The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-08
COCKERILL'S LETTER
The Latest on Literature, Art
and Society.
SIR EDWIN ARNOLD AT THE LOTUS
Tribute to Murat Halstead-rThe TiIden Estate
New York TO Celebrate Columbus Dis
covery-Society and It's Capers.

New YORK, Nov. Especial cor
respondence of The SUNDAY HERALD. l.
The Lotus club banquet to Sir Edwin
Arnold last Saturday evening was truly
notable affair 1t brought together host
of brainy, paternal, representative men,
and it was memorable event in the his
tory of tie Lotus, already noted for its
hospitable receptions to distinguished
foreigners. Sir Edwin fairly glowed and
beamed under the compliments heaped up
Oh him. No modern poet ever enjoyed
more adulation within given three hours.
The parlors of the club were tastefully
decorated with banners from the Orient
and paintings drawn from Japanese sub
1ects. Even Colonel Tom Knox's withered
Lotus flower, gathered beside the Nile,
seemed to revlvify in its dirty frame. At
the dinner Sir Edwin sat at the right of
the President, and on his right
in sweet contentment sat George
w. Childs, who for the first
time in his life, L believe, came over to
New York TO eat a public dinner Around
this favored table was gathered such poets
as Stedman and Stodard, sucn warriors as
General Horace Porter and some of the
journalistic lights of America including
Mr.. Ballard Smith, whose ruoicund visage
must have reminded the British bard of
some of the mild and subdued light of
Asia. As | surveyed Sir Edwin across the
table | was constrained to say that he re-
minded me of a combination OF Charles
Dickens and Uncle Dan Rice The dubious
nose, the genial eyes, the massive forehead
were of the old Snowman. The beard and
the sweep OF gray hair as well as the con-
tour of the lower part of the face were
Dlckenish. In lieu of the variegated
walstcoat and volumlnous watch chain
affected by Dickens the poet supplied va
riety of decorations. About his neck the
order Of his knighthood was suspended
from black ribbon. On his left breast
were several minor insignia, including
the Osmanh of Turkey, or something-or-
another of India, as radiant as medallic
advertisement OF Rising Sun stove polish.
From watch guard of modest size was
suspended a blue charm. President
Lawrence, a thoughtful and graceful
speaker, in presenting the guest of the oc-
casion. left but little of a personal char
acter for the other speakers to say. Dur
ing the delivery of this golden prologue
Sir Edwin closed his eyes and rested his
head upon his right hand. As the COM
plments fell upon him like rich Jewels he
nodded and smiled, and occasionally, as the
applause swelled around him, he opened
his eyes and bowed graciously. | have
never seen more pleasing picture When
he came to respond he was geniality itself
He began with the usual apology for the
Briton who cannot make a speech-Max
O'Rel tells me privately that this is now
the English fad-and then proceeded to de-
liver one of the most graceful, appropriate
and effective after dinner speeches that |
ever listened to. l regret that Chauncey
Depew was not present to gather few
points. Sir Edwin's enunciation is clear
his voice is soft and well modulated, his
gesture rythmical, He has magnetism He
quoted with fervor from his own poems and
1ranslations. The hit of his speech was
his panegYric of America and Americans
which he hkened after all to Sydney
Smiths grandchild patting turtle on the
back to tickle it and which reminded the
old gentleman of the futility of patting the
dome of St. Paul to please the dean and
chapter Sir Edwiu's tribute to the Eng
Hsh lsnguage-the language of Shakes
peare-was well received. He predicted
that ii would become the language of the
world and quoted his friend Lord Tenny-
son as regrettng this fact because spoken
language is aln avs changing. The poet
laureate is apprehensive of the fate which
has oyertakeu his friend Chaucer 1t
seems Sir Edwin's declaration that war
is the negation Of civilization" and his
suggestion that England and the
United States create Joint com
mission, TO be paid big sala les and
be comfortably housed, to settle all
issues arising between the countries. was
hilariously applauded. There were al
least twenty-five men within the sound of
his voice VINO felt or hoped that they might
be called upon to serve on this commission
when created. Sir Edwiu's speech was
written, but he spoke as from skeleton
notes. 1t was beautiful composition l
found, upon cow ersing with him. that he
rested his fame upon his poetry rather
than upon his achievements as a journal.
list. My compliments TO him in the latter
direction, l fear, were not well received.
Ii is to be hoped that Sir Edwin's readings
here will prove profitable, but after all il
must be borne in mind that he is chiefly
known to scholars. He has no such armies
of readers as had Maryatt and Dickens.
Nevertheless, the poet is sometimes hon
ored outside of his own land. One thing
about Sir Edwin impresses me-his hale,
wholesome, hearty, CHEEKY Anglo Saxon
manner. He is as spry as an American of
30. and yet he pleads to having passed
seven decades.
WESTERN EDITORS STORY.
AT the same Lotos club dinner saw nv
old editorial friend and Ohio confrere
Murat Halstead, white of hair. ford of
face, picture Of health and good humor.
his worn on an afternoon newspaper in
Brooklyn affords him ample opportunity
for social enjoyment on this side of the
river. And no man loves good dinner or
good companions more. Some years ago.
when ] was the editor of weekly news.
paper in Hamilton, Ohio ] did occasional
reporting for MIR. Halstead's newspaper.
the Cincinnati Commercial. He was nv
ideal editor and would not like to saw how
much think / am indebted TO him for nv
small journalistic education. In those DAYS
MIR. Halstesd occupied rear room on the
ground floor of the Commercial building.
He was always accessible. He looked after
the business end of the newspaper as well
Ms the editorial end. He would pause in
the middle OF paragraph to settle dis
pute about an advertisement, make a new
contract for printing ink or to listen to a
story from local politician One could
stand on the Race street side of his office
and have full view of him at his desk. I
have spent many a half hour on that side
walk gazing at the great editor at work.
He never had shade on that window. and
i used to think that ne was rather fond of
the facilities afforded Race street pedes-
trians for observation. He was the hand
soonest man i ever saw engaged in literary
pursuits. His hair, always well trimmed
was then just beginning to betray "the
snowfall of time" and his complexion was
as rich as that of the typical milkmaid.
His forehead was noble, and when he