The New York herald., 1878-12-31
The Historical Society's COmmemoration
Of William Cullen Bryant.
uABoVE THE CLAxOR or S.LFISH AMBITION. :
George William Curtis Pays Glowing
Tribute to the Departed Poet.
RECEPTION TO PRESIDENT HAYES.

President Hayes. with Mrs. Hayes and several
members of the Cabinet. attended the Bryant
cemmemoration at the Academy of Music in this
city last night and later rendered reception
at the house of the President of the Historical Society
Mr. Frederic Depoyster, No. 76 University place.
few minutes before eight o'clock the President,
reached the Academy of Music Secretary Eyarts.
Attorney General Deyens and General W. T. sherman,
with the President aud Mrs. Hayes composed the
party. They were received in tue lobby and con-
Quoted to their box by Mr. Benjamin II. Fields and
number of prominent citizens. The band played
HALL Columbia" the Chief Magistrate seated
himself in upper proscenium box on the
left of the stage and the members Of the Historical
Society filed upon the stage and occupied the loo
chairs placed for their reception. President De-
peyster headed the ine followed closely by the mem
pcrs of the Cabinet already named and Mr.. George
William Curtis the orator of the evening, who was
10 discourse on .The Life, Character and Writings of
William Cullen Bryant" When these gentlemen We're
seated they found themselves confronting an audi
dience of remarkable intelligence and refinement
which tiled the building to the topmost seats
of the amphitheatre. 1t was by no means a demon
strative audience. for the applause bestowed
upon the efforts Of Mr.. Curtis was not over
enthusiastic, and although many opera glasses
we're levelled the. Presidents box, no
corresponding box to the Presidents on the
opposite side of the stage sat Samuel J. Tilden
and Parke Goodwin. casual glance over the stage
ana the body of the house took in the
faces of Peter Cooper, ID. $. Babcock, Thurlow
Weed Bishop Potter, Chief Justice DAILY, Dis
trict Attorney Phelps, Rev. DR.. r. 5. Storrs and
Rev DR.. Noah Hunt Schenck, both OF Brooklyn;
John W. Hunter, of the same city; f. ID. Morgan,
Judge Hilton, Rev. Howard Crosby. D. D.; Erastus
Brooks Rev. John Hall, Cyrus W. Field, Ex-Governor
Hoffman, whitelaw Reid and scores of others equally
well known citizens.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Curtis oraton vote OF
thanks to him eloquently proposed by President
T. p. Barnard Of Columbia College. and being sec
onded by DR.. Storrs in few well chosen words was
heartily carried
Mr. CURTIS ADDRESS.
Mr. Curtis delivered a lengthy and elaborate ad
dress OF " hch the following is synopsis
This great and distinguished assembly is in itself
an imposing tribute to the memory OF an iltstrious
man. But more impressive than this presence
OF genius and distinction of character and inteli-
gence, is the absence OF one citizen. that yencra-
he figure which had come to - represent present In n
from whose temperate lips on every occasion of
literary and patriotic commenoration, of political
emergency or of public appeal We have been accus-
toned to hear the fitting words of counsel of
agement and consolation. When Cooper died the
restless city paused to hear Bryants words OF praise
apf friendship. When Irving followed Cooper all
hearts turned to Bryant. and it before
this society and in this place that he told
Cooper and Irving the last of that early trnmvirate
OF American literature, not less renowned than the
great triumvrate of American politics. and he whose
life bezan before the century leaves behind but
Of his early literary contemporarfes-the venerable
poet Dana friend of Bryants youth, at an age pro-
1onged beyond four score and ten,
An old age and bright -
And lovely as Lapland night
The editor who published ''Thanatopsis" sixty-one
has
caravan and lie down to pleasant dreams. patriarch
of literature. and in permanent sense the Oldest
of our poets, scholar familiar with many languages
and teratures finely sensitive TO the influence OF ma
ture and familiar with trees and birds and flowers lie
was especially tted ii might be thought for scholarly
secusion and the delights Of the strict literary life.
IN the active American life of this century he bore
his full part quaiug. never doubling. giving
and taking blows stern often reserved unsparing,
but panoplied arlnor which no taoed
Homeric hero wore, neyonr IN ART ~ ., h,h ~. 20
impenetrable armor of moral principle.
MR.. BRYAsr's LOFTY pAtRIoTIsA.
His lofty personality above the camor of self
ism ambition and in his life he reconcilsd, both III
fact and to the popular magaation the seeming III
compatibility Of literary taste and accomplishment
and superiority with constant political activity. so
rises the shining dome of Mont Blanc above the cs-
terng forests and the roaring streams, and on its
towering sides the grows Of various climates and Of
different in due order meet and iningle. II IS
by official title by no mere literary fame. by no
or transigiraton stroke of STATE craft calling TO
political life world TO redress the balance
umphant Trafalgar that Bryant commence
rated. There may have been in his long lifetime
genius more afflnent and creative, greater renown.
abilities more commanding, careers more dazzling
and romantic But no man. no american. living or
dead. has more truly and amply illustrated the scope
aud the fidelity of republican citizenship.
A TRIBUTE TO "THASAroPsls.
After alluding to the circumstances under which
.sThanatopsis" was first found in a drawer by the
authors father. and by him sent for publication, the
speaker continued -
This il ali we know Of the production of this poem.
lts4s4a a
in literature and without trace of the English
masters of the hour. 1t was the first adequate
poetic voice Of tile solemn View England spirit.
and in the grandeur Of the hills. in the heroic Pr
tan tradition OF sacrifice and endurance IN the daily
life, saddened by imperous and awful theologic
dogma, in the hard circumstance of the pioneer
household the contest with the wilderness, the grim
legends of Indians and the war, have we not some
outward clue to the strain of 'tihanatopSis. the
deathess and enhancing sadness, as of inexorabe
fate. that murnnrs like the autumn wind through
thu forest ia the melancholy caicnces ~ this hymn
TO Death The New York TO which Bryant came 70
live by literature was city Of lh0v1 inhsb-
ifants the pheasant city OF which Pauding says. in
his New Pilgrims Progress = that the dandy nnder
temptation must extend his walk beyond the northwest
corner Of Chambers street. The solid city reached
pled up ~ far Fourth street. There were those
Who stll remembered the pebbly shore Of the Hudson
voritc walk of Jonathan Edwards when he preach
ing for time IN the church in Wall street and bry-
ant speaks OF his delight in rambling along the
wooded shores of the Hudson above canal street
HIS POSITION IN tn. SLAVERY cosTEsT.
His work began at once, but the New York Rsrtcw,
which edited and other literary enterprises, soon
failed. aud in the year 1896 when he was thirty two
years old. he became associate editor with William
coleman, OF the EreDay Part Through all the great
slavery contest from 1920 to 1861, which included
the prime OF his manhood, Bryants course was
determined by his love OF liberty and
justice. by his temperament and conscience. He re-
PEELED the reproaches Of friends equally with the
gibcs Of enemies. When the moral appeal swelled
to agitation under which the country rocked ;
when there were even voices heard In fanueil Hall
1stifying the assassination of Loveoy. aud American
frecmen speaking for liberty in New York were
silcnced by inobs, and with no consuming wrath
OF protest frou the respectable public opinion OF
the cty-athough Bryant, as think. deprecated the
agitation mistaken Ia its method and necessarily
futile and disastrous in its result he resolutey de-
Tended the fundamental right OF discussion, which
was the practical and essential antslavery demand.
srafPLR ABsTEMlous HABITS
From his childhood and through all his eighty
foAr years his habits of life were temperate
aud careful. The spring in sheltered up
land nook az Cnrnmington is still shown in which