, 1879-03-02

William Cullen Bryant and Bayard Taylor
| Horu<7's EasY Caufr.
| It is not many months since the farewell
breakfast to Bayard Taylor at the Century Club
and the great dinner at Delmonico's, over both
Of which Bryant presided The association ol
the two names Is now very touching. The older
man seemed very hale, and the younger very
robust; and there was 10 apparent reason to
doubt that when the Minister returned from bis
honorable mission the. old poet might preside
at banquet Of welcome as gracefully as at that
Of farewell. On the morning OF the Century
breakfast, Bryant, and Taylor, and the Easy
Chair CHANGED to meet at the steps Of the Ciup,
anu after little conversation they passed in
together. The cheerful greeting Of the old
| poet to his younger brother, and the light,
| happy, expectant manner OF the Minister,
were very pleasant to see and hear. No
one who knew the earnest, DEVOTED, hich~mind-
! ed, aud true~hearted man whom the breakfast
was to honor, could help rejoicing In bis we'll
won official 1aureIs and his cheerful antIcfpa-
tions. The company at table In the la rye room
| Ut the Century was such as the Century can rs
semble on its great days; and the happy speech
OF Bryant, and the modest and graceful reply Of
the guest, fltly expressed on both sides the feel
| ing OF the occasion. The company fingered long,
chatting and laughing, nor saw nor suspected
| over the two chief figures the shadow that even
| then fmpended.
About month later, Bryant stood IN the
| feryid May sunshine, declining the offer OF
| any shelter. which was nevertheless furnished,
so that be- was protected from the
sun, except Tor moment ut the end
Of his speech, when he moved toward the
bust OF Alazziui, which was then unveiled.
Those who were With him observed no especial
exhaustion; but within hall an hour he fell
suddenly, TITS brow still moist with the generous
warmth Of bis tribute to fellow-soldier Of Lit
erty, as different in temperature and method
from himself as one man could be from another.
He revived slightly, but doubtless was never
wholly himself again, and few days atterward
be peacefully died. In the autumn the Century
held commemoratlon OF Its President, at
which Mr. Bigelow, long his associate In the
editorship Of the EreniMg Post, read discourse
full OF interesting and valuable personal reml-
niscence and fine appreciation Of character.
Stcdman and Stoddazd read poems. and Bayard
Taylor sent a poem from his post In Germany.
Scarcely was the poem published when the Cen
tury Was mourning the singer. aud the country
heard OF his death with universal tenderness Of
regret.
At the time Of Mr.. Tay1or's departure Tor
Germany the EasyChair spoke of the character
istics which had given him his prominence and
attracted to him such general esteem. Ho was
a simple, honorable, upright man, with ! lofty
literary ambition, and the most unwearicd devo-
ton to literary work. His literary endeavors
we're OF the highest aim, and the excellence Of
his work is indisputabie He VAS the most
knew him to be oycrworlled. 1t is, indeed, hard |
for literary man Of warm social symparhes, !
Of strong constitution, pressed hy many wishes |
and tastes which cun be gratifed ut his pleasure.
If it be only bis pleasure to work,-it is hard
for such q man, living in 4 city and amidst !
admring and stimnlatige society, not to |
do more than he should do, and easy |
to forget, in the pride OF his strength, that !