Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-05-14

w hereVer the Irlnce went, Whothc
: TO Sandringnam for Whit of rusti
air, or to Scotland TO stalk the deer, o
to the races at Ascot, or TO the Uni
versity boat race on the Thames
thither he was certain to invite Gen
eral Taylor. He introduced him a,
Winsor to the Queen and tho Queer
was so charmed with his company
that she prayed him to stay for weel
at the Castle. When the Prince went
to India he invited General Taylor tc
be one of tho party. But the Genera
preferred to stay in London and many
a quiet rubber was played at the Mari
borough house by the Princess, the
Duke of Cambridge and tho American,
while the Prince was riding in an ele-
phant howdah through the jungles Of
Nepaul. In the royal box at Ascot
his figure was familiar to every jockey
on the course, though bis means never
allowed him TO own race horses and
rarely to bet. One wager be took,
however, be took the issue OF which
troubled him to the last. He was on
the Princes boat following the Uni
versity crews when the Earl Of Dud.
10y, spying some token Of French I'M
perialism on the lawn at Chswick,
suddenly cried that he would bet G5,-
900 to Gl0, twice over, that tho Napo-
leonic dynasty was never restored IN
France. The Prince of Wales took
one of these bets, General Taylor took
the other, and he has ever since re-
garded the metamorphoses of French
politics with an uncommonly wistful
eye. But despite this newborn ardor
for imperialism he was received with
much distinction in Paris by MacMa-
hon, and even the rugged Bismarck
greeted him with warmth that savor-
ed of personal friendship. Indeed his
passage across the Continent was ono
of unalloyed triumph and the first gen.
tlemen OF Europe were proud to call
him their friend.
AT the root OF this prodigious sue
cess lay his wonderful faculty for be.
ing all things TO all men. Whatever
the topic Of conversation might be to
that he would adapt himself To men
of a younger generation he was par.
ticulary charming. When the faster
members OF the Prince of Wales set
would meet at Marlborough he would
discuss coaches with Lord Caring.
ton, cock pheasants with Lord
Ayiestord and the latest horse race
with Lord Charles Beresiord. In the
park, with the Princess and children,
his manner was rcdolent of antique
chivalry. At the turf club he would
arrange handicaps with Admiral Rous
and help Lord Rosebcry make his book
for the Newmarket meeting. AT the
Atheneum he would cross literary
swords with Sir Charles Dixie, at the
United Service would discuss military
tactics with Sir Garnet Wolsely and
Lord Napier of Magdala. Nothing
came amiss TO him. George Otto Ire.
velyan, nephew OF Lord Macaulay,
read his article in the North American
Reufelc, and said there was in him the
stuff OF great military writer. States
men listened with delight to his DIS
sertations on the American constltu-
ton. Won Moltke himself gave in his
honor the dinner at which he met
Prince Bismarck. Everywhere be
spread about him the charm OF his
personality, and nothing distinguished
him from the crowd OF rdconteTs more
than this, that his conversation was
never forced or out OF place, never Ia
bored or prepared beforehand, yelling
up naturally from the stores OF a natu-
rally rich mind.
With many of his foreign friends he
kept up correspondence after his re.
turn to America, and has been much
sought after by those visiting this
country. III 1875 General Taylor be.
came Interested in the canvass of Mr..
Tilden for the Presidency, and proba.
bly, did more than any other man TO
bring the South IN his support. With
the inuguration of Mr. Hayes his po.
litical zeal abated somewhat, and he
has since spent most of bis time at
Winchester, where he has many
friends, with occasional visits to New
York and Washington. His book, "De-
struction and Reconstruction" was
printed about fortnight ago. 1t
is in some respects the most remarka.
bic of Confederate contributions to the
history OF the war. General Taylor
was q man of profound scholarship,
which gave his writings fine finish,
and welded caustic pen, which be
used unsparingly. Hc criticised not
only Union Generals, but his own com
radcs above and below him in rank
without reserve, and in language so
striking that it can hardly fail TO live
in the memory Of the reader. His
warm friendship for Jefferson Davis is
shown all through tho book, despite an
almost painful effort to bc impartial.
Had he lived this book would have
provoked controversy. This, however,
would not have been unwelcomo to
him he was able to defend himself
with the pen as well as with the sword,
and although hard hitter in any sort
of contest his pen, like his sword, was
always welded with knightly cour-
tesy.
General Taylor was at all times
persistent stndent, especially OF every
thing relating TO the art OF war, and was
well verscd in French and Spanish, as
well as in English literature. In ad-
dtion to fine literary taste he pos
sessed a most tenacious memory.
Every fact, incident, anccdote, or date
which he had once read was always
remembered and could be recalled at
any moment These accomplishments,
added TO great trutbfulncss, courage