

6-37) R.[ichard] Fennel no boy, though M[eredith]'s idea of boy good – does not speak like one.

9/63 6-41) Far wittier comedies than Sheridan's, but S had proper vehicle.

9/64 6-42) Psychological – Subjective.

9/65 6-52) Thackeray's end to `Vanity Fair' applies to M's books more.

9/66 6-52) Many admired writers mere petty twaddlers beside M.

9/67 6-55) Air of unreality about M's books.

9/68 6-59) Wisest man since Bacon (Shakespeare).

9/69 6-61) Reading M, climbing hill all way – can't glide along story like boat – so George Eliot polishing at phrases kept reader back – phrases like stones to climb over in way – stop to pick them up.

9/70 6-63) M sometimes misses, but how often he rings the bell.

9/71 6-71) Only comic dramatist alive – never been dramatised.

9/72 6-72) M mounts to a thought by means of a ladder, then kicks ladder away leaving reader to mount as he may.

9/73 6-73) Most living writers get their deserts – Haggard the ridiculous [?] exception.

9/74 6-74) Bks strewn with corpses of verbal difficulties.

[Last note No. 78; next set of notes appear under the heading of `Professor'; numbering starts again at 1]

9/75 7-20) Man who sewed own shirts, &c. – sure landlady wore his socks on Sunday.

9/76 7-37) `All hope abandon ye who enter here' (Eton boy caned on licking [?] chair)

9/77 7-48) Little man [?] cd not know was standing.

[Last note No. 67]

9/78 3-291) Man who gets engaged to girl very like himself is really falling in love with himself - instance of sublime vanity.

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