Charles Dayreil : a Modern Bacchanal. By Henry Sony. (Elliot
Stook.)—Mr. Solly's "Bacchanal" is a worshipper of the true Bacchus, the joyous, triumphant god, not of the false Bacchas, the bloated Silenus, his garlands falling awry over a face painted with wine-lees, with whom the baser tendencies of ancient thought some-
times confounded him. Dayrell's childhood and school-days are described with much freshness and vigour; but it is on his Oxford days that Mr. Bony has expended the greatest pains. He goes up to college, a fiat, vigorous fellow, well provided with money, and with the greatest capacity for enjoyment. A hard rider, an admirable whip, he would have found a ready welcome from the fast set of fox- hunters and bard drinkers. But he has a nobler conception of joy than any which such as they have formed. It is a great human emotion, which the spirit of Christ may exalt into a grace. Of course, the young fellow is not perfect. The confusion of the old mythology would not have occurred, had not the exaltation of gladness been peril- ously near to the exaltation of excess. But he has got a firm grasp on a great principle of life ; and, on the whole, he keeps to it. By a bold pre- vision of what was to happen some half a century later, Mr. Solly makes his hero bring about a representation of the Bacchae of Euripides in Christ Church hall. The scene of this representation is described with much graphic force. Generally, Oxford life is set before us in a very life-like way, all the more creditable to the writer because, we believe, he is not an alumnus of the University. Some of the great men of the day, notably Dr. Arnold, come upon the scene ; a bold experiment, perhaps, but here not unsuccessful. Leaving Oxford, the hero devotes himself to a practical preaching of his doctrine. The lives of the poor are to be brightened and en- nobled by this development of the Gospel of glad tidings. Art, music, all other available influences that can elevate and beautify common things, are to be brought within their reach, This is Charles Dayrell's work in the world. His private life has a story of its own, not, we think, so happily conceived as that portion of the tale of which we have spoken.
Previous page
