The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-26
The SAGE OF GREYSTONE
AT THE FUNERAL OF M. THEIRS
IN PARIS.
How He Was Treated by the French
OfIlcials-Estimate Of His Char
acter by Mr.. Smalley.

George w. Smalley writes from
Lo ndon to the New York Tribune:
On rainy September morning, nine
years ago, eat in my room in hotel
on the Rue de la Paix, and there came
familiar knock at the door and
Huntington entered. "Do you know
Tlden?p cried he. "You don't, but
you can in about ten minutes if you
like" And he proceeded to expound
his mission. Mr.. Tilden and Mr..
Bgelow had just arrived from London,
had hurried over to see Thiers's fu-
neral, but had bean detained; the
funeral was this very day, and now
they were in distress lest they should
miss seeing it, or seeing 1t in the best
way. Could anything be done for
them? Something of course, but
what, and will you do it? When this
running fire of questions had come to
an end, explained that / was going
to the funeral-I believe l had gone
to Paris in order to see it-and had q
carriage, aud should like nothing bet
ter than to take Mr.. Tilden and
Mr.. Bigslow with me, and Hunt.
ington also. Mr.. Biselow will excuse
my saying that l was surprised
that he should be in any difficulty
in such matter. He had been Min
lister of the United States to France.
Mr.. Tilden had all but been elected
President. If there were two Ameri-
cans living whose presence on such an
occasion, or any public occasion what
ever, was sure 10 be welcome, they
were the two. However, went glad
ly with Huntington to offer my SER
vices and carriage. The two were
staying in another hotel ia the same
street. Mr.. Bigelow l had long known.
Mr.. Tilden l then saw fer the first
time. l won't presume to describe
him to public that knows him better
than 1 can. The impression he first
made remained to the last. Never
had seen man of the front rank in
public life who at fist 80 skilfully
withdrew from observation most OF
his titles to distinction and to great
ness. 1t was not that he had slight
figure and hand that quivered a lit
tie as it reste d softly in yours, and a
voice that produced vibrations but
just perceptible by the ear. / am not
quite sure what it was, but l think it
might be called
DELICACY OF MANNER.
The manner Of the man WIS in no
visible proportion to his fame. 1t
was more than modest; it was retir-
ing, almost shrinkinG-certainly not
shy-and yet friendly enough as he
greeted the stranger. In simplicity of
demeanor he was admirable, the more
admirable by contrast with his known
performances in public life. The man
Of business, familiar with affairs, the
politician, the organizer, the destroyer
Of Tweed and the Tweed ring, the
chief of great party, the leader to
whom every follower paid entire
obedience, the hero Of the most des-
perate contest ever known for the
Presidency-what had he in common
with this elderly schoolboy, who
seemed to have been trying for fifty
years past to find courage to make HIS
debut in life and never to have found
itP Perhaps he was more like q sur
vivor of the last century than an early
product of this. There was a perfume |
Of courts in this refinement and this
complete abstinence from self asser.
ton. Some one of all Of these COM
parsons would really occur to one
who knew nothing of him. Knowing !
him and his career thought this ex- |
treme slightness of bearing and pres
encs the strongest confirmation of |
his real greatness. 1t would have
been by no outward quality, by
no pride OF port, by no brilliancy OF |
behavior that he impressed himself
upon the worldly none of there
things, but sheer innate force of char
acter and capacity. l was delighted
with him. He said at once, with the
customary civility of a man Of the
world, how sorry he was to give me
trouble-would not think of going il
be should be in the way; knew l had
my work to do and nothing would in
duce him to interfere with it, and 80
on. | told him that his coming and
Mr.. Bigelow's was stroke of luck for
me. l knew some of Thiers's friends
who were managing the funeral and /
had cards for the houss and church,
but it was certain that every attention
would be shown them the moment it
was known who they were. So olive
all four drove to the house in
THE PLACE st. GEORGES.
had one brief anxiety. My distin-
guished fellow-countrymen carried re-
publican indifference to the point of
not wearing the black, and it struck
me we might have difficulty in per-
,uading the sentinels and police with
whom we were sure to come into con-
act that American Ambassadors and
Presidents were likely to appear on
IN occasion of immense ceremony in
such costumes as Mr.. Tilden and Mr..
Bigelow wore. AS for Huntington he
was incorrigible. No earthly reward
would have persuaded him to quit his
Joft wide avs Ike and slouching cloak,
)r to put on black or any other gloves.
[ might have spared myself these
lnxieties. The politenees of the French
n presence OF the unexpected is i'm.
and unlimited. M. Calmon,
hen Senator, met US at the inner
doorway, aud to him introduced my
He knew all about Til
len-probably he had met Mr.. Bige.
ow, when Minister, but at any rate
lis diplomatic character was at once
1t was as had told Mr..
rilden. From the moment they were
famed l who had started out as their
,uide and protector fell back into my
proper position OF humility. Every
hing was done for them. They-and
lnder their wing Huntington and l.
we're shown into the private rooms
where Thiers's friends and the dignita-
les OF State were assembling. We
marched in this distinguished COM :
ANY to the church. Places were kept :
or US in the diplomatic quarter, al
Ways the best or one OF the best. A
'osition was indicated for US in the
PROCESSION from the church to the
emetery, but here providence, in
he shape of a smart coach
anita the sham