The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03

The relations between these two men have
been those Of most intimate friendship.
After Mr.. Reid became the editor of Tie
Tribune he urged Colonel Hay TO become a
permanent member OF The Tribune staff
That proposition was declined because
Colonel Hays business and literary under
takings made it impossible for him to ac-
cept prolonged editorial engagement. But
on various occasions, when Mr.. Reid took
a holiday, and when he celebrated his
honeymoon by an extensive tour through
Europe, Colonel Hay became pro tempore
the chief Of The Tribune staff
In diplomatic training Colonel Hay has
had a greater experience than Mr.. Rod en-
loved when he went 10 Paris As minister
representing the United states govern
mcnt Colonel Hays familiarity with the
executive departments which his expert
ence rs private secretary TO President Lin
coin gave 70 him, and his subsequent ap-
pointment 20 a diplomatic post in Spain.
most admirably fitted him for the career
Of n diplomat. Very likely he would have
looked forward to such a career with de
light had not his time been very much en-
tailed bv obligations which he had entered
into in this country.
The estate of his fatherin-law. Amasa
stone. required the services of a very com
petent business man, and found them in
Colonel Hay. Moreover he regarded il as
his life work in a certain sense TO tell in
permanent form what the life end achieve.
ments of Abraham Lincoln had been
Colonel Hay realized very carly in the ad.
ministratiou Of Lincoln that the president
was making history and would be esteemed
one of the great figures Of the Nineteenth
century Therefore, in collaboration with
his associate, Major Nicolay, he kept every
scrap of evidence which could be utilized
as history, with the determination, after a
sufficient period Of time had elapsed, to
tell eXhaustively the story of LincOln's
life
IL was prodigious literary undertaking,
and IL required more than ten years TO
complete il. In fact it is not completed
now, as a supplementary volume is TO be
issued In the course of a year OF two.
Colonel Hay and Major Nicolay had no
idea Of great pecuniary remuneration
when they determined 10 tell the story Of
Abraham Lincoln and TO give to the world
an authentic and exhaustive record of that
marvellous career They hoped only 90
give go the world life of Lincoln which
won O be enduring and which would say
all that in future generations IL was neces-
sary 10 know of him
Tire TWO authors were somewhat aston
ished when they received a proposition
from tne publishers of The Century Maya
zine to print This biography as a SERIAL
and they were no first not disposed 10 &c.
ceDt IL. They were in some doubt rs %
whether such publication would be entirely
dignhed.
Prevailed Upon rather against their in
clirations, thay were a little surprised 20
find that the editors Of the magazine had
more accurately Judged public opinion
than they had themselves, for probably
nothing of n serious nature which has been
printed serially In the magazines in this
country has proved so great popular sue
cess as the Life Of Lincoln" by Colonel
Hav and Major Nico.ay. Moreover, the
uecuniary rewards were large. If com
mon report is true, each Of the authors
received something like $4,000 for thi
serial publication.
Nevertheless therei is little doubt now that
Colonel Hay would have made his mark
MS a literary man even had he not gained
fame by reason of his official relation TO
President Lincoln. Many OF the critics re
gard his "Castilian Days" as even a finer
sDecirren Of literary skill and descriptive
charm than is Mr.. HOwelis' Venetian
Life" Curously enough, in a spirit OF
fun and with some idea Of showing by
parody the defects and weakness of some
of Bret Harte's dialect poems, Colonel Hay
wrote two or three poems Of that kind.
he supposed they would be received in the
spirit OF fun, and he was amazed 70 find
that they were accepted as sincere, and
that they received higher tribute rs liter
airy productions than any of Mr., Harte's
efforts had obtained. The only effect OF
these publications, 50 far rs Mr. Harte's
D0erns are concerned was upon Harte him
self lie perceived at once what John
HAYS purpose was, and be stopped writ
ing dialect poetry and prOfessed 10 be-
ashamed Of all his poems and especially
that one which brought him his fame.
THE Heather Chinee.
If Colonel Hay goes 20 Paris as the sue
cessor of Wbitelaw Reid he Will be able
fully to maintain the repute which Mr.
Reid has gained there. lie has the same
acquaintance with public men that Nr
Reid enjoyed; he is a most charming
speaker. especially over the dinner table,
and the science of entertainment is fully
understood by him, while his great wealth
enables him 10 practice il. Yet he proba
DIV would prefer 70 remain in this coun-
try dispensing hospitality in his Wash
mgton house, enjoying the society Of cul-
tivated persons and Of his splendid library.
T. j. EDWARDS