The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-21

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Great Your life belongs to the great record and
you rank with the spirits Of light and reconciliation
Of bgotrv and scepticism. You belong TO tho
goodly company wno with Wordsworth and
truth Of God II Is simple fact for say that you
began American literature and that. although
not eldest IN years you are eldest in authorship among
We salute you thus as q representative OF homo
literature well the culture Of the age. Great
had gone before, and the Revolution produced
masters 81 prose speech under The lead OF Franklin,
their Chef and Jefferson Madison, Jay, Hamilton and
their associates in his company. As We pay our rc
known and honorcd stand with YOU and they that have
passed away speak 10 US again. Irving, Cooper, Hal
eck verpanck, Prescott and all here, and the liv
ing JOIN in honor 70 the dead Dana, now on the
threshold Of tourscore and ten years, Longeliow Whit
tier and Emerson, rich IN genus as ripe IN years with
US now and win our gratitude tor their treasures Of
beauty and wisdom
now ruxE OUR POETS HAVE BEEN IN lYx
and how pure the speech which they have set 10 music
Tor the tongue Of the naiionl YOU sir, have done
more Than We can say 10 form our language and we
who have caught pure dcton well stirring thought
and winning sentiment from your poems in our school
days glad indeed to thanks before you IN
the expressive glit with its lessons from The nature
that have inter retcd, the country that you have
served and the literature that you have iormetL
Greek severity and by us (ohic lines o. intcracnd
branches and upward pointing This means the union
OF the Greek culture with the Hebrew ah the culture
that delights in nature and humanity and the faith
that never iorgcts the God all never loses the
great hrs. pantheist visions humanitarian
pride There be derum and inebriatlon in
other schools poetry whether ia sensual
mystical absorption, but We part with our 0irthrght
when desert the God Of fathers set nature
HIS throne We congratulate you thai in
the whole round OF your service poet, Journalist,
historian, Juris teacher OF political and social science,
The iaith.
II only remains for mo TO say that this gif, OK
presses also respect and affection for you our
friend and fellow citizen. Many offerings great and
small, IN this piece Of silver. and they from
81! parts OF tho country, not without complaint that
moro was not called TOR. We who live in and around
New York not bccn behindhand in this tribute,
and enter into this presentation with peculiar
estncss You our neghbor companion and
the welfare Of tnis cIy and helped in every way.
We can all Join IN this dcierence. whether native or
foreign born, knickcrbockers or New Englanders,
Eastern Western, Northern or southern, Tor We all
know you and respect you. You have helped out
the knaves and put honest men into power,
you STOOD ny TuE
in the great struggle when God and Our Country was
the motto and you are standing b. 1t now when "Hon
est Men and Honest Money is the issue OF the time.
You have not lost ground ~ living with US, and you
have risen from young man Of thirty to full grown
man, | will not say an old man, OF over eighty, as
hearty and active as ever. You have the city
double IFS numbers and wealth many times not with
out some Signs OF growth in wisdom well as bulk.
We have been IN some respects little more fast than
your advice and example taught but In being gen.
orally cheerful have followed lead and kept up
brave heart through all changes of fortune We are
glad TO have you with us to cheer 10 tbs great
future turn the leaf OF century. You still
the o WHlCn tnts vase cmUoulCS. 1Ou still see
and enjoy the charm OF nature; the gentian the vo-
let the primrose and the apple blossom delight as
hear the hymn OF the forest and the song OF
the stars; tho merry Robert OF Lincoln sings Tor
you his genial glee, and the solemn wafer FOWL
peaches faith with untiring wing: Your
muse, that began with Thanatopsis,n prom
iscs to make s.Athanasia' her swan song as
the engthening shadows point toward morning.
