New-York tribune., 1875-12-22
CIRLYLE'S EIGHTTETH BIRTHDAY.

C/RLYLES EIGHTIEIH BIRIHDA1.
THE PRESENTATION OF A MEDAL AND ADDRESS
DISTINGUISHED AUTHORS AMONG THE sU8sCRI-
BERs-CoMPLIENTARY TELEGRAM FRoM GER
MANY.
TyRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, Dec. 9.-Mr. Carlye's birthday last
Saturday bis S0th, made festival to him py
the numerous remembrances of it from many quar-
tsrs / described in my last letter the medal ana
address sent him by hundred of his English ad'
nlirers Mr.. Ruskins name was not among the sig
natures; why, do not know. There was some time
since story of some coolness between the two, and
even some printed controversy. But OF the nearly
respect each has for the other there evidence much
more recent in the writings of each MIR. Car
lyle's last published book, the Early Kings
of Norway" contains long extract from
Mr. Ruskin, and it is needless to say that
"Forsr and other current publications of Mr.. Rus
kin refer frequently, and always in the same terms
as Of old to the great writer whom Mr.. Ruskin long
since accepted as prophet and teacher IN moras'
Mr. Matthew Arnold's is another missing name, more
readily accounted for. Mr.. Herbert Spencers Is not
there and other omissions will be noted. Some who
might have been asked were forgotten; some posi-
bly, refused for Mr. Carlyle, like other positive men,
has not gone through the world without arousihg
some pretty hot opposition and even animosltles.
| mentioned before MT. Iennyson, MI l'io"hihS'
Mr. Hughes Mr.. Huxley, and Mr.. Tyndall as signers
of the address. Some of the most distinguished
among the Others are George Eliot Mr. Darwin, Mr.
w. f. Forster, Lord Lyttelton, Mr.. Lecky, Mr.. John
Morley, Dean Stanley, Sir John Lubbock Miss Har-
riet Martineau Mr. Max Miller, Mr.. Leslie Stephen
and Mr. Fitz James Stephen, Miss Ihackeray, Mr.
Trolope and Mr.. Alexander Russell, the latter, be-
lieve, the only journalist in the number Nearly
every name. shonld add, is that of person emil
nent for something, but / select only such as may
be supposed best known in America The privilege
was confined to Englishmen and ScOtchmen, the pro-
portion of the latter being naturally larger. MT.
Motley was not asked to contribute. am not. sure
that he wasin England when the list settled. Mr.
Boehm, who designed the medal refused all pay Tor
his work. He is an intimate friend of Mr.. Carlyle,
and his statue of him a labor of love
as well as of genius. The engraver was
Mr. George Morgan and copy of the
medal will appear under his superintendence
in The Illustrated London Nelcs of this week. Apph-
cations for copies from those who were not subscr
bers have been received, but declined. None VIII
be distributed except to subscribers, who may have
silver or bronze they choose, and to certain pub
lie institutions. The text Of the address is
by Mr.. David Mason. No answer to
it has yet been received. There was no ceremony
of presentation The medal and address were left
with the servant at the door of the modest house
which Mr. Carlyle has so long occupled-a house so
modest as to call out exclamation of surprise from
a distinguished foreigner with whom once went to
call Oh its owner: "What, great man live III so
little housew This, curiously enough, is almost a
paraphrase of the well known remark addressed by
the Shah. whose conversational knowledge OF
English was limited, to Lord Russell, when
the latter apoogized for receiving his guestin Penn
broke Lodge. Little house, great man" responded
the ORIENTAL and visitors may be regaled with the
anecdote to this day Yet, to any familiar with
the unpretendng outsidcs of London houses, there
is nothing exceptionally humble III the appearance
Of Mr. Carlyle's.
The Germans did not forget their English friend.
He received this telegram from Berlin
To the valiant champion of Germanc freedom of
thought and morality TO the true friend OF our Father
faIY advanced the hearty understanding between the
English and German peoples 10 the historian OF OFer
birthday grateful greeting ana warm eongi
Leopold Won Ranhe Johaan Gustav DIoysen, Rudolf
Gne Heinrich Marquardsen, Theodor Monmsen, Rein
hold Paul. Baron staufenburg Heinrich Sybel.
Heinrich Won Treitschke, Georg Waltz.
These are among the greatest names in cotemporane-
ous German literature. He received, also, hear,
number of other kilograms from Germany not meant
for publication, and this remembrance of him from
that country among the most grateful OF those
which his birthday brought him. There were calls,
pleasantly. Mr. Motley was one of those who
went to see him. suppose may mention what is
no secret, that Mr.. Carlyle has always set very
high value indeed on Mr.. Motley's historical work,
and that the friendship between them has been long
and close. Mr.. Motley'S is one Of the few houses
which Mr.. Carlyle has visited of late years; per-
haps the only one which he has visited within few
weeks.
Not that he remains shut up in his own-far from
it, His daily walk is seldom omitted. His American
friends will rejoice to hear that his health is vigor-
Gus. His birthday perhaps the most inclement
day known in London for years-cod, snowy and
the snow lying hard and slippery on the ground.
Yet visitor who called in the afternoon, relying
on his being kept in by the weather, found that
the old man was taking his walk as usual
had been out two hours, and was not yet returned.
don't know whether MIR. Carlyle ever reads a news
paper. If he does, he may have found some pleasure
i'm the many articles devoted to his birthday by the
London journals, and in their generally intelligent
estimate of his work and place in literature, their
cordial expression of good will to him. and their
reverence for his illustrous and heroic life.