Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-18
Louis KOsSuth-An Interview with Him
in His Retirement.

Some months ago, says the Boston Jour-
nal the Boston Lyceum Bureau commits
stoned q celebrated lecturer to travel
In Europe until he found Kossu.h, and, as
IL was reported that he was poor, to offer
him q series OF lucrative engagements with
lyceums in the United States, We are
permitted to quote from an interesting let
Ter Just received from the gentleman re-
ferred to, dated Geneva, July is;
"With nerves stlli quiyering from the
dizzy Alpine cliffs over which the Gents
Railway has just launched me here from
Italy, hasten to report the execution Of
the commission which you entrusted to
me. In retired quarter in the
royally- forsaken city OF Turin, piazza Ca
your, over an humble wine tavern, found
the lonely Magyar mild, sedate rather
misunderstanding gentleman of apparently
sixty wears of age whose demeanOr, though
grave, exhibited much affabihty and cour-
tesy.
when I had laid your proposition be-
fore him, and conveyed en- assurance of
the delight which his acceptance of it
would afford the republic, he expressed his
aeep regret that it was beyond hiss power
to entertain it, ayerring that he had re-
tired entirely from public life and was now
recluse from worldly affairs. To this, AS
a reioinder, in order to remove any I'M
preston that visit, such as was proposed
to America, wonld involve his interference
in or contract with political mat
ters. ! described to him the
character and organization Of
American lyceums, and the work done by
the Boston Lyceum Bureau for them,
showing that the discourse you desired
from HIM would require only his views
upon some literary topic, apart from
the atmosphere of politics altogether. ]
added likewise, that while gratifying and
instructing others, it would scarcely fail to
be a subject of intense interest to him to
have an opportunity of comparing the
American of his day with that of the pres
ent. and of observing what twenty years
could DO in the Great Republic.
He then warmed in ton, and
said dislike giving you cold mega
tive, but am not the man | was; | have
had heavy domestic affections; | want
nerve, and as for addrf ssing a number Of
people, | have almost forgotten what pub
lie speaking was. am in truth q change
ling. We're / to 90 anywhere, it would be
to America But, he added, why want
me? Are you not nation Of orators !"
"'But, said, none, Signor Kossuth,
such az YOU.
81 then touched upon the delicate
ground of pecuniary considerations, and
he Immediately observed: 81 have very
little money, but have very few wants and
| am content.
"'Will nothing move you, SignorY |
said
81 repeat, he added. were to 90 any.
where it would be to the grandest country
in the world, your America but | think,
from the sample before me, you can do
without Kossuth, o spare my bushes
but am faithful witness and he had TO
pay q compliment in retuan for nine.
"The upshot, however, was his emphatic
determination to speak in public no more
unless duty to his own country demanded
it. He requested me to say, however, that
he felt highly fattered by the invitation
and grateful for the consideration regard
iug his circumstances.