New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-15


OF the Suffrage and upon the growth Of local and
state rights But his love OF freedom was too genuine
20 allow him 20 eOndOne the faults even OF his own
party when freedoms friends found the other
side. He could bear, he did bear the odium OF ms
society in New-York was Of another opinion and be-
onged to another party-and be could bear with equa
forude the ignOminy of lacking party fidelity, when
his patriotic spirit felt that his old political frieDdsRere
ess faithful than they should be TO freedom ana union
The editorial profession enabled his shy and somewhat
unsocial nature 70 work at arns ength Ior te gooo
Of humanity and the country aud can conceive OF no
temperament and faculties fully in the public service
He rebuked the headlong spirit Of party, sensational
tangled phrases and un-English words He could see
and acknowledged the merits OF these from whom ne
widely differed while unbecomng personalities found
no hnrbOr his columns. His prose was In ITS way ~
good his poetry, and has aided greatly 70
pretentous writing in the public press. lie
was not alone in this respect Tor none can fa 10 recall
HS6Dy the man that knows his own poweIs-their
limits. and their apdtudes-aDd who confines
himself ngdly within the banks OF his own own
| too real a lover Of Nature, too legitimate a
child Of the muse, ever to strain his own gift lie
pred 10y observation and hearty enjoyment OF Ma
tre, watching only that 1t flowed smoothly and without
turbulence or tu7bidness. which his cOnsummate
act enabled hlm perfectly to accomplish He
had considered all the masters ana knew iher quanX
| rs marked only with its native hues There is
no trick in his adrOitness-nO artlhce In ms
art; nothing that tires except II be the uniformity
OF its excellence. Considering how long his genius
has been known and acknowledged, and how
den i'm ms purity and Righteousness OF languageit is,
perhaps be wondered at that his popularity as
citizen and man, has even somewhat ecpsed his i'm
mediate popularity as poet. think him fortunate III
not having the popularity OF novelty OF fashion, OF sing
song verse, OF morbid sentiment OF mere lngenius
thinking, or some temporary adaptation TO passing
moods Of popular feeling, whether IN universities or IN
social circles He curiOusy escaped If indeed his truth
iul genuneness OF nature dd not give MN an original
defence against ~ from le
aud indiyiduaisuc temper which las characterized nucn
of the poetry OF the highest academic culture. IN our
time. Either he born too early, or no emigraed
from NeW-England 100 early TO ia under the nuenee
tins morbid subectiveness or his active ana pfact-
cal pursuits kept HIM IN the current OF real le ana near
TO tne universal eenng OF At rate-free, rl-
tonal as his genius wasthere Is not suspicion
not sick nor morbid nor melancholy, nor discouraged
Sentiment enough he has, but no sentimenlalU awe
of Infinite. but no agn0scism; recognition OF all
human sOrrOws and sins but no querulousness mnch
less any despair. He loved and ncnOreu human ma,
ture ne feared and reyerenced his Maker he accepted
Christianity in its historic characteri he believed IN
American mstitutons he believed IN heI hurch ah9 us
permanently in It's ordinances ana IT'S ministry anu nc
backward looking praser OF the times tbat lad
been, and aCcuser and dctdmer OF the times tnat
are This his poetry r. made his prose and his
whole influence, wholesome, hopeful, nutritious; young
80 -, 49, II,e vcr,, absence of those false
cOlOrs which give immediate attrdcveness 10 tue cloth
ing o some contemporary poetry. gives his undyed and
noinraI robe iadeIess charm which uure generations
will not forget 10 honor Every one must notice that
great immediate popularity IS not good augury
for enduring anne and further, that poetry. Ike
an the prOuuCts the fine arts must have not only
positive quality, power and harmony, but must add To
these freedom from defects. IL is strange what an
balmng power lies in purity OF Style TO preserve
thoughts That would perish even though greater hhd
more original il wrapped IN less perfect yesture what
element OF decay is there IN Bryants verse How unye-
sal bis themes; how intehglbe ahdeNel 10 uncommon
heart; how little ingenious, vague or technical low
free irOm what Is provincial temporary c9pricons how
unhtwed with doubtful ngufes OF sduneu COMPARISONS
or and strange words bow unmarried ny a forced
order or weary mannerlsmsl lie IS a riga fuHtah,
alike In his morals ana his NOc1buIy cIe Is sciIcey
false foot doubtful rhyme iuchiess eplthe dubious
sentiment any where 10 be found In his works. And
perhaps Nature withheld from him what is called an err
for only TO emphasize mis- ear fOrrhythm aud save
him from the danger OF "A cl02gng sweetness ana
fatiguing sng-song.
