New-York tribune., 1878-12-20

death-to those who knew him best 1T win be mex
pressby painful.
Mr.. Tavlor was one of the earliest workers on
The TRIBUNE. in the first days. of which l know
nothing save by report. Twenty years ago, though
knew hlm personally, l saw very little of him.
He was running all over the world then, and send
ing to the newspaper letters from all longitudes.
But can bear testimony TO the great popularity OF
those letters and 10 the eageTness with which they
were received by TRIBUNE readers, and afterward
in book form by all other readers. Once in Whiie
Mr. TAYLOR dropped in us for a few
DAYS upon his return from Norway or
China or California and then disappeared again
He was always ready to go wherever ne
was sent, aud the management was always reauy
10 send him. He then in the strict sense OF the
wOd popular writer doing excellent work OF Its
kind, though the kind might not be of the most
elevated Those who would know how the
man grew should compare his verses written
tlcn with his mature poetry written lately. lie
got away from the routine of newspaper Work
whenever he could, great as he esteemed its import
ance to be- he sought lOfter tasks ana was enulous
of a more enduring fame He liked praise: most OF
us do but he did not want 1t without deserving IT.
OF all the literary men whom | have known, 1
81 ould speak OF Hm "a the least afraid If work. IL
number of his printed books is considered. He was
iudustri, us 10 some purpose.
Everybody in the office knew how high Mr. Tag
lor ood ~ the estimation of Mr.. Greeley. man
who had wOT, ed his way up, who beginning as
printer had come to be admired writer, VINO
was ambitious of excellence and not afraid OF toll
to attain it, Mr. Greeley was naturally fond OF. so
when the monument of the great journalist was to
he drdlca ed, Mr.. Taylor was properly selected to
make one of the principal addresses Oh the Occa-
SION. How good that address was, how well con-
ceivcd and arranged and delivered, need not 30
said to those who had the satisfaction OF hearing IT,
Ii was indeed an impressive occasion when, stand
ing above tie tomb of his old master. surrounded
by those to whom that noble man was dear with
the liberal sky stretched over the earnest speaker
aud the great busy city in the distance, Mr. 1ay-
lor in manly words and SOnOf0us voice, paid those
glowing trIhutes to which all our hearts responded
Somebody now must speak for him; but his mem
orv will lack no eulOgist. There is enough to say
of gu n q vigorous and wise something, too
there j., alas! which must be left unsaid. Or any
of us who remain, had our fate been his, he would
nave spoken kind and generous words; nor should
he 20 20 his grave without the need Of ono me-
lodIous tear"
After many years had gone by, Mr.. Taylor came
back to d. regular daily work in The tribune
Office and is he continued until his departure for
Germany. | was near him. and. # ihcre were any
need Of il, could speak again of his nnfagging in-
dustry ard of his excellent qualities as journal
Ist He had the faculty which every newspaper
writer should possess, of writing fairly well upon
any tOpic confded 10 him. OF course his special
skill was displayed in literary labor, but when he
saw fit to write upon what may Oe called secular
themes, be did so in an able and udIcious way.
II, uoblv nd oh "A
ways willing to lend his help or to give
his advice when it was asked for. as it often
Somehow cannot get away from the impression Of
hs untirng assldnity. He seemed to have always
a great variety of work in hand-wOrk at home and
in the oflice-as If he had caught something Of the
power Of tOiling from that great German upon
whose biography he was then engaged. If he was
somewhat proud OF his accomplishmentS-thnkiDg
over the matter more. see that he had right to
be--he had done much and he had done it well. and
he was entitled to the indulgence of some conf
placency.
When the rumor came that Mr.. Taylor was TO be
taken away from for time aud advanced to
high diplomatic honOrs think that we were all as
proud of it he was and felt il to be recognition,
not perhaps made too soon, of the Importance of
journalism. 1t was something to send forth from
among ourselves an Ambassador TO the German
powers at Washington though we thought them also
the obliged party. In our own way, and in our
OVID place and with small token of our good WILL
we bade Mr.. Taylor farewell on that April after
noon, and spoke jestingly of the time when, his
court dress put off, should welcome him back to
his old desk There came stateller leave-taking
afterward, when so many of the best and most dis
tnguished of our citizens met 10 take leave of him
in a more formal manner; but | think that he
priced our little demonstration quite as highly, and
thought of it afterward on the and IN foreign
lands quite often.
A man must be judged by what is best in him.
by what he has really done, and not by the acci-
dents of his character Few Americans have
written more and more variously, than Mr.. Taylor,
and few have written better. Those of us who
| know how he owed nothing to chance, how method
| cal and palnstaking he was. how he conquered
| difficulties which would have dismayed weaker
man, are in a position to judge of his Derts and
TO accord him words OF praise, little as he needs
| them, which have specific meaning.
| CHARLES T. CoSGDoS.
| Neu-YOrk Dec. 10. 1873.
"REMINISCENCES OF r. II. STODDARD.
| To ths Editor Of The Tribune.