New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22

is now Minister TO Persia, all the world knows
for did he not bring over the Shah and super
intend his proceedings while here? The Shah Is
gone, but Sir Henry still fingers. and the air Is
full of the laughter fer which his stories are
responsible. 4 born story-,eller. perfected by
practice; a diplomatist in society, as we'll as IN
foreign affairs The benevolent smewdness of his
face. the softness of VOICE the silken manner, the
undertone which he prefers, as if the secret were
not TO 90 beyond you, and the worldly wisdom of
his talk are all many proofs of professional
skill and Of personal qualities. There is some
thing in diplomacy, perhaps the most essential
part OF il, which eludes description. SO there IS
in the diplomatists talk: he seems to be keeping
something back iii his most expansive moments;
il is like Kate Vaughn's dancing there was never
as much of it as her public wanted; expectation
remained unsatisfcd. That, too is an art; II
judicious mixture of pleasure and disappointment,
and il is one which Sir Henry Wolf has studied
and practiSed with lantahzing success In the
parts he prefers he has no superior and he always
has surprise in store
There is no one whom Mr.. Russell has dealt
with more roughly than Sir Frederick leighton
and there is no one with whom mere routhnesS
is of less avail For. | taRe il. the aim oil Mt
Russells guesses at truth is the TRUTH real
likeness, and not dauD, Is what he wants 10
produce. Well, Sir Frederick Leghtons style IN
public speech is too ford for the average TASTE SO
much may be freely admitted There Is TOO much
ornamentation and too little simplicity But Nr'
Russelrs criticism is not upon Sir Frederick aS
an orator it is Sir Frederick the taiker whom
he hmpoons and it is not fair 10 infer from the
elaboration of the platform that mans Ordinary
speech is also elaborate Sir Fredericks is not.
ot,1 xuttb
of that artifcaty which is sometimes too visible
in his after-dinner discOuTses lie is one OF the
most accomplished men in England, and his talk
shows il, but does not show it too plainly III Is
not ambitious, not toe eloquent, not unctuous, 10
quote once more one of Mr. Russells offensive ad-
| ectives--he uses but too many OF theni S!r
| Frederick has animation ana variety no uou ~
| but is il an error 10 depart AT umeS from tlIe
| commonplace? Must man whose hluu Is lull
| make believe that it. is empty? Should an 3tI!sb
| suppress his love for art or hlde ms khoWieuise
of II? Are we TO be grateful 10 those only VINO
| are content TO be correct? SIT Frederick Is, III
| fact fluent and various: he sarNcs neither MS
| own mind nor his hearers. and the narrow NoeaO-
ulary Whlh'suflices for discussion OF the weather
| is not the one he prefers.
The world of art contains others besides Sir
| Frederick Leighton who talk well Perhaps, aS
rule, they all talk best on their own subject
| most men do, and shop which people profess
TO dislike, is often In. most asreeaD bic ana prOht-
| able kind of discourse. Mr.. Alma-Iadema Is an
| example: he discusses art with luminous
simplicity which makes il comprehensive to me
| outsider and he has the largest repertory IN
| London of frst-rate American stories MI. Du
| Maurier in an artist in talk as well aS an artist
! who talks Mr. Lowell has been known 10 rank
! him among the best Of the few whose conversation
nsureS the success Of dinner. His French blo0d
! tells he has Il neStncSs of method winch is frehch'
! and a sense of form and "A natural aptitude Tor
presenting his ideas 10 the public in the sphrk'
| of champagne. or Of telling story 50 that the
point Of il Shall penetrate the duilcst brain Ana
| MIR Whistler-yho that ever heard MIR. whistler
will forget him? He has narrative. lie has
repartcr he has originality and he has unboundei
courage and just confidence in his own powers.
Nobody is so explosive, or fill, the room so en-
trcv full of his own talk. or disposes more de-
csivay Of an intruding opponent, or turns on ma
more suddenly A clever phrase once drew iroi1
a by,tandcr the response: " / wish had sal !
that Mr.. Whsters Tetort came like lightning
" You will say il, Oscar, YOU Will Not less re-
marllabc was his answer 10 q tattcrer who re-
marked to him: After all Whistler, there are
only two painters you and VelaSquez. -" Why
drag IN VeaSquez?" And there are others, put
these are enough for to-day. u. w. o.