Mr.. BRYANI's CHARACTER
It is the glory Of this man that his character
outshone even lis great talent and his large
fame Distinguished equally for his native gifts
and his consummate culture, his poetic inspiration and
his exquisite art, he ia honOred and loved to
day. even for his stainless purity Of life, his
answering rectitude OF WILL his devotion 20 tho higher
interests Of humanity, his unfenep patriotism, and
his broad humanity II is remarkable that with mono OF
the arts OF popularity, man so little dependent on
others appreciation, sesubsstent and so retiring.
who never sought or accepted Office who had ie taste
for cooperation, ana DO tustllDg zeal In ordinary
philanthropy, should have dfa@nto blmsef the conn
dencs the honor and Of metropolis,
become perhaps, II Is not too much to say our hst
citizen was, spite OF constitutional reserve, nat
ura dstaste crowds and public occasions, and some
what chilled bearing toward his KIND that ne achieved
by thu force Of great merit and solid worth this
triumph the heart Of ms generation The purity OF
the snow that developed HIM more observed than
ts codness and his felOweizeus believed that fire OF
zeal for truth justice and human nights burned steadily
al tne heart OF tms lofty personality though IL
! haued smoked And they were rght! Beyond
an thirst for fame or poetic honor, lay m Bryant
the ambition Of virtue Reputation he did not despise
but virtue he revered and sought WIN All his heart lie
had an intense sercyereuce that made his own good
| oplnion OF his motives and actions absolutely
! essential. And though little tempted by .cOvct-
BUSINESS envy, worldness or love OF power he had his
own conscious difficulties to contend with temper not
Without turbulence a susceptibility 20 injuries, con-
| tempt for the moral weaknesses OF others. But be
iabored necessarily at sefknOwledge and selfcOntro
and attained equanimity and genteness to marked de-
| gree. - A.. 49,, .,.., to-, o., Ill, III,
inccssant industry. his perfect consistency and cOhe
rency of life and character were not backed by strong
| Duseiong With less cOnsecratcd purpose, less
reverent love Of truth and goodness be might easily
! have become acrd, vindicuve or selhsb'y ambitious
| But he kept bis body under, and, far more difficult
task for him. his spirit IN subjcctOn God had gwen
harmonious frame. His spirit light and 1lthe
ture clay that never burdened HIM His senses were
perfect at fOurscOre HIS eyes needed no glasses; his
bcar1D was exguisely fine. His aertness was the won
der OF his poraes. He Outwaked men OF middle
ace Ills tastes were simple as 10 be almost ascetc.
! MIL and cereals aud fruits were his chosen diet. He
mad no Wees and approach 10 Them and he avoided
any and everything that could ever threaten blm with
| ihe tyranny OF the senses or Of habit Reg
! ular 10 ali his habits, be retained his youth
almost 10 the last His power OF WORK never aOated,
and the Herouean translation OF Homer which the
amusement OF the last usre Of his long and busy fe
showed not only no seniiy OF decline m artistic SKIN,
but decrease OF intellectual or physical endurance
Perhaps e last zen g S n nf bsn a1S p p
yous decade for he had become at last not only
signed to public hoDoTs, but had acquired late and
tardy taste for social ana pubic gatbeTlngs VINO so
| often called TO preside III your public meetings or TO
nonnced as many hearty welcomes hOnOred strangers,
unvced as many statues, graeed many OccasonA OF
public sympatbyf VINO 80 ready 20 appear at the call OF
your publle charities affectOnaely welcomed
! and honored your platforms AL this, com
| ing late IN life, was grateful, might almost say
fond surprise He had wrapped himself In his cloak TO
contend the Winter wind OF his earlier fortunes
and the harder Il blew land 10 very rough IN bS
middle fe) the closer be drew IL about HIM. But the
sun ~ prosperity honor and confidence that warmed
and frightened the closing decades Of his lie,
| fairly melted away his proud reserve toward the
pubc, and he lay himself open 20 the warm and fra
grant breeze OF universal favor lie careful, how
ever 10 say that he did not hold himself at the pubcs
hign estimate. In long conversation Dad with him
m RIOS Vn two years ago he showed such surprising
self-knowedge aud such just appreciation Of popular
SURFACES, that It was impossible to DOUBT his