Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-24
LOUIS K0SsUTH.
An interview with Him ila His Retire



Some months ago says the Boston Jour
nal, the Boston Lyceum Bureau commits
stoned celebrated lecturer 10 travel
In Europe until he found Kossuth. and, as
it was reported that he was poor, to offer
him series of lucrative engagements with
lycelms III the United States. We are
permitted to quote from an interesting let
ter just received from the gentleman re-
ferfed TO, dated Geneva, July 49, @-.t
"Wlth nerves still quivering from tie
dizzy Alpine cliffs over which the Gents
Railway hRs just launched NE here from
Italy, L 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
1gnlhed-iooklng gentleman of apparently
sixty years Of age, whose demeanor. though
grave, exhibited much affability and cour-
tesy.
When had laid your proposition be-
fore aim, and conveyed al assurance Of
the delight which hls acceptance of it
would afford the republic, he expressed his
deep regret that it was beyond his power
to entertain it, ayerring that he had re-
tired entirely from public life and was now
a reeluse from worldly affairs. To this, as
a rejoinder, in order to remove any I'M
preston that a visit, such as was proposed
to America, Would involve his interference
in or contract with political mat
ters. I 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. I
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 bis day with that Of the pres
ent, and of observing what twenty years
could do in the Great Republic
He then warmed in conversation, and
said: dislike giving you cold mega
tive, but | am not the man [ was; I have
had heavy domestic affections; I want
nerve, and as for addressing number Of
people, have almost forgotten what pub
lie speaking was. I am in truth change
ling. We're to go anywhere, it would be
to America. But, he added, why want
me? Are you not nation of orators Z!
But, said, none, Signor KossutL,
such as you
81 then touched upon the delicate
ground of pecuniary considerations, and
he Immediately observed: 81 have very
little money, but I have very few wants and
[ am content.
"'Will nothing move you, SignorT I
said.
Il repeat, he added. were [ to go 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 I am faithful witness, and he had to
pay compliment in retuan for mine.
''Phe upshot, however, was his emphatic
determination to speak in public no more
unless duty to his own country demanded
it. He requested me to sag, however, that
he felt highly fattered by the invitation
and grateful for the consideration regard
ing his circumstances