Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, JULY 19. 1924 SAMUEL PEPYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 19 July 1924, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, JULY 19. 1924 SAMUEL PEPYS

THE day of the diarist is past. To a very large extent, certainly. Life in the twentieth century is, lor most of us, too full for time to be found to set down daily experiences, thoughts and impressions. Diaries are, of course, still kept by many, but the entries in them tenet to relate almost exclusively to business transactions, to the sale or purchase of this or that article and to memorandums of verbal agreements, the details of which might otherwise become confused and lead to disagreements. To keep a diary which shall be what a diary was originally intended to be, that is, a daily i eedrd of events and such reflections thereon as the writer might deem worth while committing to paper, is a task that calls above all things for method. To write up an account of a summer’s holiday at the end of the period is not to have kept a diary of the event; it will lack, perforce, the particular characteristics of a diary, that, fresh immediate impression that the lapse of even twenty-four hours will assuredly modify. But who, in these swift moving days is going to waste the niggard hours of relaxation in working overtime with pen or pencil? It may not have been altogther otherwise in Pepys’ day and we are not entitled to take his voluminous and detailed narrative, as ail example of the general custom. For the truth is that Pepys

loved writing; tie found infinite solace in confiding to paper all his doings and thinkings. Beginning on the first day ~{• the year 1660 he continued it into the tenth year and it was with great regret that he made the last entry on the 31st May, 1669. Failing eyesight made it imperative for him to relinquish his self-imposed task and there is something pathetic in these lines, penned when he could hardly see to write them. “And thus ends all that I doubt I shall ever be able to do with mV own eyes in the keeping of my journal . • • which is almost as much as to see myself go into my grave: for which, and all tho discomforts that will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me.” The diary had been kept in cypher and Pepys proposed to have it continued in long hand by some of his clerical assistants but he realised that he must be contented to set down no more than is fit for them and all the world to know.” The idea was apparently never carried out and, if it had been, the continuation of the diary under such circumstances would have been, of little interest. It is just the quality of spontaneity, of uncalculating self-revelation, which gives to this unique piece of literature its chief charm. No thought of

anyone else evev reading it could have occurred to the writer; if 't had been so he would never have put on record the many little divagations from the strict paths of propriety and the numerous little secrets which throw so much light on the public affairs of the time. The vanity of Pepys has almost become proverbial. But it is a vanity so sincere, so child-like, so free from conceit, that it. hardly falls within the bounds of blame, lie loved line apparel as he loved a good dinner, a good picture, good music, or a good sermon. And his vanity in dress is not of a selfish quality : lie delights to see his wife extraordinary fine with her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago, now laced exceedingly pretty,” and he is always ready to admire the fine clothes of others or, indeed, anything which may appeal to his favourable judgment, be it. play or sermon, music or learning. The fact is that Pepys, having regard to.the conditions of the time, the looseness of the court with which he had so much to do, and the universal lowernig of mord sanctions that accompanied the restoration .of the Stewarts, comes out of if with a good deal of credit. He was not unsmirched, but he kept himself on a higher level than most of those with whom he came in contact. He was there is no doubt of it—a good hearted fellow; the .misfortunes and sorrows of others did not leave him unmoved, nor did his preoccupation with the affairs of his office and his keen interest in building up a good worldly position destroy the feelings of natural affection. In 1667 there is this entry in his diary, the diary that was meant for no eye but bis own, “Received from my brother the news of my mother’s dying on Monday

about 5 or b o’clock in the afternoon. The leading hereof did set me weeping heartily." Samuel Pepy's heart was in the right place whether or no he kept himself quite undefiled by the pilch which smeared all life’s patlis uniier the second Charles.