New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
REcoTLEcTIoys OF BAYARD TAYLOR.

RECOLLFCTIONS OF BAYARD TAYLOR.
An ARMY oFPICER's VISIT WITH HIN IN THE FAR
wEsr-MR. TAYLoR's KNOWLEDGE THAT HE
WAS oyEgwORKING.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The last days Of the old year brought
from over the sea TO far Montana wall OF grlet
that will find an echo in every American household
from ocean TO ocean Reading far removed from the
scenes of his active Ife the memorial letters In TIE
TRIBUNE from Mr Taylors friends am tempted as one
OF the least OF these, To offer n tribute OF re-
spect his memory. The last time / saw Bayard
Taylor during the Winter OF 1s7475. while he was
on his ecurng tour through the Western states after
his return from Iceland. was stationed at Omaha
Barracks Neb and, learning OF his arrival In town.
drove the hotel and sent card 10 his room Ihe
boy returned saying that Mr. Taylor had lust gone %
dinner and desired that come to the dinng-roon As
I entered he half arose. and with his kindly. serious
smile, AS be took my hand, said fou are most wei
With all my experience in that directoh nave
never become reconciled 10 eating alone Ana
il had almost taken my appetite TO look over
this waste Of chairs. tables aud strange faces. when
your card was brought me. Sit right down ana take
some dinner with me-" II may be imagined what
feast that dinner to We sat at table for nearly
two hours while listened. delighted as n child, TO
flow of incident adventure, anecdote and remniscence
such IA shall probably never hear again Only they
who have listened to It can imagine the wonderful
charm OF his conversation Nothing escaped his Keen
observation and his memory seemed to retain the mihu
est details. with all his natural gravity he was pos
sessed OF keen Of the ridiculous or absurd ana
have been sometimes almost puzzled to know whether hrs
sentiments were those Of praise odnaured sarcasm
until the twinkle OF his eye would betray him. Nothing
seemed 10 please him than TO find possibly where
he scarce expected ~ appreciation OF and familiar
ity with his own writings. ] hat read with deepest
interest his OF letters in THE TRIBUNE from tie
mllennal celebration In Iceland. rem niber during
our conversation ma suddenly asking me: " How DO
you happen to know much about these pcopIei /
fapcied they were generally little known in this coun-
trv" On NV telin. HIN, hc said, with a smile Of almost
boysh Is it possible you have picked up all
TINS from my letters r.
A. We left the dmnghall began to tell him that |
would not ntrudc LONGER on his tmc knowing be was
when Il INTERRUPTED me with: NOt a bit of II. make
10 do nothing for al least an hour aicr dhner
unt smoke and talk and have mob dy To tah TO- Come
aioug 10 my rUOp," To which | went most
willingly and where J spcIt the remainder "t
nE t4at wondered at ~ Ri i Walrmf lrnlt "a @ i@ltte
rest. AN not making fh> trp ior pleasure must
m Ee money. am working too nari. know NV con
ON IL Ia els. and bc-n 10 fear m,t II VIII not AOror
them longer" Tn" tragic sequel has proven how
well founded were lis fcnrs
Tlc nrxt uurnir = as | entered the hool saw HIM
ia tue lobby har,h AIDED ANA VITA WOTrl look on ms
face. ~ me-, him sid, with a comIc!i look O. dI'-
tress " hay, done "a brilliant thng-t have lost my
hat. | had II nH live minutes "E', "Li hAF'Ht blt
slight, idea Low OF. And - res l.e omnibus
waiting aud the train ready to st'ii' l@nshhE! ~
and JOINING ~ ms 'outu
tnc hal The floor ~ the rcHduG-rpOin, where IL
mad fallen .ne table while ne vas "rtin& Sote
mrnuiauda lipsUy wrngiug ny htud n entered Tie
whore stood lie waved hs mana ana sHlin3, - , ih'i
was brilliant WHsat ii-On't fO -rt 20 look me mp Whch
y1u come to New-Iork," the ca cry omlie, t.e noble
mead y.-~ct ifriu ny -iGdt. D. y A.
Tort EdlS, NoH'GDd, Jun. y, AS'?