The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-31
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
THE TRIBUTE THAT THE NEW FORK
HISTORICAL sOCTETT PdID.

Q. Mr.. Frederic De Peystor'. Ms.sien.
Half an hour after tho doors OF the Acad-
emy Of Music were thrown open last evening
ovoay seat was occupied By the mombers OF the
New York Historical Soclty and their friends.
Tho occasion was called the Bryant Common
oration. and tho discourse on the Life. Char
actor. and Writings OF William Cullen Bryant"
was to be delivered by George William Curtis.
Just before 8 the specially invited guests and
ofloers OF tho society. who had assembled
In the gloomy caverns at the rear OF the Academy
stage. in full evening dress. and many OF them
with red ribbon upon their coat lappels
formed by twos and marched to tho front. Mr.
Curtis was arm In arm with Frederick Do
Puyster. President Of the society. and following
him were Mr. Il. d. Hayes and Bshop Pot
tor There were about fifty moro who
took seats upon tho platform. and after
the confusion Of seating was over. there
wore secn the atenuated form OF VIM.
n. Rvarts seated by Chief Justice Daily. Be-
yond. Edwards Plsrpoint sat with his head
bent forward. revealing behind the robust fca-
tures Of cx-Secretary Bristow. Gen. Sherman
was seated beside John Jay. and Cyrus w. Field
was near Mr.. Curtis's desk. Gen. Hancock.
Mr.. Devens II. J. Lossing. Wm. II. Wander
bilt aud Thurlow Weed were there
while Peter Cooper was quickly recognized
by every one In the hall. Mr.. Hayes
took chair TO tho len OF President
DO Peyster. while George William Curtis sat at
his right. In the further box on the second tier
10 tho right OF tho stage ex-Gov. Tilden sat,
somewhat concealed by tho curtain. and by his
side was Park Goodwin. Mr.. Brynnts son-in-law.
Miss Julin Bryant and Miss Goodwin were also
in this box. In the outer box of the same
tier on tho other side Mrs. Il. H. Hayes sat. and
with her were Miss Devens. ncicc OF Cen Dew
ens. and the Misses Eyarts. Mrs. Hays wore
white satin bonnet with which the heavy plaits
OF her dark hair were In marked contrast
The Rcy. DR.. Adams made prayer. and then
Mr. Curtis began an address. which required
over two hours for delivery.
Mr.. Curtis said that tho distinguished
nssomby was in itself an inspiring tribute to
tho memory ot an illustrious man. But. even
more impressive was the absence of one citizen.
"thnt venerable figure which had como to rep
represent In this community all tho civic graccs
and virtues" and from whose temperate lips
on every occnson of literary and patriotic com
memoration. Of political emergency or OF public
appeal. we have been accustomed to hear tho
hitting words 81 counsel. Of announcement and
consolui on. When Cooper died. tie restless
city paused to hear Bryant's words oi praise
and friendship. When Irving followed Cooper
all hearts turned TO Bryant. and II was before
this society. and in this place. that he told the
story OF lrving's life. Now Bryant has followed
Cooper and Irving the last OF that early trium-
virate of American literature. not lcAs renowned
than the grrat triumvirate ot American politics.
and hc who's" life begun before tho century
leaves b.hind hut one OF his early literary con
temporariea. Tho venerable poet Dana, friend
OF Brynnt's youth. at an ago prolonged beyond
fourscorc and ten.
Ana lovely as Lapland nlrht.
the editor who published Thnnatops!s sixty
1amer"blo caravan and lie down o'p 10 plcasan, ca,
dreams. But thousand eloquent and revcrcnt
q IN c pfsss % Sna g I po o ns G2
sea coast TO the prarles have spoken for him
vho SPOKE for all There was no eminent
countrymen would BE- more immediate and
unanimous. The broad and simple outline Of
his chnract-r and career Ind lFromo univer;
sally familiar. like n mountain or the sea aud
in speaking of him but repeat the thought Of
oVery American. and register verdict already
pronounced. A patriarch Of our literature, and
In permanent sense the oldest ol our poets.
atures finely sensitive 10 the Influence OF ma.
flowers, he was respectfully fitted it might be
thought. for scholarly secUsion and the de-
lights ot the strict literary life. But he. who
melodio%sly marked IT, the solitary ", WY ~, Of tho
Ing heaven. and on the lonely New England
Rock.nbbed and ancient IS the SUI.
saw in river and valley. in forest and OCEAN
only the solemn decoration OF mans tomb-the
Ser0ns usng county Ky p0y gn SS5 az sS ag,c
the political genius OF b IL race. and the poet be-
came distin lively an American and public
political leader. In the active American lif0 OF
This century he bore his full part never quail
Ing. meyer doubling, giving and taking blows;
sver In IN armor which no tabled Homeric hero
wore. beyond the art OF Vulcan to forge or the
Irable r armor OF moral principle Time as it
passed chastened the ardor OF the partisan.
Without relaxing the vital interest OF the citi2en
In public afiairs, His lofty personally rose
life he rrconolled. both in fact and to the popular
literary taste and Accomplis shment, and superb
gritty Win constant political %Ettiyiiy 80 rises ,,,
clustering forests and the roaring streams, and
on its towering sides the growths OF various
meet and minRle. II Is by no official title. by no
mere literary fame. by no signal or single
fRuraton no stroke Of state craft calling to
political life a new world TO redress the balance
OF the old. no rcsounding Austert@ or triumph
ant Trafalgar. that Bryant Is commemorated.
ThOrc may have becn. in his long lifetime.
genius more afliuent and creative greater re-
noWn. abilities more commanding, careers
more dazzling and romantic. But no man, no
Amerc.n. living or dead. has NOR" truly nnI
amply Illustrated the scope anu the iidcllty OF
BIr. Curiis urged thnt something 81 this was
10 hs explained by the time and place of Bry-
ants birth aud the influence that moulded his
childhood. The great hills. heavily wooded,
that shelter the. solitary pastures aud upland
with thH white laurel and n2llca; that rung
"throu.h tho short summer with the song of
the hermit thrush and full chnirod music Of
New England birds; and ia the autumn blazing
with scarf and gold OF the changing cnt until
tho cold .plrndOr Of the snowy winter closes tho
year" II Wns amid these influences thnt Bryant
dwolt, ami drew from them his earliest impress.
Rlons. H. serious spirit touched llis soul and
left II. uneytinEuishahlc impress upon his char.
actcr spirit II primitive New England
broodrd over tho thlnly peoplod hills. and, in
the little vllages and farms, in tho bare meeting
house nud log school house. wero chcrshed and
perprtuatnd the Puritan traditions and charac-
ter that ave made great people while in the
moro luled communities OF that region the
simp' nd robust virtues Of vanished cen
tury still lfns"r Bryant wins not born too
latn to 500" and feel among the people nf the
hills thr spirit of IN" ltevoution-to hear by the
blazing winter IRE tales which are now roman
tio Logon 's told by their own hcLocs-9tories
OF Bonniugtu and Bunker Hill. Of TlcOnderOga
and Saratoga. and doubtless. also. he had
himself arrn soma Of the Hampshire recruits ~
Shay's rebellion. which sprang from the conlu-
sion and suffering that fol lowed the Revolution.
There were remoteT and moro terrible trhdi-
tions also tales Of the old French war. of Port
Royal aud LOuisburR. Legends of tho beautiful
valley of the Connecticut which King Philpe
war had wasted; crucl memories OF peerlcld
and Halry and Turner's fas; and Of tho
fatally lufpriant meadow where tie lowor OF
Mr. Curtis referred 10 tho intense political