The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-25
BAYARD TAYLOR.
Brief Resume of the Career of One of
Americas Best Known Literary Men.

Americas Best Known Literary Men.
The following resume of the career of the
late Bsyard Taylor ia from the Springfield
Republican:
''Mr. Taylor was born at the Pennsylvania
village OF Kennett Square, January IL, 1925
of parents of German descent and moderate
circumstances, and in a thoroughly Amer
can way proceeded TO make himself Of con-
sequence in the world. He became apprsn-
tIce IN a printing Office at L. read all he
could with a view TO use, scraped together q
little money and travelled all over Europe be-
tween 19 and 20, at not more than $500 ex-
pense When he got back he marketed his
experiences in that bright book of travel en-
titled Views Afoot" II was his introduc.
ton to the New York Tribune, on whose
staff be was engaged in 1847, and has con.
tinued ever since in one capacity or another
The story OF nearly every trip he has made
slnce-and be has been all over the world
has been told first in the columns of the
Tnbune. He went to California in the days
of the ArgoDauts; be sailed up the Nile aud
as far into the inferior OF Africa as they went
in 1851; in 1852 he crossed Asia into Calcut.
ia, and then Joined Perry's expedition 10
Japan. Passing over 20 years constantly
varied with travel, his most noted recent
trips have been through Europe from Nor
way to Egypt and thence back and by way
of the 0rkneys to Iceland 10 the millennisl
CeleDrdllOU I0eIe, al IN 1914 his Dcen
the special pursuit of a literary life, remark.
ably busy and prolific in quite other direc-
lions than his lucid and happy narratives of
travel; for he has become an accom- plished
scholar, published four novels, a dozen or so
books OF verse (ons of which Is Just from the
press) and translated Faust" besides doing
vast quantity Of newspaper work aud geo
eral eating. Moreover he was for time
secretary of legation aud then charge DAFT
Natr a. 90 hfrn. r., kaA
but recently entered upon the duties OF
United S ates minister 10 Germany at the
time of his death.
"Mr. Taylor was, as we began by saying a
repres entative American, in his alert and de-
cisiye command of circumstances, his great
and incessant industry and bis prscncal and
versatile talent. The rradiness to do any
thing and the aptness In dong everything
which characterz d him a. gu lilies hardly
| consistent with greatness aud Mr.. Taylor
was not great, but he was in a good sense
grandiose in his best efforts. The merits of
! his letters and books OF travel consisted in
an easy, unpretentious style, graphic and
well proportioned description, and such
sense OF the picturesque in landscape. adven-
ture and character OF the essential bumor OF
| things as filled the tale with personal life and
| reality. HIS first novel, "Hanoah Tours
tom remains his best, bat it was not In this
| 6eld or by lesser WORK that be purposed TO
| live in bis country's literature.
"His aim was the highest-to rank nobly
as a poet. His first book of verse was pub
| lished in 1874, and since then volumes OF
| ballads, romances, lyrics, etc, have followed
each other in frequent succession. Among
these the Diversions of the Echo Club may
\ be noted as the most skillfui and witty col
lection of parodies, or rather mi atoms, ever
| published The most notable of his larger
| poems are The Masque of the Gods, Liars,
a Pastoral OF Norway" THE Propbet-A
| Tragedy" the translation OF Goethe's
Faust" (both parts) in the original meters,
and his last and most ambitious book
Prince Deukslion," ls but just placed be-
! fore the public Mr.. Taylors treatment
| OF Faust is mastery in its refine
ment OF sympathy with the authors
| great intent, and is acknowledged
| far the best translation that has
been made OF the world-poem; bis predatory
exposition OF the occult meaning of the BAT
| fling second part Is one of the most able
critical studies In the language. In his
| principal original poems his loftiness OF con.
! ceptiSn has not unless in Prince DeukalI-
on" on which we desire to pronounce nc
| hssty judgment) been com pletely matche d
| ia execution, but il 10 much to have intend
| ed SO highly. Mr.. Taylor was deeply mbued
| with the spirit OF German letters, aud has
resided much in Germany, where he mar.
! ried. Since 1872 he has been engaged upon
| a biography of Goethe and Schiller, which
would have become an exhaustive portrait
of the men and their age had he lived 10
! complete IL, as IL was pected his uai sion in
Germany would give him opportunity to
do