The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-01-19
MISCELLANY.
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CorrespOn Qence boston heTalu-j
Bayard Taylor and His WOoing of the
MUSES..
NEW York, Jan. 6, /,

neylng ABROAD on 1901 IN his tWentletn
year, with few hundred dollars gain
ed by literary labors done and to be
done, has relinquished travel altogether,
and is not pleased to be mentioned as
traveller. Anybody can travel, he says,
with certain degree of truth, but every
body can not describe foreign scenes
and people so pleasantly or pro6tably as
be has done.
He desires above aught else to excel
and be famous as a poet, and he takes it
as no compliment when people speak
fatteringly of his picturesque accounts
of wanderings around the world But
any praise of his poetry is thoroughly
appreciated He has written some beau
tiful poems, although hundreds have
read his volumes on the East, China,
Lapland and Japan to one who is famil-
lar with his verse. Views Afoot" is
the first book of his that attracted any
degree Of attention; "Ximena," collec-
tion of poems, the offspring of juvenili-
ty, was his initial effort, and indicates
the bent of his mind. Candor compels
the declaration that the "Views" are
vastly better than "Ximena," albeit /
suspect that their author was some time
in coming to such conclusion.
There is something very laudable in
Taylor's energy, perseverance and pluck
in making a career for himself under
circumstances extremely disconraging
Any man who, from printer in coun-
try newspaper office, without friends or
money, travels over most of the globe,
masters dozen languages, writes books
on nearly every topic, and obtains Ma
tional and certain transatlantic fame,
richly deserves any amount of success.
Remarkable versatility is his. He is
journalist, poet, lecturer, novelist,
biographer, linguist, essayist as we'll as
traveller, and he is still young, not be-
ing fifty-two until next month. He
would be thought older from the fact
that he came so early on the stage, and
has been so constantly before the pub
lie. He has been very definite in his
aims, and has pursued them unremit-
tingly. Business has never lured him
with the prospect of making money.
He -haa. aselesely-saerifoed at the
shrine of literature, though he has not
neglected opportunities of legitimate
gain. He is one of the Oldest stockhold-
!, ers of the Tribune, having secured an
interest near twenty-eight years ago, and
holding to this day four or FIVE shares
more than any member of the association
:, holds, with the exception of Whitelav
Reid. When William Orton bough
= fifty -one shares at $4,000 each, Taylor
who was abroad, and reached by cable
declined to sell, Notwithstanding tn
;, price was far in advance of what he hat
: paid. He believes emphatically in tn
). newspaper he has been SO long connect
ed with, having none of the fears of il
financial future which 80 many outsider
affect to feel. For some time past h
has been regularly on the editorial stat
:, at salary of $4,000 or $4,000, muc
:. preferring his duties there to geners
NJ lecturing, although lecturing is MOI
profitable. 1t is an odd circumstanc
- that this is the first time he has been rel
:, ularly on the editorial staff of the p;
per, notwithstanding his protracted q
o sociation with it.
MORE FAME THAN FORTUNE.
ny Taylor has been very industriou
Gil pains-taking, conscientious writer fro
L. youth up; he has had wide and gener
rs' acceptance as an author and lecture
ne his pen has always been in active d
eu mand at the best market rates. Neve
no theless he has accumulated little none
Gu his whole estate, if it could be convert
'es into cash to-day, would not, in all pro
ng' ability, yield him much above 5000
'he or $4,000. His friends say he is nat
" ally profuse and his tastes expensi,
lns that he would rather spend than sa
any time, trait which usually belon
'ou to the members of the art tribe. The
a'o who can make money easily are apt
'ou be careless of it. Taylor's brain q
res reputation stand him in good stead.
a lecturer alone he can earn handsome
'me Season before last, when the Lycel
ish had few pecuniary attractions for m,
of its representatives, be cleared
'he thousand dollars in about four mont
, DIS In spite of years of wandering over
II face of the earth he has strong home
ne tacbments. He has taken up his p
-, mansnt residence here. His wife, al
e' we'll known, is German. He met her
Saxony, and when he married be
8 number ofyoung American women W
to be sentimentally foolish about
'ne twenty years ago, resented the impl
fe imputation that he could not fnt
'oVe proper bride at home. He has but
child, daughter still in her teens.
'Jec' has altered good deal in personal
lngs pearance during the last ten years, h
lie ing grown ruddier, stouter, more 7
" tonic-looking. He has great sympa
u aS with and admiration for the Germ
eiesS and, seated before table, glass of
III in hand, talking German, which
'"e does with extraordinary fuency
correctness, to some of his Gerl
ien' friends, he would not be suspected
having seen the light in Chester cou
ohu Pennsylvania, and of having had Sc
was al generations OF Americans bel
ne him. The country can boast of
'ne' few purely selfmade men who
achieved so much, and won so hon
paid HE distinction as Ravard Tavlor
take
eturn = Credit one to the family cat. He
g i'm at South Carver, Mass, his name is
which and the other day, in quest of mic