, 1872-10-16

we're witnessing the departure OF q dear and
valued friend, his head sank back upon bis pill
and heavy breaths that seemed like sighs and
then without struggle or q moan his life went
out and William II. Seward was no more.
AN HOUR WITH Mr.. FR0UDE.
Interesting Conversation with the
Great Idistorian-sEHis Views of Eng.
land and America.
From the Ee,o York Sun, Oct. II.
Yesterday Sun reporter called on James AM
thony Froude, the great English historian.
Come in" q clear, ringing voice said, as the
reporter knocked at the door. The reporter en-
tered. He found himself in one Of the pleas
ATTEST rooms of the Brevoort House. The win
dow WAS open, and the fresh, bracing air was
WIS evidently enjoying his comfort. He
was smoking delicious cigar. He rose,
and with q bright smile took the reporters
hand. He was Froude. The celebrated historian
good-natured, pleasant face, mouth that seems
ever to smile, fine brown eyes, large and bright,
aud thoughtful high forehead, and grayish
whiskers, Ia Dnndreary. It is an English face,
and unusually pleasant. When Ftoude becomes
animated his eyes sparkle, his large mouth is
drawn into winning smile-the whole face fair
" beams with good-nature. In his dress Mr.
Froude displayed the utmost simplicity. He
wore suit Of gray, very much like scotch
plaid. In his manner the historian Is una1ected
and modest.
Mr. Froude (after having in q courteous tone
invited the reporter to be seated). Does my ci-
Reporter. Oh, no! don't mind it in the
least. -
Mr.. Froude. Perhaps the window annoys,
perhaps you would prefer to have it shut
Reporter. No. thanks :; I like it as it is. Pray,
how do you like this country?
Mr: Frondee (speaking in pure though very
YOU. Dear ms, this is the most polite, the most
civil people in the world, do declare! have
seen nothing like it.
Reporter. In what respect do you think
Americans so polite?
naturally cheerful face). Dear me, everybody
treats you with 80 much kindness, 80 much con-
sideration! It's actually lying on 3 bed Of
roses [He puffed his cigar.]
Reporter. And what do you think OF New
York;
Mr. Froude. It's charming. What struck me-
Rrst-something that looked to me different
from any European city have ever vlslted-Was
the absence OF all dirt, of ali poverty. was IN
the poorer streets Yesterday near the r1ver, ana
parts Of London. But even poverty looks
decent. It seems to me as If misery keeps up
respectable appearance before the world IN this
Reporter. How long did it take you to write
your history Of England?
Mr. Froude. Was. at it twenty years. The
writing did not take me go much time as the col
lection OF the facts. had to travel over the
You are from Vienna? ! have been to Vienna.
like it as we'll as any city have ever been IN.
The people are 60 charuling1y gracious, SO polite,
and still go simple, 80 old-fashioned. I like this
old-fashioned simplicity.
Reporter. Do you share the belief that Eng
land haq sean ifg heat 6nyH
AIr. Froude lin his pleasant, CHEEKY voice..
No. I think it has as great future before it as
it has had g great past cannot see that our
people now have less energy, less vigo1 less en-
at India. I think it iB remarkable thing to See
an empire Of LEO, ,000,0 600 held in peace by 6o,00o
soldiers.
Reporter And the navy /? Are the atrictures
Of the English journals on the administration OF
the navy not justified?
Mr. Froude. Oh, dear, no. have son in
the navy, and have taken considerable interest
in the English navy. think it never has been
in as powerful 8 condition as it is now. No, you
will not see real battle OF Dorkmg, at least
not as long as you and live.
Reporter. It is true, the EnGlish flag waves IN
every corner Of the globe?
lIr. Froude with his winning Bmile). Yes.
England and America are marching side by side
power America will be in time! As for England,
/ think q country loses it's strength when it's
men; when its manhood is sapped. Nov, in
Paris what do you see2 When WAS there-you
have been in Paris, OF couFse-I saw the young
officers Of the army, Lieutenante. Captains, Colo
neIs. and others doing nothing all day-lol1ing in
the cafes and in the billiard Eooms, and dangling
after women.
Reporter Are the English Guardsmen-the
young military swelg ~, that You sec sec i n Aotten
A1r. Froude. Yes, presume they are, but
there are but few Of them. They are not the
English army. The English officer has ,sone-
thing else to do besides playing billiards and
waving his handkerchief to pretty ladies'. These
young aristocrats have done some noble work in
time Of war. You remember what those 500 or
GOO cn7a1rynen did in the Crimean war How
noble, and how brave they we're
Reporter. Are the EngliRh nobility q superior
class of people?
III. Froude. They are no better and no worse
than anybody else. The only difference is that
they we're bred to Incidence, and are yersed in
the art of doing nothing.
Reporter. Their incomes are generally very
Rfr. Froude. Yes, but not so large as those Of
many of your merchants and railroad men. Men
like the Duke Of Sutherland, the Marquis Of
Butte, and others, enjoy nominal incomes which
are very large, from s900, ,000-that is from ST.
500, ,00Ea year upward. But these incomes are
merely nominal. They are like the incomes Of
GermansP Princes, who have to spend the greater
part of their revenues in the maintenance Of their
vast estates, in their retinue, and so on. Deduct
these necessary expenses from the incomes Of
our English Dukes and Narquises and you will
find them to be less than those Of any OF your
merchant princes. Ipresume that none of them
spend in the mere lux1lries and necessaries Of
Ifo more than 100000 year. There are men
in this country, understand. who spend much
more than that. -..
Reporter. Are tho incomes OF the English
merchant princes generally as large as those Of
tAe aoPQity2