Novels of Sir E. Bulwer Lytton [pp. 159-172]

NOVELS OF SIR E. BULWER LYTTON.
he attaches the slightest importance to etiquette, or fashion. lHe
always points out the right, though
"He still the wrong pursues."
"He is a trifler in appearance, but rather one to whom trifles are
instructive than one to whom they are natural." The difference between him and Diogenes is, that the cynic philosophized in a tub,
while he found it more comfortable to do so in broadcloth and patent
leather, and of the two we must say Pelham was certainly the most
sensible.
Mais qui en est le lut? To unbare to the world the frivolities of
high life; and it has done so cleverly and well. The fault is that we
are made familiar with them rather than disgusted. Its morality is
not irreproachable. It does not, as some critics have urged, preach
bad morals, but it does not impress good ones. The tendency is not
to elevate the moral feelings, because good philosophy, associated
with Pelham's sprightly flashing levity, no more affects us than do
those excellent lessons which we buy by the pound with kisses of
candy. Very good verses they may be, advising constancy, fidelity,
fortitude and all that, but we generally suck the sweet indigestion
complacently while the counsels of wisdom go into the fire-place, or
out of the window.
There is, too, that "do as I say, not as I do," kind of advice from
Pelham, which, of course, goes no farther than the tympanum.
Your friend, anxious for your welfare, coolly puffs his cigar in
your face, and, at the same time, dilates on the poisonous essences of
tobacco, warningg you solemnly against it. This odoriferous wisdom,
arising out of wreaths of smoke, its redolence delighting your olfactories as its sound reaches the ear, of course dies away at the doors
of the heart without ever penetrating its recesses.
What Pelham says you must do is excellent. What Pelham
does is indifferent. But with all these faults, it is far better than
morbid sentiment, or misanthropy. It sparkles with wit, is replete
with interest, akin with satire, but good natured and genial withal.
And this much, at least, may be said in its defence, that the errors
for which it apologizes are those of a generous and magnanimous
nature, and even they "lean to virtue's side." The real virtues that
touch a man's honor-Courage, Truth, Liberality and Fideity, are
never held in light esteem. Meanness always appears despicable.
Pelham was unflinching in principle, and would have died rather than
desert a friend, or betray a foe. Danger could never drive the color
from his cheeks, nor distress fail to bring tears to his eyes. If such
characters as these are "painted devils," as two critics at least,
lessrs. Whipple and Hudson, are pleased( to call them, we can only
say that these gentlemen have a better prospect for happiness in the
next world than we would otherwise have imagined. For their sakes,
as well as our own, we hope they are. The dullness of Mr. Whipple in supposing that all the affectations of Pelham were real qualities is astonishing. Whatever else may be said of Bulwer, stupidity
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