New-York tribune., 1880-04-11
THE RECORD OF FIFTY YEARS
"REMINISCENCES OF A JOURNALIST.
BY CnARLEs T. CoNGDos.
XVIII,
ANOTHER TRIBUNE CHAPTER.

ANOTHER TRIBUNE CHAPTER.
REQUIREMENTS OF JoUaNALIsM-BAYARD TAYLOR
his BoYIsH RESOLUTION AND EARLY TRAVEL
BIS LErrERs TO THE 1RIBUSE--HIs LITERARY
TASTE AND LArKsr woRK--ROBERr CARTEE-A
MAN OF FACrs-EDMUND QUINcY-THE TRIBUNE
AND THE DRAFT RIOTS OF 1868.
Perhaps Overrate the interest of the general
reader in my old associates who have passed
away, after distinguishing themselves in the
field of journalism, or. though still living, have
left behind them its troubles and it's triumphs.
Newspaper work is remorscless in its require
ments and exigent in its demands. In the mat
ter of permanent reputation, it is scantily re-
warded. The same study and industry which
are expended in the treatment of topics of
eyanescent interest and of temporary import
apce, if employed in different direction, might
result in the production OF remarkable books,
with respectable place in literary annals. The
public, Which is mainly interested, may congrat-
uIate itself upon the fact that as a rule, not of
course without its exceptions, the Journalist is
an educated gentleman. This may surprise the
self-constituted censOrs of the press, yet dO
not fear to say it. A man upon the staff OF
newspaper is there, as u clergyman IS Ill MS
pulpit and parish. as college professor is IN his
recitation room, as doctor is at the bedslde OF
the sick, as n lawyer is iiAthe tribunals OF JUS
tice. None of these need knowledge and tact
more than he docs. and, upon equitable estima-
ton, few of them pos 'ess more OF either tlan
himself 1t is not his fault if he is little known
personally to the thousands who read nlm:
when all reason for an incOgnltO his passed
away, it is at once just and pleasant to recall
his merits and to insist upon them, though only
for moment.
does not require such preamble as this. He is
better known to the world as writer of books
than as Journalist. Yet, all his life, lie was
newspaper man: Thirty Eight years ago, he
little printing Office. in West Chester, Penn.
-Four years after he was going through his
Wanderschaft," seeing Europe as only Pc
destrian can see it,. with little money in his
pocket but with plenty, OF pluck in his stont
20 the boys of America, except, IN certain
sense. The majority Of those who hunger and
thirst for sight of distant lands might lust as
we'll stay, at home. They VIII take nothing
back. What is admirable in this feat OF young
TaylOr are the resolution which projected and
the persistence which accomplished It, Long
after, it was curious to observe his mv1nclbie
repugnance to be regarded merely as traveller.
have heard him protest great many times,
and sometimes with a mOdcum OF wlath,
against being so considered, just as Iom
Campbell was always indignant when anybody
SPOKE Mosd Of him as the author OF the Pleasures
Mr.. Taylor became largely ambitious in those
last days, and the books of his boyhood seemed
but small To him in comparison with work
which he projected and work which he accom-
plished After so many years spent in restless
wandering, he had grown to love quiet study,
the seclusion of his library, the companiCnship
of old friends, and more definite literary labor.
In 1857 should have had the honor and plea
sure of making his personal acquaintance, In
The TRIBUNE Office, if he had not chanced at
that time to be exploring Sweden and Denmark,
and riding behind reindeer IN Lapland, he
<SR ln6
every sea, and up and down all the great
rivers, before, in 1879 he came back to the
Office to do regular work, to write of current
events and to move once more IN the old mar
ness. For years before he had sent to
TEE TRIBuNH letters bearing all manner OF
foreign pOstmarks, full of strange adventure,
of graphic pictures of men, OF manners. OF
scenery, which constituted an interesting fea--
ture of the journal, and were eagerly welcomed
by its stay-at-hOme readers. His desk was
next to mine In the Office, which made it con-
venient for me to apply to him for general in
formation, and saved me the trouble OF walk
ing across the room to consult an Encyclopedia.
Happy the newspaper writer who has such
well-infoimed associate at his elbow Mr..
Taylor was an infallibe resource when one was
at q loss for the right word and his taste, es-
peciaily in pOetical dictlOn, was entirely trust
worthy. Shall repeat an instance OF its ex-
ercise2 AS l was submitting to its final revi-
sion my Carmen Seculare," for l wrote about
the centennial anniversary of the Republic as
the real poets, did, objection was made to the
word fOgs n 10 the line, From where the sun
f0gs up its golden steeds." 1t being deter
mined, greatly against my own Judgment, that
in rather helpless state asking everybody what
i should put in it's place. Some we're for
sadrives;" others suggested whips; but when
consulted Mr. Taylor, he instantly suggested
haps better word than fogs," because less
haekneyed and cOllOQuial. This anecdote is
related specially for tb benefit of those young
ladies and gentlemen VINO write with ease, and
forget that easy writing is usually, as Sheridan
said, "dreadfully hard reading" They cannot
have O better example than Mr.. Taylor. Of
course, some of his works are of greater import
ance than others; some of them have been for
gotten, and others are destined to be, for his
early productions are not to be compared with
the iipened fruit of his middle age; but always,
from the beginning to the end, he was painstak-
ing, meth0dical. q neat as well as dexterous
q sloyenly line or an intolerable rhyme can be
found.
In his editorial articles, Mr.. Taylor was quite
at home upon almost every topic, always re-
spectacle In his performance, sometimes excel
lent; and this is as much as can be said of any
journalist with whom have been acquainted.
For the rest, Mr.. Taylor was friendly, cOnver-
satiOnal, always good -natured and obIiging.
His life had been such that he could hardly
talk of things which he knew better than any
body else present without talking of himself;
and II would be absurd for me to make any
complaint of egotism in these garrulous sketches.
have never known a man who was worth
much or had done anything of importance who
was not apt to Oyerwork the personal proDoun.
Our own experiences, thoughts, adventures,
failures and successes are naturally uppemOst
In our heads and most frequently upon our
tongues; and literary man who has not become
accustomed to that infirmity of noble minds"
must have had but a small circle of literary
friends indeed. Mr.. Taylor went away from us
10 hold highly important diplomatic position
abroad. There was leave-taling, with festivity
more or less formal there was the hand-shak
Ing with all the ceremonious formalities; and