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

don or the pine woods OF the Adlrondncks' tbe iav
ter ofcn-writtcn In hours Of weakness or suherihe
OF which no hint escaped to the reader; and eaon
OF these productions reached an equally high lever
of interest and was perfect in it's literary form.
Among the old-fashioned phrases Of eulosy
there is one that long usage has rendered conven-
tional but 1t is very expressive: He was
gentleman and q scholar. 1t is much 70 deserve
those names. Mr.. Hassard entirely deserved
them and he bore them with the sweet mcdesty'
unconscious humility, and native and winning
gentlcness of an unselflsh nature. He was always
thoughtful for others; always doing little acts OF
courtesy and kindness He WINS ever to be found
on the side Of chivalry toward women, and MS
active consideration for young people, especially
for working boys and his sweet manner toward
children much endeared him wherever he went
Ills reading was large and various He was thor
oughlv well grounded in the ancient classics; DC
lad a comprehensive and minute knowledge OF
English literature; and he possessed both INC
French language and tho German. As literary
critic he early acquired the excellent method, SO
long pursued and with such noble result by tho
late George Ripley-the father Of this art IN
America. That method was to assume the au-
thor's point Of view, so, first Of all, TO let inc
book declare itself, its contents its style, charac
ter and intention, and then to discuss 1t as ho-
erary artist, an observer, thinker, and from
every other essential environment OF the sup)ecc'
lie was rarely severe and never unlxind. lie
could condemn explicitly, but he always stated
the grounds Of his Judgment, and they were IN
variably logical and sound. He was remarkably
expert in perceiving the beauties Of book ana
he loved to praise; and, as he knew what had
been done by others and was quick to see the
fresh touch and understand the subtle suggestion
his praise gave pleasure, rewarded merit encour-
aged high endeavor, and was valuable His SYM
pathes went with the imagination and the aiieo-
tons in literature, not with the morbid passions
and not with the realistic" movement in any
of It's phases He rightly abhorred Zola he justly
despised the whole brood Of Oui6a novelists; ana,
in common with otLer sensible persons, he smiied
ut the weakness-mistaling the assertion OF power
for power itself-which accepts the writings OF
Walt Whitman as poetry. He was sufficiently
conservative and old-fashioncd to love the novels
of Scott and the poems Of Crabbe, and he was
sufficiently comprehensive, acute, and far-mlndeu,
while recognizing the passion and splendor Oh
Byron, to feel and appreciate and exult IN ohe
philosophio grandeur, the solemn tenderness inc
beautiful simplicity and the comforting faltn OF
Wordsworth. These are significant indications
of the character Of his mind, the mood In whicn
he lived and labored, and the ideals toward which
he strove.
And so he passes into his rest He was
bright and gentle presence in the life OF every
man and woman to whom he was ever known
He lived O good life. He suffered patiently. lie
met his fate with humble resignation and firm
composure. He set q noble example. lie did
his duty faithfully and we'll lie helped, IN e
material degree, to advance the standard OF musl-
col art and literary taste In this country. lie
has left critical essays which are models OF search
ing thought, just judgment, cheering sympathy
and felicitous expression. mo sNcIches WIZ"
which he enriched our literature in It's hGhter
branches are of singular beauty, graceful In thelr
form and movement, often vivifed with playful
bumor. always vital with the spprcciative SIN
ceritv of critical enthusiasm Ills blographical
writings are discriminative judcious and truth
ful and are couched in that terse and lucid style
for which he was remarkable. lie was devout
man, rigid in his principles and exceptionally pure
in his life; but he was invariably charllaole'
maononimous. and tender in his Judgment OF 9TH
ers No human being was ever more quick tnan
he to appreciate merit or to forgive frallty and
palliate defect. lie always meant kindly. He
was much beloved. He is deeply mourned. And
he will long be lovingly remembered w. W.
MONSIGNOR PRESTON'S TRIBUTE.
MR. HAssARDs CHARACTER AS 1T APPEARED TO
HIS COMPRESSOR AND PRIEST
In an Interview with TRIBUNE reporter Monsignor
Preston who has been Mr. Hassards spiritual adviser
for many years, spoke freely and enthusiastically
Of tho merits of his dead friend, laying especial en-
phasis on the warmth Of his devotion to the Roman
Catholic Church. of which he was pious and duti-
full son. Father Preston said: Mr. Hassard's mater
nal grandmother was Nicholson Old Commodore
Nicholson his great grandfather and tho younger
Commodore Nicholson, who died not long ago, was his
mothers first cousin. His mothers namo was Grceho.
They were a Protestant Episcopal family In Boston
He only fifteen years old whom received Into the
Catholic Faith in this oity, In the Church of
the Nativity, In second-sve., and baptized by
the Rev. Dr. Forbes. When no first entered col
lege he intended to study for tho priesthood and spent
year In tho Seminary Of st. Joseph, at Fordham'
which is now in Troy. As his health was not then
good he obliged to abandon this resolve, and take
to literary work
sHis first labors IN this line were in connection
with the American Encyclopaedia he next went 10
Chicago, where he remained some months as chief
assistant on Tho Republican, which Charles A.
Dana had started there. 1t was after that that no
Joined the editorial staff Of THE TRIBUNE. His Lie
Of Plus TX" with whom he had AN audience during
his stay In Europe, was small volume, but Is con
sIdered complete I'm Itself. 1t Is remarkably we'll
written work and IS highly spoken Of Mr.. Hassard
was member Of the Catholic Union. which has been
since QlSsOl"cQ, anu Is now merged III inc <NaNiOt
Union. He always attended my church. St AIMS,
and a strict, practical Catholic. He was In
vested in the Five scapulars was member OF the
Conraernites of the Holy Face Of Our Lord; Of tho
Sacred Heart of the Society of the Holy Rosary and
indeed OF all the principal religious societies In con-
nection with the Church. His brother, Samuel,
and his maternal grandmother killed some years
ago ia a railway accident near NOrwalk, Conn.
" lie delivered two lectures before the Xavler
Union, one on Plus TX. and tho other Music. lie
n remarkably reader Although
learned music from master, no could play
almost any piece on the organ ~, and
follow with the score, the most difficult
symphonies. l have heard Theodore Thomas ex-
press the greatest admiration for his musical sbili-
ties, and say that he considered him the best critic
In that particular branch whom ho had ever scen or
known. | have been fearful for tho last year or so
that some sudden cold change might carry him OF.
Steadily, though quietly and peaceaby, he grew
weaker and weaker lie suffered pain, no doubt, but
he bore II uncomplaningly and with such Christian
fortitude and resignation TO the Will of Cod that its
palms, hope, were greatly essened. / have seldom