New-York tribune., 1878-12-20
EDMUND c. STEDSlAN'S "REMINISCENCES.
A HEARTY TRIBUTE TO SIR. TAYLoRs QUALITIES A
A PORT AND A MAN

IOfI NM - MAN.
Edmund C. Stedman was about leaving his
oce for the lay when Tribune reporter Told ann Of
Mr. Taylors death. askeu Tor any rrmnlscences Of
the dead poet that he mlg be able TO give Mr. stcd-
man was deeply affected by the news, and IL was some
time before he ventured n reply.
"He was my dearest friend" said Mr Stedm IN, and
feel his loss deeply that cannot do justice to his
memory by anything might say now, though could
flI page OF THB TRIBUNE with interesting remins-
cences OF his liie When he WAS frat taken sick felt
doubtful OF his recovery but the dispatches yesterday
rave He 80 much hope that Thought he would surely
get well agaiu felt that II he had made turn for
the better, as reported, his strong constitution
would carry hm through. Only yesterday We received
letter from his wife. which was hopeful In tone. aud
gave us encouragement
1.-THE causes hich led 20 his death at this time" said
Mr. Strdman after pause, "date back sever years.
When he returned from Europe thcn ho found real
estate and personal property largely deprecated and
encountered and though the or fifty. hs again
found himself forced 10 tOeraby hard work 10 support
his family and position II was this hard work coupled
with his resoute purpose however other work might
gross him, to keep up his more serious contributions
permanent literature tnautmatey LED TO his death He
took great pride ia his home ana broad ncrs, at
Kennet Square, Penn. his native place. He designed
his own house, 'Cedar-croft,' and speut a
great deal OF money Its erection. ant that with the
200 acres Of land which he owned and had greatly
proved was source OF tnnn income 10
him. He had a handsome competence when he went
abroad all Of wsoh he earned as journalist author
and lecturer having earned any money except by
mis- pen lie desired to MAINTAIN his property IN Kcinrt
Square lie set to work immediately pay on the debt
During tho last four years he has accomplished this his
income amounting to from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
but he obtained 1t by very hard work. u fact be had
worked harder and accomplished moro that time than
perhaps any other vng literary mao. lie lectured
Winter in all Of weather. and IN different parts OF
the country lie contributed largely to magazines and re-
views and never brilliantly, besides doing great
amount OF regular work for TIE TRIBUNE He from
long lived family and his strength very great but
he undertook much. He did the work Of two able
bodied men every day, and bis health gave way under
the great strain or two occasions. lie was COM
pelled to go to the White Sulphur Springs ana other
places for recuperation but he forced himself to work
agaIn before he had fully recovered During this time
he wrote his last and most important pOem Prince D-
kaion' IL source Of great trial to himself and OF
regret 10 his friends that he unable with his
Life OF Goethe for which he had secured ma
tcrial (urlug his last sGOuTn In Germany. The
great trouble with him his inability owing 20 his
excessive Iabors to take sufficient social recreation His
enemies very few in number, have falsely attempted to
make point against him on this account charging him
with excessive becrdriukng 1t was his want OF
alton ami that killed him. He Was forced 10 take
some stimulus support himself under exhausting la
bOr DTt ne was
charged though what he did take may have helped 10
develop his disease
"No man In tie country could do so much Journals
tic work. and do IL we'll IN given time, could Mt.
Taylor. He was remarkable in brilliant ohand feats Of
literary criticism As an illustration might mention
that about year ago two large octave volumes con-
tanning poems by Victor Hugo. In the French, arrived
by steamer and were placed In MI. Taylor's hands on
Thursday evening. For sOme reason II was de-
srabe criticism should appear In THE TRIBUNE
OF the following Saturday and OF the copy had
10 be- In the prlnters hands early Friday night NJ.
Tnyors health bad at the time. AMI lie also had in
the meantime 90 deliver lecture In brooklyn and an
other In SoWYork. lie 1nisAed his lsylsX " aa OIL