Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-06

HtHS-HiS DEATH DUE TO HIS DEVOTION TO HIS
COUNTRY
IL is proposed to remove the dust of joe
Barlow from Poland to the family vault at Kali
Drama, as detailed in the petition Of the Fair.
field County Historical society, presented tc
the Senate Tuesday. Now that public atten
ton il called to his career, it NAV be interest
ing to recount some of his public services. His
hrst public service Of moment-aside from his
services as chaplain in the continental army
aud his production Of the first American poem
to win recognition abroad-was rendered in
1886 while residing in France. In those days
the Algerine corsairs we're abroad in the Medi.
terranean and captured many American sailors
who were carried into Algiers and doomed to a
life of most cruel and degrading slavery. Their
suherlngs were brought to the attention OF
government and in 1896 President Washington
commissioned Mr.. Barlow to proceed to Algiers
and make treaty with the dey which should
include the liberation of the captives. The
plague was raging iercely at the time, but Bar
low remained manfully Az his post for more
than year, and succeeded in freeing the pris-
oners and in making a treaty with the Alge-
rines.
HIS MANSION AT KALoRAMA.
Returning to this country in 1905, in 1907 he
purchased the Augustine Washington estate on
the banks of romantic Rock creek-familiar to
generations Of Washingtonians as Kalorama-
and settled down TO a life Of leisure and lettered
ease. Certain commercial ventures in France
had rendered him wealthy. and he speedily
transformed the old plantation house of the
Washingtons and Scots into one of the finest
mansions in the District. Benjamin Latrobe,
the accomplished architect Of the capitol, was
employed upon its plan. and Robert Fulton en-
bellished its grounds with summer-house and
p0rters lodge fashioned after a Grecian tenn
pie. and laid out a broad graveled drive set
with locusts that swept off through the grounds
to the pillared porch The two sages also set
out on the east front of the mansion an ivy
brought, il is said, from Melrose abbey, and an
English elm, also brought from the mother
country. At this beautiful seat the poet enter
tanned Hospitality. In those days Duddington
manor and the Van Ness mansion were in their
glory. and the three became centers of the So
cisl life and gayety of the capital. Barlow's
wife was a bright, pretty New Haven girl
Ruth Baldwin-and they ran away and were
married secretly while Barlow was in the army
on account Of the lovers slender pecuniary
prospects. Seventeen years residence at the
French court. where they had moved in the
best society. had rendered her love-
~ and accomplished woman, winning and
attracting all. Dolly Madison. then mistress of
the White House, and she soon became warm
friends. Thomas Jefferson, while President.
often rode out to Kalorama, or invited its mas
ter to the White House to confer on European
affairs. He had met Barlow when the latter
first went to Paris in 1889, jefferson being then
our minister to France. Barlows fame q
poet had preceded him, and the minister made
much of his young countryman, inviting him
TO dine with him and introducing him to the
leading French savants. James Madison and
his wife were also frequent visitors to the man
sion. Then there was constant stream of
scholars. philosophers, authors. explorers. in
ventors and foreign visitors Of note whom Bar
low had known abroad, all of whom, when in
the city, made point OF calling upon the dis
tinguished poet and philosopher. Apart from
visitors. Barlow had quite enough to occupy
his mind in his books-he had the finest pri-
vate library then existing in the country-and
IN literary work he had projected. the His
tory of the Revolutionary Era, as well as in
answering the reviewers who we're fercely at
lacking his epic, the Columbiad, which had
been published in 1907.
CALLED AGAIN TO EUROPE.
However, in 1911, his dream of ending his
days at Kalorama in these congenial pursuits
was rudely dispelled by the summons to em-
bark for France as our minister to that coun-
try. The two nations were on the verge of
war over the outrages on American commerce,
practiced by order of Napoleon. and il re-
quired consummate skill in craftsmanship and
diplomacy to restore amieable relations. Bar
low by reason Of his French citizenship, his
knowledge Of French affairs and acquaintance
with French statesmen, was chosen by the re-
publican leaders for this mission. At length,
after much urging, he consented to 60. The
later historic frigate Constitution, commanded
by Capt. Hull, was put in commission and or
dered to Annapolis, where the minister, &C
companied by his faithful wife, her sister,
Clara Baldwin, and Thomas Barlow, his
nephew and secretary, embarked August 1.
trayed in a letter, dated Hampton Roads,
August 2. from which We make this extract
Never was a fairer prospect of a good passage;
but my heart is heavy. have left my country
possibly-and why not probaby-forever. But
If such should be the result it will not be my
fault. that is. the fault Of my inclination or
wishes. go with an ardent wish, but without
much hope Of doing good, and with the full
intention, though with a feeble hope, of living
TO return" The Constitution reached Cher
bOurg on the Sth of September, at a most in
suspicious moment for his mission, Napoleon
at the time being engaged in preparations for
his famous campaign against Russia He spent
year at the French capital amid the greatest
difficulties. seeking to effect treaty and Sc
cure indemnity
A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.
At length, October IL. 1872, the Duo de
Bassano. minister Of foreign relations, wrote
from Wilma. the ancient capital Of Poland, that
If he would come to that town he hoped to be
able to conclude treaty with him. and of ma
IeSlons were then marching against Russia.
Barlow. as soon as he could make the necessary
arrangements, set out in his own private car
rage. accompanied by his secretary, Thomas
Barlow. Ii was $50 leagues to wilma, half of
Vie way through region of bad roads, without
Inns, good food. or any conveniences for trav-
cling. The route led first through the old
provinces of Champaign, Lorraine, and the
Principality of Bassano to Frankfort-on-the-
Main. where they arrived October 30. They
TggehA6 Rarll ,har
over the battlefield of Jena on the way, were
at konigsberg six days later, and on the 18th
reached Wilma, three weeks from Paris. only
to nnd Napoleon engaged in a life-and-death
struggle with Alexander, and too much occu-
pied with his own fortunes to attend the Amer
lean minister. The latter waited in wilma hop
Ing the emperor might choose il for winter
quarters. At length, on the 4th of December
q courier arrived at Wilma with news of the
emperor. the first received in two weeks. The
bloody battle of Beresina had been fought the
French defeated, and army and emperor were
In disgraceful rout. The thought Of everybody
In wilma was to save himself by instant fight
for the French were retreatng on the city and
the dreaded Cossacks were lowering on theiI
TANKS and rear like avenging spirits, cutting
OF laggards and detached bodies withou
mercy The ambassador set out to return on
the 5th of December. The weather had be
come extremely cold (thirteen and fourteen
degrees below Zero), and mountains Of snow
covered the face of the country. Not ever
novels could be found to sleep in. so they slep
in their carriage as best they might, while the
black bread Of the peasantry was their staple