Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-28
THE DEAD DIPLOMAT.
"Reminiscences Of Interest Regarding
Bayard TaylOr's Early Life.

Cleveland LEADER
The news Of the death Of Minister
Taylor yesterday was received with
feelings Of great sorrow in this city,
where he has many intimate friends
and a large number of admirers.
Knowing that Colonel John Hay had
been for many years on terms of the
most intimate personal friendship with
the great author and statesman, a
Leader reporter late last evening,
called at his residence on Euclid ave-
nue., to obtain if possible, some remi-
%niscences such as only a personal friend
can give.
Colonel Hay had not heard of MI.
Taylor's death, and was much aston
ished and grieved at the announce
ment. He had read in the morning
papers that the minister's condition
was more hopeful. He had looked
for further information in the evening
paper, but had failed to see anything.
After a moments pause, the question
was asked in regard to how long Mr..
Taylor was connected with the Tri-
bune.
"0h, a great many years, l think
twenty-five, at least" said Colonel
Hay. He was city editor, in the day
Of small things, for many years. I
have heard him tell how be worked
in those days. He was city editor.
wrote editorial matter, book reviews
and everything else almost. he was
worked almost to death, but always
kept fresh by q simple method
Of always writing or reading some
thing new and solid before going ia
bed.
Mr.. Taylor got his first fame al 4
traveller, did he not7"
He was a great traveller, and vel
he was not. He never liked to b.
called a traveller, for he was more thar
this. He never went for the simple
purpose Of passing away time, as The
majority Of people do. lie always haC
a purpose in his trips, and that pur.
pose was to write for the Tribune
His books Of travels all appeared frsl
in the form Of letters in the Tribune
The Views Afoot gave him his frs.
national reputation. He has Away
held stock in the Tribune, and re.
tanned it atthe day Of his death"
His reputation Of performing re.
markable literary achievements hal
often been remarked upon"
And the remarks are true. H,
could do more, | think, in a shor.
space of time than any other man
ever knew. He would, if required
write a whole page Of the Tribune il
a single day. His review Of DR.. Schlie
mans FIRST book, written from ad
yanced sheets, was remarkably full
and gave such a good idea Of the worl
that il was almost unnecessary 10 rea,
the book itself. He had a peoulia
gift at %condensing matter and still re
tanning every point which tho autho
made. Perhaps his greatest feat ii
this line was achieved upon Veto
Hugo'S poems. They arrived in Ne,
York on a certain morning, and tn
next morning he published nearly
page review Of the work, with seyera
columns Of metrical translation, don
I, 80 finely that all the original vigor an
spirit were retained. In tho Ech
Club papers, which Were published
few years ago in the Atlantic MONTH,
the best idea Of his powers as an an
thor Is seen. In these he produce
with remarkable fidelity limitations {
the poems Of leading authors Of III
country which were 80 close to th
originals that, without tho least thin
s 10 indicate who was being initiated
any one familiar with literature coul
( not fail 10 recognize them. Thei
D were not parodies they were imih
9 tons, written on entirely diiierer
4 subjects, but on such subjects as III
different authors would DO likely {
r choose. Besides the elements Of Inn
J. tatlon there was a slight vein Of car
caturo running through them. III
Q review Of the Inn Album by Robe
Browning, was written Ia tho aan