Accept this gift, with all its sculptures and memorials
the study OF many thoughtful hours and the trophy OF
moro than thousand days work, all lhrobbng with
heart beats. at once our record and our blessing
This exquisite form brings beauty from the land OF old
Homer to join with truth and grace from
America In celebrating your birthday 1t means
than We eau say. Blu. we can say. for our country
Bryant"
Mr.. Bryant coming forward to reply to tho
address very warmly appIauded. He said:-"I
shall begin what have to say with thanks and
with thanks shall end t-hanks TO my excellent
friends who have concurred In the presentation OF this
beautiful vase, thanks to the artists by whom II is do
signed and executed thanks to my friend the chair
man OF tho committee for the obliging expressions
with which he has accompanied the presentation, and
thanks this fair audenc for the encouragement Of
their presence. Amer expressing my Acknowledgements
for the honor done me, il would be Tor mo to
take refuge in silence, but this would hardly become
alter the kind words addressed 10. me aid the
superb gilt offered 10 my acceptance fear
that l might be accused of initiating example
OF which Remember to have read some forty years
since volunteer military company in provincial
town OF England presented their captain with
D silver pitcher. The noncommissoned officer who
presented IT. approaching his commander, held It out
Captain replied, Aye - that the jugs and there the
speech making ended and the company werc ready for
the festivities oil the evening am afraid that SINH
lar condemnation Of what have TO say might be as
ridiculous
siAr Chairman OF the committee, and YOU my good
friends who have done me the honor 10 be here,
would have you understand that have the great
presumption TO take the opIgng things said OF
my due this superb gilt before earned by any
service which have rendered IN any quarter. wish
deserved 1t ALL but, knowing better in my heart
put large balance very large the credit or
had fairly earned all that you are bestowng upon
mcs You would be simply doing your duty; you
give and you no honor for your beneiaction But con-
slider In tho other light: suppose that receive these
testimonials OF your kindness without having earned
them, and this proceeding becomes act Of munln-
ccnce noble, pr.ncely imperal-a muniiccncc dcserv
Ing 10 be cxolied 10 the choicest phrases which Ian
guage can supply, inasmuch as II Is like
THE BOUNTY WHICH SHOWERS THE GENIAL RAIN
and the sweet sunshine on the unjust as well
the just and under the influence OF benenant
rpcus the harvests OF the field for Tweed well
.And now word copcernns the superb vase which
is before me, tho work OF artists who the worthy
successors OF Benvenuto Ceini, and eminent In their
department It has been greatly admired by those
who have seen 1t. and deserves their admiration.
remember to have read, think some half a century
ago. definition Of the term genius-making It to
small means-the power, In short, which an in
divdual has Of overcoming difficulties BY forecast
and yigor not possessed BY others converting obsa.
ccs into Instruments o success. This may call
product of gen U.S. both in the design and the
tion Tor who would suppose that any skill Of tho
could connect with such subject as he had before
him images happily conceived, SO full Of expression,
and well combining expression with graces My
friends, authors cultivate short lived reputation;
generation OF rs pushes another from the stage
the very language IN which write becomes jargon
and to be read but work like this Is Always
beautiful, Always admired. Age has power over lis
charm. Hereafter some one may say. This beautiful
vase made in honor OF certain American poet
whose u bears but whose writings forgotten.
II s remarkable that much pains should have been
taken illustrate the life and writings Of whose
works completely unknown At the present cay.
Thus, gentlemen artists shall be indebted 10 you for
causing tho memory or my to oullast that of my
writings"
cHoArEs
Mr.. RUFUS Choatc, In answer to loud calls for q
speech, made few remarks appropriate to the occa
SION, after which, at the invitation oil DR. Osgood, who
stated that the TO be sent TO the Ccntennia
Mr. Bryant having given his consent 10 It's being sent
work OF American art tho audience came in SIN
gle file the stage to inspect tho and to shake
hands with Mr Bryant
the VASE.
The vase Is splendid piece Of workmanship. work
OF genius as Mr. Bryant himself remarked during tho
evening. II Is thirty inches in height, including the
basc q a a IL