New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-22
EUIIOGY.
THE LATE LORD LYTTON.
"REMINISCENCES by AN ACTOR

TO the Bdttor or The Tribune.
SIR: Knowing that your paper is widely CIR
cuatcd among opponents OF dramatic literature ana h
hone that few words OF tribute 70 the memory OF Loru
Iyton by a personal friend will be read WIN interest
and pleasure the more since the great author may be
pronounced next to Shakespeare as the POhecI Va u
Inaticilitersturc and art in America
Who does not know Money 7" Who mas not seen
"RlchecuY" ana who has not laughed and wept over
" The Lady OF Lyonsi" Where Is the leading actress
who does not re gard Pauline rs the principal charac
ter in her repertoire and where the trageaan VINO woud
consider himself worthy Of that name before he mas
drawn " the awful circle Of oar solemn churchp The
profession owes him tribute OF the deepest gratitude
for IL not only achieved reputation but also at least one
fourth OF its income through him, ana LORD LytOn mas
often told me that 10 got any recOhpense Of Ills
dramatic works in America. He has departed from u.s.
and tue last honor his mortal part was PAID to-day DY
grateful nation Having enjoyed bis friendship Tor
years was allowed TO be OF the mourners In the
little chanel in Westminster Abbey" next to the Poets
Corner in which he was laid IL was simple but very
impressive sight, and when saw men ike W. T. Oiau'
stone John Forster, and ChiefJustice Cockburn weep
like children over the grave OF their departed llend
Thought of the truth Of Reheileu, that the
greater the man. the easier touched 10 tears" Ihey
we're three intimate friends Of his. lie went TO school
with Cockburn and John Forster was his bosom friend
and adviser and have doubt that the only authentic
biography will be written by him. Both Lyttoh
and Dickens had the greatest admiration Tor him.
both as man and critic. remember an ahecdote whch
John Forster used relate with great pleasure namely
that Lord Lytton owed the success of the LADY OF
vons N him was very anxious 70 hear him explain
H. and he said that when play read TO circle OF
friends O,yttos never produced play without placing
IL first before the censorship OF his friends ana JOhn
Forster was one OF his slnceros he fell asleep during
the reading of tho fourth act and that annoyed his Lord
shin TO such degree that he rewrote tenrey Conse-
ss oh To uvn fha rnHI
of its success" Lord Lytton laughed heartily ana al
mitted that the alteration the fourth act hepcd mate
ualy to achieve the popnaity winch II sdhou al over
the world Lord LyttOn was fouder OF tho Lady OF
LYONS than he was of his other plays perhaps because
il WAS so much abused and many humorous incidents
werc connected with It, On the night OF lts production
at Covent Garden he obliged to speak on great
question in Parliament and could not be present 10 see
bs NAV After the debate he fastened 10 the theater
and on leaving the corridor, met the Marquis OF Sails
hurry who was Just entering IT, Not at the debate, my
Lord" "No; / felt seedy, so went to tho Garden TO
sec the new piece" Qord Lytton had all his plays
produced under an assumed name.) " Aud how did you
like iti "Oh trash" was the short reply OF the Mar
mis- "a he entered the House. They both had many
hearty LAUGHS over this encounter III after years This
was the first honest opinion Lord Lytton received upon
the production OF his new play Lord Iytton had
great desire to the States and would have followed
the examples. OF Thackcray and Dickens had not
troublesome disease Of the which made itself obtru-
ye In later years and which the eventual cause of
his sudden death, prevented tins project lie always
smoke with great pride Of his IN America and
took the Iiveest IN all matters relating 70 It's
welfare
Personally he was the most amiable OF men. How
ever lofly and grandly his fgenius impressed you,
he never made You feel uncomfortable in his presence
lie came down to you, nay ho placed you above himself
When lie spoke IL was as # kind, modest, wemcanns
friend was addressing YOU and when he listened to your
reply he gave you the impression that he desired to be
instructed His laugh Was hearty, cordial and some
times loud and when dspeascd he never spoke but you
could read in his at once. and take 1t as warn
ing He dslked disagreeablo discussions, and did not
wish to displease even his inferior Like our lamented
friend Horace Greeley, he was hard worker and "a
great enthusiast Nothing grcat-he told me once IN a
conversation-can be achieved without enthusiasm lie
would cit for hours verse, line, few words
suggested TO him that play too long aud wanted
curtang to which he willingly agreed, but under his
suPorviSiop. impossible to without
caslonaly destroying the meter; that he most
phatically objected, and have seen him think over a
few words hours and then give IL up with the remark:
1--WE had better leave it till morning am happier in
early hours." one would usually ma nun IN carry
hours i'm his study, with his long Turkish pipe by his side
(which hardly left HIM when intOorsl woTkug hard
while others were yet ENJOYING iiIeu NdtuIc sNS,t
restorer" He also excellent German scholar,
and unlike great great German student Bayaiu
Taylor preferred Schiller 10 Goethe The best transa-
ton Of Die Gocke" song OF the BelD Is certainly Ms,
the lovely bust OF Schiller i'm his library.
Upon his works, he had his own peculiar views. Tho
Lady Of Lyons" considered his pest play, The Las,
Days OF Pompoh" his best novel A. write my mind
wandcrs from place 10 another over hours days,
weeks that have spent with that great My heart
is full with sweetest sorrow when think Of all the
pleasant incidents that have occurred during my
acquaintance with him. | could fill volumes in admir-
aIOu him. but fear that love and enthusiasm nave
carried me 100 lar away already, and that hayo
trespassed much upon your valuable space assure
you only the feeling which previous sad oc-
casion prompted me to step before the public has
",
the memory OF great man VINO mad hOnored me with
his friendship. l am, Sir yours most truly,
DANIEL l.. BASDMANN.
Garricl club London, Jan %, 1878.