The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24
BAYARD TAYLOR.
PRESIDENT WHITES REcoLLEcTIoNs OF HIS
LECTURES AT CORNELL UNIvERsITy-'A LIT
EpAPy MAN AVN NOPE"

PRESIDENT WHITES REcoLLEcrIoNs OF HIS
LECTURES AT CORNELL UNIvERsIry-'A LIT
ERARY MAN AND MORE"
ITHACA N. ", Dec. 22. 1878.
President White. OF Cornell University. whero
Bayard Taylor nonresident lecturer. gave few
"reminiscences to-day of his former associate.
There dwell in my memory" he said, "many de-
lghtful "reminiscences of Bayard Taylor; but my
closer relationship with him began when he accepted
the lectureship German literature in Cornell Uni
versity. was led to propose him for this duty by
a criticism of his which struck me as much above
what l had before supposed he was able
to give, and I not disappointed in the
result. From the first his was great. His
lectures on the early German poetry-the Min
nesingers, and the "Niebeunger Lied"-at once
aroused an interest in German literature and hisor
cal studies; but most valuable Of all his dscourses
were those upon the great modern poets. leasing.
Goethe Wieland Herder and the rest. The infiu-
ence Of these upon the students who thronged his
lecture room yerJ marked. They showed his
best characteristics-his thorough knowledge and
full appreciation Of the literature. combined with an
understanding of the authors as men. All this he
brought to bear upon his hearers, not only in stimu
lating the love Of culture and attainment. but in
building up their nobler aspirations.
.Oi these lectures that upon leasing exercised per-
to last, such deep sympathy with the man as we'll
as the writer and such feeling for what was
good and beautiful and true in all his works, that
his hearers went away not merely instructed but
msde more manly and earnest. His lectures were
not simple efforts to parade his extent of knowledge,
nicely in distinctions and subleiy in comparisons.
but TO present whatever in his subject was OF etern
worth
INFLUENCE OF HIS LECTURES.
"The effect upon those who heard him was very
marked The zeal for studies in the German language
and literature greatly stimulated Many OF the
students here their first impulse in anything like
real literary culture distinguished from that which
passes conyentionally under that name, to these lee
lures But there stimulus IN them to something
higher than this. to good and manly effort in every
work and calling II is in thinking of this that
most deeply lament Mr.. Taylors DEATH He belonged
toa body who were literary men and much, more,
Deep men whose whole influence was OF the very
best. My earnest hope is that their success, 80
legitimate, so honorable, may stimulate those VINO
are coming after him.
.This appreciation of Mr.. Tayler's influence upon
the student is not merely that CT his colleagues 1t
was certainly the prevailing sentiment among our
undergraduates. very striking example OF this was
seen when he to discharge his duties here. The
whole body Of about i've hundred young men came
upon the university grounds to welcome him ana
with expressions which showed most hearty good
will All who have taken part in founding this ipsti-
tuition must feel grateful for the spirit which he
threw into all his labors with MS.
AS AN AMBASSADOR.
IL last saw him Paris the opening Of the Expo
stion i'll May and had the pleasure OF being with him
at the opening ceremonies His extensive travels aud
acquaintance with in all parts OF the world had
not taken the edge off his patriotism. He showed
constant anxiety for the success OF the American cx
hibit think that all Americans there present felt
pride in him as the representative OF our country
nor was this admiration confined to Americans alone.
happened to be- in Germany when his appointment
to tile Berlin Mission was announced, and nothing
could be better than the tone OF the German press
regarding it, A German professor, of high repute.
expressed to me his admiration for nation which
had into its diplomatic service, instead OF pro-
fessional politicians advanced merely by
diplomatic routine, such scholars as Marsh Lowell
and TAYLOR and this feeling, / think was very gen.
era and by no means confined to any OF the conti-
mental nations The country has certainly sustained
great loss. His death has deprived OF one who
could been Of great national representa-
tive abroad and had he lived there every reason.
to expect of him life OF Goethe of high value in
stimulating and main tanning trains Of thought most
desirable in country like ours