New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-06

Human nature must not have seemed 70 him bsb-
bling over with sympathy and kindness in thoss
days; but he cherished no resentment He neves
lost his faith in the goodness Of human nature. He
remembered, with an excess of gratitude only the
persons who had boon kind to him when he wa
waif.
His early harsh experiences left their traces upon
his character, of course. He owed to his gipsy life
among Ministries and circus folk whimsical habit
Of looking at men distinguished in literature In
art as successful showmen who had had remarkA-
bly, attractive programme to start with. had man
aged their little wax-wOrks with great cleverness.
He was fond of classifying popular authors assign
ing them to various lines of business in circuses and
tbeaters and menageries. There's Blank, now" he
once said TO me, mentioning well known and
rather heavy didactic novelist. "he is doing the
moral elephant" Keller was only half in earnest in
the matter but he half in earnest and lt often
prevented him from doing serious work. He was.
however outgrowing this cynicism, and passing be-
yond the influence Of other decisions engendered by
the hardshps of his youth. He his way clear to
something like success. He had Only to acquire ths
habit of systematic and continuous labor-which his
rambling existence had hitherto made sntagonistic
to reach an enyable rank as a journalist or q
Ktterdte1.
1t was, however IA a journalist. and moro Ca
pecially az a correspondent that he had gwen tho
most PROMISE His letters from the South and West.
contributed to Every Saturday. in 1901; his recent
article on Geneva in Harpers Magazine and lastly.
his letters TO The TRIBUNE from Cuba, all evincs
that quick eye and sympathetic pen which made MS
services as special correspondent so valuable.
Mr. Keller published only two books. so far ~ ]
am aware-a boyish novel, "GlOverson and his Silent
Partner" of which no soon not proud and
"Vagabond Adventures" a very entertaining vol
nme, though that too, fell below his subsequent
standard At the time he left Gustav. Ohio TO assume
the post of Cuban correspondent for Tie TRIBUNE no
was preparing work on John Brown for which no
had gathered mass of fresh material illustrating
some striking and little known passages in the life Of
the old hero. Infer from letter which Mr.. Keller
wrote to me in September last that he had nearly
completed the book The manuscript is probably in
the possession of his brother, at Custar, in whose
house Keller was always a welcome guest He had
q room there. which he accustomed to occupy
when he was engaged in work requiring quiet and
secluson. The mention several sketches OF char
acter or travel contributed to various magazines
translation of George Sands lie Marquis de Viiiemr.
and number of brief book reviews in The 4h1ntio
Monthly, completes the list of his publications. lie
was not volumnous writer and nothing he wrote
was 50 remarkable az his personal experience, or so
interesting as himself.
We honor the man who, starting in life poor aud
frendless boy, becomes through his own exertions
q milllonaire-a millionaire, aud nothing moro.
What honor then should we pay to man like Ralph
Keller. who, without aid example, lifts himself
from out the most demoralzng associations. works.
starves, struggles for culture as men struggle for
gold, and wins at last noble foothOld. the master
of five six languages and the pOssessor of store
of general knowledge that would put to the blush
eight out of ten cOlege-trained menf
He has left behind him neither book nor versa
that adequately represents his ability. He has, per-
haps done better than thahe has left US the heroic
example of man who might have evaded danger
without mourning any special reproach, but who
preferred to death rather than shrink from the
duties he had assumed THOMAS BAILEY ALDaicH.
Cambridge, Mass, Jan. 3, 1874. -