The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-03-10
, Horace Greeley.

The very spirited Artist who sketches charac-
tiers, with Pen and Ink, for the New York Lead
err, has been trying his hand upon the Editor of
the New York Tribune, whose great ability, emf
nent position, and many singularities, furnish
scope for the extraordinary descriptive powers
of this brilliant writer
Room here for a star-gazer, a struggling, in
choherent man-one who cannot so much be
said to walk as to be carried forward by his legs
in variety of curious perambulations An old
black hat with battered rim is pushed far back
off his head, as if to give for the free play
Of every wind over his capacions and benevo-
lent forehead. 1t is head of power and inf
mite speculation; head of the afltique-fringed
with a mere gossamer-web OF wasted and dlsor-
dered fiaxen-har, and mounted over bahy-face,
in which no features but the eyes possess any
Characteristic not equally well developed in
two-and- sixpenny British doll, imported for
Christmas consumption. Even the blue eyes,
set under fiaxen fringes, have much of the child
and doll in their expression; dreamy and quiet
orbs, full Of wonder and fancy-not looking so
much at things as through them and beyond to
to whatever chinera may at this moment chance
to be uppernost in the mild philosophers mind.
The complexion of the man is smooth and fair
Ia clear pink and white after his frequent Wis
its to the country; but smooth and paid as the
general rule of his city labo,s. Growing out
around his throat and from under his baby-face
few faxen hairs rapidly bleaching into white,
are planted at irregular intervals-calng to
mind poor crop Of oats planted late in the year
on bleak hill side. His dress, too, is peculiar
and of style-perhaps accidentally, perhaps by
gdesign-attracting attention Pushed back
from his narrow and STOPPING shoulders long
white coat trails its ungracetulness round his fg-
ure; an old black neck-te is knotted under one
ear; an old dress coat underneath piteously re-
veals frayed edges and corners habitually used
as pen.wipers; an old black satin wastcoat is
held together by single button over shirt I'M
conscious OF starch; and the ends Of worn and
polished pair of black trowsers are carefully
tucked into the tops of very seedy gaiter boots
no doubt to keep the ends aforesaid from the
contamination of snow or mud The fingers
are inky and gloveless; the arms when not held
down in the pockets swing around and loose at
random, as if holding an independent existence:
the whole body is bent forward with swaying
swing as the pedestrian proceeds:-and such is
the outer man, faithfully daguerrotyped, of Hor-
ace Greeley, philanthropist philosopher and pro-
teetionst--the founder Of phalansteries aud par
ties-the friend in the past OF Margaret Fuller
editor, speaker and experimental fsrmer -
in our Judgment one of the abest men in the
country, and one whom We have always regard
ed as thoroughly honest and earnest in all the
odd notions and eccentric courses which his
turn of mind has compelled him to entertain
and follow. Horace Greeley, we believe, was
born in Vermont, and like Thurlow Weed, has
worked his way upward from the starting point
of practical Partnership to his present powerful,
If not commanding position. In politics he is
born and ingrained Auti-Slavery man !;
earnestly a believer in the necessity of protect
ing American industry from foreign competi-
ton; in favor of almost any scheme which
comes to him in the name of philanthropy, and
an advocate for the Improvement of our agri-
cultural system-this last idea having already
cost him many thousand dollars in the expert
ments and importations of stock which he has
carried on for the public benefit at his private
cost. Socially Mrs. Greeley is very peculiar
man, with bat the dimmest notion o. what is
called propriety and none at all of etiquette
somuch that If elected President, he would be
inst as. likely to receive the French ambassador
in his robe de aat-supposing the temperature
of the room pcrmitted--as in any other costume.
In his family relations and affections he is a
philosopher, looking on death as the inevitable
end Of all; and either not grieying, or repress-
ing his grief. on the most tender and trying oc-
casions, with q fortitude truly wonderful to
those who know how warm and earnest Is his
nature. His friendship is Of the growth which
takes the deep and lasting root-no tales at
second hand, no universal shout being able to
shake 1.-THE tree growing and f6urishing until
Greeley has had personal proof that the man
she has trusted is mol longer worthy As writer,
he Tribune has made his style too familiar to
need comment; 1t u chiefly remarkable for the
force, vehemence and destiny Of its logic, every
train of argument being pursued reno selessly %
its conclusion, with Illustrations here and there,
mostly drawn from common life, but great
popular cogency and yividnfss. He has the
habit editorially Of paragraphng his articles nm.
der numerical heads, after-the style of : New
England sermon and most of the arguments 90
marked in the Tribune may be SET down as coming
from bis pen. Exceedingly generous and apt
to be imposed upon, Horace has raved little ex-
cept the sum invested in his farm and les i'm
provements --his copper-mining exploits up at
Lake Superior, not many years ago, having prov
ed IN Improbable investment On the Hhole-i
apart from his political notions which are anti
podal to our own--Greeley has IN amiable and
heightened character; frank and appreciative
towards enemies, and inclined TO judge men rath-
er BY their personal worth than their party pro
ieasions We like him and salute him; he ID
our public horror and one Of our private treas
nsus-nos BY any means devoid Of humor IN his
mon,ents Of rsiaxatinu, and . very good dinner
companion 1nee rshunciaEion Of tie Gfahanite-
Dell @rtS Il e..