What Killed Sir Walter Scott

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 June 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

What Killed Sir Walter Scott

Professor Blaikie, in his latesb letter bo the 'New York Observer,' says that while the journal of Sir Walber Scobb displays his constant kind-heartedness and his willingness to take up other people's burdens even while his own was so heavy, on the other hand it furnishes more evidence of bondage to the world than could have been expected. An example of this is found in his professed readiness to fight a duel if he should have been called upon to do so by a foreign gentleman whom he had offended, his conviction being thab nothing could injure him more than a reflection on his honour. 'We have only too plentiful evidence, too,' says Dr. Blaikie, ' of his habit, ab leasb in bhe labter part of his life, to make no difference between Sundays and week days in his literary work. Correcting of proofs and slaving away at task work were usual occupations for the day of rest. Had he let his brain and nerves regain their tone by a day of rest and worship, the end of his life might have been very different. And we might say the same thing with reference to his use of alcohol. For his time, he was a very temperate man. Yet we find him telling how one night, after having had a warning from apoplexy and a frequent twitching of tbe muscles of bhe face, he book a glass of whisky, and when he wenb to his dressing-room sank stupefied on the floor. This was hia second attack ; and it is not generally known thab his lasb illness came on afber a similar violabion of the proper regimen.'