New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-19
JOHN r. G.. HASSARD.


JOHN r. G.. TlASSARD.
A long and bitter but very patient and noble
struggle against an memorable disease has ended,
md our friend and commde-dearer to our hearts
than any words can say--has fallen asleep The
duty Of recording his death falls naturally upon
one who, in life and for many years. stood nearest
his side, and was honored with his affection and
confidence. 1t would, under any circumstances,
be difficult and mournful duty. 1t is mex
pressibly pathetic and solemn to the friend who
writes these wordsfor not alone is it fitting that
love should utter its sense of bereavement, but
that thought should express its conviction OF
public no less than personal loss. Our tears
not enough The worth Of him for whom we
mourn must at least DO kgnifed. It is not o
common grief, and
aThat is not q common chance
Which takes away q noble mind'
Mr. Hassard was journalist but also he was
man of letters, and in both capacities he exerted
eminent talents in a profoundly CONSCIENTIOUS
spirit and with passionate loyalty to the highest
standards Of principle, learning and taste. AS
journalist he knew that the first and most essen
tia function of the newspaper is the presentation
of the news; but as a man of letters he was aware
that the pictorial facts and the facts Of thought
and feeling are not less actual or less important
treated many subjects. ranging over period Of
many years during which he was in continuous
service OF the press and writing in the different
veins of narrative, description, criticism satire,
and desutory comment; but, whatever the sub
ject might be- he never failed either to satisfy his
readers that every material fact of the matter had
been stated or to impress their minds with his abb
solute sincerity his breadth OF view. his wisdom,
his pure moral principle, his fine and true taste,
and his noble ideals Of social order and personal
conduct. 1t was this double power, this power of
presenting the picture of actual life and at the
same time of indicating its motive, its interior
spirit its accessories, and its meaning that made
him an exceptional force in the profession which
he dignifed and adorned, and which suffers in his
death an irreparable bereavement.
The life that is devoted to the art of writing
seems on its surface, to be uneventful There
is nothing in it to record of outward action, and
but little of visible deed. Yet greater error
could possibly be made in the study and estimate
Of human character, than the of assuming
that the life Of man of letters is necessarily orr
IL he amounts to anytbing-even possibly a life of
apathetic monotony and gray stagnatiOn. For
such man lives, not alone under the pressure of
his own intense individuality, but under the stress
and strain Of the whole intellectual movement of
his time. Every fresh wave Of thought breaks
over him. Every aspiration and every forward
step OF the vanguard mind OF his period is to him
personal expcficnce-because he must keep pace
with it. The religious question, the political
question the social question: the scientific ques-
ton, each and every one of these is Of vital
personal Importance TO the man of letters. He
cannot be content, as so many other people are,
merely to hear of these things and to pass them
by he must think out the problems Of the age
he must reach some sort Of a conclusion; he must
have convictions, and he must speak his mind.
To hin IS forbidden alike indifference and silence
moral and mental responsibility rests on him, to
serve ms generation, TO proclaim the truth and
defend the right, TO help Others at the hard part
Of the way, and thus to fulfil the duty for which
he was designed in the great drama of human
development There are very serious ordeals in
the life OF such man-times of sore mental con-
Gict and cruel trial, hours Of acute suffering,
moments Of splendid conquest and Joy Out
wardly he seems placid, and the round of his
existence looks quiet and dull But under the calm
surface of that silver tranquility the tempests
Of passion rage and pass, the powers of character
hre matured and marshalled, and the strife of
IDEAS accomplishes its appointed work. The rep
rcsentativc man of letters is not seen in publio
hnairs, and there is but little to tell Of hin, when
his career has ended But his words are in thou
sands Of hearts and his influence lives and
glows in myriad of the good deeds Of the men
Of action who have imperceptibly felt his do.
minion.
Mr. lIassard's life afforded constant and potent
Illustration OF these views. II was only slightly
diversified by events but it flowed over the depths
Of wide and varied and significant intellectual
experience. The sum of its incidents is soon told.
He was born in this city in s56. He was taught
and trained in the Catholic College iSt. Johns at
Eordham, from which institution he was graduated
N 1855. He assisted in preparing . The New
american Encyclopaedia" and was in se5 editor
OF The Catholic World" In leG5-66 he war
engaged as writer on The Chicago Republican"