Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-04-07

THE KENNETH PHILOSOPHER IN HIS ''cEDAR-
CROFT" HOME.


CROFT" HOME.
Bayard Taylor almost lives in his library.
He sits at long desk table, covered with
books, papers and manuscripts, and writes,
writes, writes all day, varying the occupa-
tion from time to time by reading. and very
often smoking as he reads or writes; but
the cigars of his smoking are of such an
ethereal sort that you wouldn't know he was
smoking If you did not see the cigar between
his lips. The chair in which he sits is covered
over with chimeras in tapestry, by fingers
which are as deft with the pen as with the
needle. They are the same that translated
" The Story of Kennett" into German. Peo-
pie will think other bye and bye, when they
read the Marie" intercarved with that OF
"Bayard" over the free portals OF Cedar
croft, long after host and hostess shall have
passed away from the mansion which the
united head and heart of these two has rem
dered happy and harmonious in its appoint
ments.
The change from an exceedingly active
life to one which is essentially sedentary has
had the effect of causing Bayard Taylor--in
his younger days as lean as an Arabic
grow almost suddenly stout. Nature will
have her compensation.
He looks the farmer that he declares him
self to be when he goes out for tramp over
his farm-which, by the way, is quite sepa-
rate fiom the homestead-as far as his large
figure and ruddy complexion go. But fn-
gers that have held pen and pencil the
greater part of lifetime will always take
on literary and artistic shaping; and eyes
that have for so long been busy in looking
out for strange sights in strange lands must
have a light in them very different from the
dull CLEAN in the eyes of the sturdy plodder
who seldom goes beyond the boundary fence
of his own acres; and brows are always
chiseled into shape by the character OF the
brain work going behind them.
There is a portrait of Bayard Taylor in
the sitting room opposite the library, by
Hicks, representing him in oriental costume,
and in.the midst of oriental surroundings.
1t was taken when he was all spirit and
youthful impulse, and nerve and muscle |;
and his features strongly become the orien-
tai garb. Doubtless, however, had he been
painted in the costume Of Norwegian, du-
ring his sojourn in Norway, be would have
looked the character with equal vivldness.
This would be due to the temporarily losing
his own indentity in the life and habits of
among whom he might for a time be sojourn-
ing, which is the great distinguishing trait
of this successful traveller, and the chief in
sigma of the erder
He never shuts himself up to write. The
library doors stand open all day. and the feet
of the household are at liberty to come and
go as their various owners will--it only
there be not too much chattering, or the So
journ be not too long drawn out. The un-
bidden, as well as the invited guest may en-
ter, if he be of the right stamp; and Bay
ard Taylor will cheerfully rise from the
composition of poem, or the elaboration
of some idea into prose,to show his grounds
to the chance visitor, returning to his work
at the earliest possible moment, but with
unshaken equanlmity.