Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-03
ABOUT HIS BEDSIDE.
ONE WHO KNEW HIM WELL.

ONE WHO KNEW HIM WELL.
John II. Coyle's Interesting Recollections of
Gen. Pixies Career.
| lam about to undertake one of the saddest du-
ties Of my life. Death has taken from US one whose
name will live in history and in literature when
all of US who so loved him, and whom he SO
loved, will be forgotten. What shall say of
my dear old friend can add nothing to his
fame, but in offering my tribute to his memory
l only desire to speak Of him as knew him for
| nearly fifty years. In all that long time the
| recolections of him are of the most kindly,
genial and interesting character. When we first
| met it was some time in the early torties at New
York amid those friends who, at that day and
for subsequent years, made up the literary life
! Of New York, and. indeed, of America. Albert
Pike was the bright particular star among such
men as Fitzgreen Haileck, n P Willis, George
?. Morris. Theodore S. Fay. Fenno Hoffman,
Henry William Herbert (''Frank Forester
VIM. t. Porter. Henry Inman, Charley Elliott
the elder Wallach. John Brougham and others.
He was then a resident of Little Rock. Ark,
and his visits to New York served to bring to-
gether these congenial spirits.
HE WAS PIONEER.
Gen. Pike was pioneer, for he had crossed
VIC AsoSAs hiVuutdiiis as carly us lOOU DOTH III
Newburyport, Mass, where for while he
taught school. he became. through years of as
ISOLATION. southern man in all his feelings
tendencies and interests His poems have OBJ
tanned Q worldwide celebrity. As early as
1890. think. or very soon thereafter his
Hymns to the Gods" appeared in Blackwood,
then under the editorial control of Prof. vii,
son (''Christopher North"). who proclaimed
them the advent of a new star in the poetical
armament Prof. Wilson sent the most affec-
tionate messages to Albert Pike by DR.. Shelton
Mackenzie and said Ibis massive genius marked
him out to be the poet Of the Titans." Gen.
Pike has made his great poetical genins sub-
servient or subordinate to the graver study of
the law and the sciences. In law he made a
very high reputation and was the colleague of
such eminent jurists Vim. r. Grimes,
Randall Hunt, Judah P. Benjamin. s. S. Prentiss,
of Mississippi and Mr.. Pettigrew of South Caro-
lima. His visits to this city we're to prosecute
important cases before the United States Su-
preme Court. Here he was the genial sun
around whom reyoived the stars of the social,
political, literary and artistic world. Previous
to the war between the states Gen. Pike had
accumulated a fortune and dispensed gen.
erous hospitality with the taste and knowledge
| Of the most refined pleasures of the table. His
poems he published for private distribution
only, the latest collection OF them in an edition
de luxe limited to his personal friends. Gen.
| Pike commanded company Of Arkansas troops
in Mexico and was present at the battle of
| Buena Vista, which he described in one of his
most famous poems. In the last war he COM
manded at the battle Of Pea Ridge.
THE FIRST RUMoR OF HIS DEATH
Thirty-two years ago the rumor Of the death
OF Albert Pike was spread throughout the coun-
| try and the press, with that generous apprecia-
ton of worth and genius offered its spontane-
GUS tribute to his merits, and his old friend.
Alexander Dlmitry, then occupying q position
| IN the Department of State, prepared for the
| National Intei.i9eRceT, the obituary sketch of
his character. So beautiful. So just tina: repro
/ duce it. Gen. Pike heard it read On a former
| occasion and responded to it in terms solemn,
| affectionate and instructive. He outlived
| nearly all who took part in that testimonial to
/ his worth offered by the most devoted friend
| ship. That touching tribute of Mr.. Dimitry is
as follows:
THE DEATH OF ALBERT PIKE.
| The telegraph. which is the bearer Of DO
many tales of joy and woe, has never borne one
Of deeper SORROW than that which struck the
heart Of our community by the announcement
which heads these hasty remarks. The sense
Of both public and private mournfulness, which
| followed -hat announcement Is, perhaps the
| truest euiogy which coun be passed on one
| whose life was marked by lofty tone of senti-
ment and superior endowments of mind. What.
| therefore. can even q friendly hand add to the
| tribute of respect and regret which the oppo-
to the memory OF him, too early called away
from the kindly Offices and promised usefulness
| of life? What influence can attach to the echo
| Of one voice in The concert Of thousands Of
I voices, speaking in sorrow relieved by praise?
And yet our thoughts will have their wav and
| our hearts claim the privilege Of affection in
| speaking of him, OF whom, but yesterday, We
| sill thought Us the living and loving friend
| Albert Pike was one Of those choice spirits
| who possess the secrets OF genius. made prac-
/ teal by accomplishments of judgment; SO that
1 they NAV themselves divine the destin;es re-
| served for them. and hew their way to its &C
conplishment through obstacles that might
| overbear the less resolute soul or self-noieed
/ mind. 1t is a better thing that the brilliant
career which his own exertions had opened
| one into which he had entered with a CONQUER
ing step-shculd, according to the plant OF the
olden poet, have been suddenly closed BY the
| ''joalousies OF fate Indeed, unless we over
| rate the tremendous energy of a mind working
itself into greatness and power, one of Pike s
highest and purest claims to admira ton is the
| record of thirty years OF q useful and honor
able life, spent. with the courage Of a soldier in
the breach and the devotion Of a priest at the
altar, in the application Of every virtue of the
heart and in the conservation of every
energy Of the miad to the building up
OF a maine. around which dearest affections are
clustered and rearing to himself a monument
on which. even before death had closed his
eyes he could boldly underwrite ..Renown is
! mine!' And yet lie who proudly bore the
\ aaGIe--he TO ghom renown cheerfIlly
awarded-is now dead. or rather he no longer
lives, save i'll the record Of his genius left to his
country-save in tho affection and esteem OF
friends. and even OF political adyersaries. This
general esteem for all the salient points OF his
character he had secured By a felicitous blend
ing Of civic virtues with personal qualities, for
he was bat imperfectly known where NOT
known In the endsarmenss Of private life. 1hs
choice qualities of the heart had bound 10 hin,
fully as much as had the claims of intellectual
superiority. So long as life is ours his moral
worth will live with as, and could the history
Of the country, could the registry Of its men Of
mark be false to the record Of that worth, hS
would st.ii live in the hearted memories Of all
who knew, and knowing, loved him.
Distinguished a. . writer, bold I
politician, and useful ~ Q man, he had won re-
spect from oil for his varied abilities and affec-
ton for the noble qualities by which he wal
dignified. In him were happily fused those al
tributes which inspire friendship and enthu,
s.asn aud command the reliance Of fellow-nen
The reason Of this u that he was not only dis