New-York tribune., 1891-02-20
LAWRENCE BARRETT'S TRIBUTE.
THE DRAMATIST AND THE PLAYER WILL PER
PETUATE SHERMAN's FAME AND
CHARACTERISTICS
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The funeral cortege has passed The emblems Of
war which had for many years been laid aside. have
once again sadly embellishng the soldcrly
couipaCc whcreupOn tie eless body rests. Old com
,qacs. lifelong friends. statesmen and great civilians
have followed the mournfu pageant with fuitess re
p,ets The instruments which in battle days sounded
20 ,he charge or the retreat which sang revcillc 20
,be waking morn or gave the steTlcst goodnight when
all was we'll; which through a quarter of century
Of peace greeted the retired warrior at feast and
civic parade with harmOnies upon his achievements
these now beat the last mOurnf csdcnces leading TO
an earthly camping ground beneath whose sod the
mortal remains OF great soldier shall rest beside
his loved ones forever deaf triumph tlirenody.
The last of the immortal trio has Joined his waiting
conradcs Already in the fields OF the blessed ono
nav believe that their spirits sadly regard our simple
tributes TO the earthly casket which holds the Gust oI
sherman The mourning thousands who have lncd
the highway of the sad procession have gone I" the
homes with a tcndCTcr reflection upon the meanings
of existence and death. And even as his NaIor III 'e
written story had awakened stronger patriotism than
had before existed in his death and in the last
tributes paid to the hero fresher and purcr sense
of patriotic duty springs up in our hearts to link US to
the Inheritance lie helped TO gain.
History will gather up and weave into enduring
form the achievements of the soldier and the states
man. In that final summary sectional prejudice
and personal bias may Dear their natural pdrl> 'HlH
in remote future, when all the sorr0wiul effects Of
the great Civil War have lost their nearncSs-oniy
when its bcnenccnce in knitting closer the bonds Of
friendship and National brotherhood shall be rccog
nized. when no newly made grave sends up rcproach
ul reminders bereavcd hearts. only then can Tho
heros place be immutaby fixed on the heroic
call ndar. TO the scholar and the sage may be lciI
that Office. The records of his military life. his
general ORDERS his plans, his deeds will guide th3
historian into proper estimate Of the dead soldiers
station in the military Valhalla.
But how shall the nnumerabe civic deeds of this
dead man be recorded find place for reference! In
the musty archives of no war Office are they registered
Upon no enduring parchment are thcy written TIeS
would escape definition in the attempt 10 define them
They are engraved upon hearts still livng-they
sweeten the lives sill unsummoncd-thcy are TOO
sacred for utterance. Yet they the crown OF
sherman's achievement. Wherever this mans hand
was extended it brought glad strength wherever his
voice was heard it aroused emotions Of grateful
tenderness; wherever his form was seen 1t glad
dencd loving eyes. lie survived civil war for "A
quarter of century-to show TO that the soldiers
armor is less becoming than the erb Of civil lfe that
the pomp and circumstance of loud preludes
Of benefcent peace.
No intrusion of personal relation shall sully this
poor testament to the dead. No one man can claim
the Inheritance OF such large hearted bounty. But
in the name of the drama which he loved in the names
of the actors whom he respected il Is proper that no
tqrdy recognition should follow his death. He had
scholars love for what highest in the artwhether
I'm the walk OF tragedy or comedy. lie hhd warm
affection for those who abOrcd In TINS atmosphere
He had also large sympathy for those performances
which afford recreation and amusement 10 the iHscsi
class Of the community. His voice was never husLGd
when called TO aid IN the needs OF the PLAYER ne
was no ordinary first Shter. lie lAd slhpIs pIlu
affecting belief that his presence might be useiui u
those who were seeking public suffrage acros. ue Ioo
lights and he could not but know that his ndOFschei.
was valuable and trustworthy. lie was one OF @ @lnY
incorporatOrs Of The Players, Upon whose musterIoi
no nobler name appears. His imposing character g,ve
dignity 10 those deberativc meetings out OF Whlch
tst Organization grew into its present useful NE
And sbould contemporary history faii 20 90 NM
,uejce- should the bitterness Of the Civl war MAKE
iust estimate Of his worth impossible In bl9gtsphcai
snnols-sbould envy malice deface the wlte aHaII
which should symbolic his deeds-then the dranaiisi
will lovingly bear up the garments OF his goy-Aee
thcIn from soil within that Valhla where caesar ana
AlrXandcr Frederick and GustaVus, 1--we mlcrlshibIy
cush1ned Therein shall be cherished the insignia dhd
the characteristics Of the most notable hguro Oi Moue
or ancient sOldicTy. , - 49,, ,o,,, aud
Again I'm future nights shall We see the pohp anu
GLORY of Union making War-once again u EaIiil'
loader shall pass before the OF CHlOuS pstcil
i'm the dramas immortal keeping ana me einl sPlr!'
,yroso influence In life often attended ne present
mcnt of Caesar and Antony and Casslus ana tie roman
nroun shall in death, mingc with their essence n,
derly restored by the dramatsts whom he HspiIeu'
py INC "'Oo'' "'''' ~ LAWRENCE BARRETT.
Vork Z oh 10. 1891.