New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23

From Tie London Wo-id.

An nnpIeiending house in quiet London square,
painted that dull red CDlOr-In American imp"Ita-
ton. 10y the way-with when We are no" 80 Ia
miliar in tic western districts OF the metropolis.
1t il the residence of Minister who represents the
vast Republic Of the West, over which the san
takes four hours 10 rise. and which stretches from
the Atlantic 10 tho Pacific. There is nothing am
bassadGTIal IN hls surroundings, he arms al tine
United States are nowhere cunspicuOusly emilia
zOncd, as would bc those Of some petty German
state. Mir Lowell is not approached through an
antecharlOcr hllcd with secretaries and gided
attaches. You are introduced by a
mauscrvant out Of livery into a little room
on the ground floor at the back Cf the
house which contains q few WE'LL filled bOnkshclyes,
a writlng-tablc slrcwcd with papers aud letters.
while a lew simple eugravmgS here ana thcr" cover
the walls. sealed IN an 'asN-chaII reading Is a
slight spare man with profu,iOn of curling hair
and lu1urlant beard which rs almost white. li-
manner rs hc rises 20 greet You n enghlarlN quiet
and unaffected, and, though he has made The Yankee
dialect of w-Eugland immortal, you cannot de-
tec i'm the tones of his voice the slightest trace of
Amercanlsin. lie has long passed his sixieth birth
day. having been born IN the same year rs Queen
Victoria, yet il Is impossible 10 regard HIM as old.
lie reminds You Of nothing 80 much as the
beautiful Indian summer of his native land,
differing only from midsummer IN the CIR
cumstance that the subdued tints Of the
foliage, and the still dreamy AIR, tell you instnc-
lively that they are tho LcIads of coming winter.
1akinga wcll-cUlUred little meerschaum from rack,
lac proceeds to smoke, and hands his visitor "A box
Of cigarettes. Leaning back then IN his chair he
turns toward you his full, deep gray eyes at once
thoughtful and penetrating, and seems more i'll
ciHcd 10 listen ihdE 10 TAX. I he conversation
drifts from subject TO another, aud IL is only
when some chord which interests him ls struck that
you catch a mOmeutary glimpse oi tho varied knOwl
edge. the rich cultivation, the genius and power
which have made for him SO great a name on both
sides Of the Atlantic.
Seldom has an American Minister been receive
in this country with more cOrdIalitv. or become
more generally popular. than Mr. Lowell. Tho
University of st. Andrews has just bestowed tho
highest distinction in her gift upon the of
LOugiellOw at Harvard. Few men could do greater
honor than Mr.. Russell Lowell to the position Of
Lord Rector Of that ancient scholastic foundation.
Ills election will be regarded, IN the land
of his BIRTH not only as "A high compliment to
one Of Americas most distinguished men Of letters.
but as IA graceful act of International courtesy on
the part Of that old land which he is proud 20 own
as the fatherand of his race. Among certain classes
Of the American people, especially the Irish
American, Mr. Lowell has incurred some amount of
ill-wi lie is supposed not Ia Hap the wings of the
American eaglsCith sufficient VIgOr IN tho face of
the British oH But at time of exceptional mi
Guilty. his tact and good Judgment and the bread
and catholic view he takes Of the true interests OF
the EngliSh-spcaking race on both sides Of the At
lautIc nave drawn the bonds of friendship between
the two peoples closer, where IN hands less skiful
they would have been strained, or perhaps have
snapped.