The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-11-15
TILDEN.
His Erudition, His Habits and His
Foibles.
From The Chicago Times.

NEW YORK, October 20.-The American
people probably equal the French in the avid
ity with which they pick up and circulate all
the current "small talk" about their celebrat-
ed men. Chit-chat about the personal pecu-
liarities and the private lives of the remarka-
BILE men of the country is the small change
of the clubs, the social coteries, and the
newspaper press. No American has of late
years been more talked about or more fire.
quently "wrtten up' than the "sage of
Gramercy park" and in the belief that any
information about this very quiet and Sc
eluded old gentleman is still acceptable. l
propose giving few fresh details of his pri-
vate life.
AS has been announced already, Mr.. Til
den is building an addition to his hous> for
the better accommodation Of his very large
library. His residence at No. Is GramerCy
park has frontage of forty five feet. The
lot is two hundred feet deep, extending to
the next street, and in the rear of the house
is lovely garden, so completely filed with
trees and shrubbefy that the house can hard
" be seen from the house in the 1ear. MIR.
Tilden is building on his new purchase of
twenty-five feet adjoining his home. TIE
two buildings will be thrown into one, and
when completed the residence will have
noDle frontage of seventy-tive feet, giving its
owner ample room i'll which to dispose of his
library, pictures and other art treasures.
Mi. Tllden's library is one of the largest
private collections of books in the East. 1t
now completely lines the sides of his dining
room and parlor and fills all available space
of two rooms upstairs. All his life lie has
been great buyer OF books. He has, how
ever, little or nothing i'll common with the
genus of booki:h men known as bibiioma-
MACS. He has no exceptional liking for an
old book, or rare edition. His shelves pre-
sent few notable first editions, or musty and
faded curosities. He especially delights in
| tine illustrations and elegant editions. His
library covers W de field of general litera-
lure, and all the best and costliest style OF
the bookmaker's art. He is vely fond Of
pictures, aud has been great colleci"r OF
| prints anu or the most hneiy Illus
tyated editions of the best authors. His
| literature of this country. He has an un-
surpassed collection of political tracts and
pamphe S, aud large number OF govern
ment reports including the treasury reports
for the entire period Of our national exist
euce, aud an uubrokan series of the records
of congress. American politics, poetry, and
| the best novels form the chief features Of his
library, and have been the studious relaXa-
tions of his secluded hours. MIR. Tilden has
teen a great novel reader, strange as The fact
may seem 10 some people. All :he great nov
elists have prominent places and splendid
editions on his shelves. 1t is rather re-
markable fact, but it Is nevertheless true, that
AIR, TiIden is deficient in his knowledge OF
foreign politics. Many public men who have
not his general culture, nor tithe OF his i'll
innate mountaineering with American at
fairs, are much more familiar than he with
the intricate politics Of Europe.
Lord Bacon, in "rhe Advancement Of
Learning" | believe, divided ready men into
TWO classes, i. e., those who have an intultive
kuowed of things, and those who, having
acquired great resources Of knowledge, have
these recourses always at command. MT
Tilden, one of the readiest of men, be ong'
10 the latter class. The fluits Of his reading
and study are always within his reach when
ever he wishes to pluck them. lie is walk
inv index to the facts he has found in tht
hooks that have interested him. Ii Is COM
mon thing when in conversation with
friend to hear him say something like this
ou will find that subject fully treated III I
spetch of Benlons. 1t is i'll the congressloh
al debates of 1882" lie used to be IA very
6,a conversationalist when he talked more
fully and received more company thah Dc
does now. lie was quick at repartee, ant
WAS a very entertaining and hospltaoie most
He has never mingled much III society ant
has been indeed something OF accuse
though fond of entertaining congenlai c"u'
pany at his home
His practice ut conYersing with his trlenu'
in whispers is nothing mere tAan one OF Liz
nrecautions he takes to preserve bis strength
Mr.. Tilden has a pleasant voice, ana pienIA
of it, when he chooses to use it ; out II ha'
lnnc been hls belief that to man so puSl
with other men as he las been, the almos
continuous use OF the vocal organs was on'
of the most fatiguirg of practices. lie there
fore acquired the habit of talking in NelN
low voice, or even in whisper. There II
undoubtedly a good deal OF truth in hi
theory, but he has carried to such leng'i