Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-19
MR.. TILDEN ABROAD.
"REMINISCENCES OF HIS VISITS TO
PARIS AND LONDON.

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LONDON, August 10, 1856.
On rainy September morning, nine
years ago, | sat in my room in hotel
on the Rue de Ia Paix, and there came
Q familiar knock at the door and Hunt
ington entered. "Do you know Til
den9" cried be. "Ycu don't, but you
can in about ten minutes il you like
And he proceeded TO expound his MS
sion. Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Bigslow
had just arrived from London, had
hurried over to see Thiers's funeral,
but had been detained ; the funeral was
this very day, and now they were in
distress lest they should miss seeing it,
or seeing it in the best way. Could
any thing be done for them? Some
thing, Of course, out what, and will you
do it? When this running fire Of ques-
tons had come to an end | explained
that | was going to the funeral-I be-
lieve had gone to Paris in order to
see it-and had q carriage, and should
like nothing better than to take Dir.
Tilden and Mr.. Bigelow with me, and
huntington also. Mr.. Bigelow will ex-
cuse my saying that | was surprised
that he should be in any difficulty in
such a matter. He had been Minister
Of the United States to France. Mr..
Tilden had all but been elected Presi-
dent. If there were two Americans
living whose presence on such an occa-
sion, or any public occasion whatever,
was sure to be welcome, they were the
two. However, | went gladly with
Huntington to offer my services and
carriage.
The two were staying in another ho-
tel in the same street. Mr.. Bigelow |
had long known. Mr.. Tilden then
saw for the first time. won't pre-
sumo to describe him to public that
knows him better than l can. The i'm
preston be made first remained to the
last. Never had seen q man of the
front rank in public life who at first so
skilfully withdrew from observation
most OF his titles to distinction and
to greatness. 1t was not that he had a
slight figure and q hand that quiyered
a little as it rested softly in yours, and
voice that produced vibrations
but just perceptible by the ear.
/ am not quite sure what it
was, but l think it might be called
delicscy of manner. The manner Of
the man was in no visible proportion to
his fame. 1t was more than modest;
it was retiring, almost shrinking-cer-
tainly not shy-and yet friendly enough
as be greeted the stranger. In SIM
plicity Of demeanor he was admirable,
the more admirable by contrast with
his known perform ances 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, and
that party with more swagger to
the square inch than any that has
been known in American history, the
leader to whom every follower paid en-
tire obedience, the hero Of the most
desperate 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 it? Perhaps he was more like q
survivor of the last century than an
early product Of this. There was q
perfume Of courts in this refinement
and this complete abstinence from self.
assertion.
Some one or all OF these comparisons
would readily occur to one who knew
nothing of him. Knowing him and his
career, ! thought this extreme slightness
of bearing and presence the strongest
confirmation Of his real greatness. 1t
could 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 these
things, but sheer innate force Of chsrac-
ter and capacity. Twas delighted with
him. lie said at once, with the Gus
tomary ciyility OF a man Of the
world, how sorry he was TO give me
would not think of going if
he should be in the way; knew | had
my work to do and nothing would in
duce him to interfere with it, and so
on. | told him that his coming and
Mr.. Bigelow's was a stroke Of luck for
l-o- eoroa &c Tha;rafc frianis
who were managing the funeral aud |
had cards for the house and church, but
it was certain that every attention
would be shown them the moment it
was known who they were. So off We
all four drove to the house in the Place
ST. Georges. had one brief anxiety.
Ny distinguished fellow-countrymen
carried republican indifference to the
point of not wearing black, and it struck
me we might have difficulty in persuading
the sentinels and police with whom We
were sure to come in contact that
American Ambassadors and Presidents
were likely to appear on an OCCASION OF
immense ceremony in such costumes a.
Mr. Tilden and Mr.. Bigelow wore.
As for Huntington he vas inc0rrigib'e.
No earthly reward would have per
susded him to quit his soft wide-swake
and slouchipg cloak, or to put on black
or any other gloves. | might have
spared myself these anxieties. The
politeness Of the French in presence Of
The unexpected is immovable and IN
limited.
NJ. Calmon, then senator, met US at
the inner doorway, and to him | intro.
duced my companions. He knew all
about Tilden-probsbly he had met Mr..
Bigelow when Minister; but at any
rate his diplomatic character was a.
once recognized. 1t was as had told
Mr. Tilden. From the moment they
were named l, who had started out as
their guide and protector, fell back into
my proper position of humility. Every
thing was done for them. They-snd un-
der their wing Huntington aud I-were
shown into the private rooms where
Thiers's friends and the dignitaries OF
State we're assembling. We marched
in this distinguished company to the
church. Places were kept for US in the
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