New-York tribune., 1895-12-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MIR TucKERMAN's "REMINISCENCES.

Il.
6 Co.
Mr. Tuckerman has been dplomatist and has
learned the art OF being pleasantly d'scursNc
without being indiscreet or really ever 'eiiihB
ANYTHING Of moment. He knew Boston IN the
DAYS of Webster Everett and ChanniI&' 're-
ouented Washington when Lincoln was IN 'he
White House. lived in China while Gordoh was
suhdring the Tai Pings saw the French court
of Louis Philippe and the Second Empire. was
close associate of the King Of the Hellenss, ana
learned the ins and outs Of Turkish bureaucracy
I'm Constsntinonle In thesc two volumes, II ne
r,relv adds to the sum Of human knowledge con-
ceru,ng any man or any historic transaction
nevertheless he offers Il fund OF anecdotes ana
impressions such as experienced man or the
world could not fail 10 gather. Mr. fucNerh'ah
lacks felicity Of style and acute perception q
the element Of humor. His tendency Is 10 rather
forced puns put in italics and the repeu-
tlon o. s3yinSs which. however witty wneh Ut
ters. IT dinncr. have los. their sparkle with me
chamrscre; and either a survival OF New-Ens-
ian. 1idacdcism or the necessity OF iofcins
poia.s on unsppreciativc foreigners has hSed
IN. habit of adding comment and platitudinous
sxrosit:ol 10 his stories. But In spite of uch de-
:,c,s these "reminiscences have decided IN
.erest aud they extend over large field ana
a long period.
=, have been born under the shadow or the
Boston State House and to have grown up Ill
n. city OF cast winds ard Emersonian philos-
,ohy was ir his boyhood held to be an eXcep-
lionel Blessing which guaranteed inteiiectuai
srrer!ority. IL the era OF o'clock dinners
a5o .vsu.y minutes for meals without conVersa-
Son The fathers OF families pousy paid thelr
>rocer,- bills every Saturday and the boys wen'
swimming " the Back Bay The famous "Mu-
to- Crin
ro, ye. .be subject for ireverent mirth; and
when the Mayor cf the city distributed honors
.. the Latin school ne complaisantly congratu-
iced the gold medal winner on having carried
&c "the first prize Of ,he first school OF the
,,,,y1rse" II was provincial, self-satisfied so
c.etv but il had something 70 be self-satished
with. The boy grew UP among men knowledge
80 whom il IS a commonplace to say. was IN
,i.els an education. They clothed a great many
vel-woln ideas in mystical and fantastic IAN
euace. and thought they were bringing 10 pass
8 new dispensltion But nowhere else in the
world pcrhaps. than among them could Youth
live I'm an atmosphere at once so vigorously
inspiring and al the same time SO hcalthiuily
r.Mple On the way to his lessons the schoo'ooy
,,.o,,,d sim into the Cou.t House TO hear Story
charge The jury, or Rufus Choate save rascals
cro, pur!shnlents by his emotional appeals to
N.
friend. He remembers the preacher as small
feeble man. sufferer from pulmonary disease
who ALWAYS KEEP: 10 his house when the wind was
from tho east Once during three weeks o.
nlcasart weather the Doctor was not seen about,
o,5 hts friend 9-ent 10 see what was the matter
Charming was sitting before his library CRATE IN
excellent health. The visitor asked why ne was
No; out enjoying himself f. the sunshine, ana
tho clergyman shook his head. Impossible my
friend l dare not ard you know never 90
venture out OF doors In an cas-. wind.
? Bat. Doctor. the wind is not from the east;
it has been south for the past three weeks
You are greatly mistaken" rejoined the doc
ter. pointing from the window at the Park street
Church: Took At the vane
"Rut the vane is rusty and has not moved
for three weeks. 1t wants oil:ng" Then the doc
tor grabbed his coat and rushed out for walk
Webster was also familiar feature ana OF
him we have this reminiscence:
Twas once. when a small boy packed in dense
crowd at political meeting in Faneuil Han
when Webster held forth, and came near being
crushed to death-a pygmy among glants-as the
standing multitude within the hall. pressed by
those who were endeavOring 10 enter from with
out, began 10 sway to and FRO solid mass OF
human bodies as helpless to counteract the
movement as II Fdneuil Hall the Cradle OF Lib
orty" was being rocked by an earthquake The
orator was in the midst of a stirring appeal urg-
Ing the necessity of individual eXertion and un-
niaching patriotism to avert the dangers that
threatened the political party whose principles
lie espoused, when he perceived the terrible sway
ms Of the packed assembly and the imminent
danger that might ensue. Webster stopped snort
in tho middle Of "A sentence advanced 10 the
edge of the platform. extended his arm IN an
authoritative attitude. and IN stentor1an voice
Of command cried out: Let each man stand
firm The effect was instantaneous Each man
. stood firm; the great heaving mass of humanity
reca,ncd It's equilibrium. and. save the long
breath Of relief that filed the air perfect stiffness
cnseG. That" exclaimed the great orator, rs
" hat we call sef-gOvornrnent"
The cold and formal style of Everett was in
marked contrast to Websters energy. He
not above the use of lime-ght and he used ii
win all an actors art. Before him at public
dinner was an ornamental dish crowned by mini
aturc flags. Without his being aware Of it 1t
was removed by the servants He appeared to
thoec close by to be seriously annoyed and. call
lnr a servant whispered few words. The dish
was brought back Soon after Everett arose to
speak on some public theme and. warming up 10
bis subject with sudden inspiration he seized
nag from the dish in each hand and waved them
above his head amid thunders Of applause.
IN Washington Mr. Tuckerman came into per-
sonal relations with Lincoln. but he has nothing
70 add OF our knowledge Of him. Con-
cernlng Seward he has more interesting
things to say. In 1872 he made a pilgrimage
10 Auburn 10 pay MS respects to the ex-Secretary
radoy whom he had served abroad. Seward.
who was slowly dying from paralysis had gone to
his country house on Owasco Lake. but when he
learned OF the visitors arrival in the city he
toieeraphed him to come to the lake, art there
he remained for several days. When the guest
Was about to depart Seward said Now tell me
what can do for YOU If possess any influence
with tho present Administration ] at your
service" When he heard that the visitor had no
wish but for his hosts good health he answered:
do YOU moan 10 say that you came out Of your
way 20 visit 4 broken down old man like me,
without a single interested motive beyond that
OF seeing me? do not have many such visitors
nowadays" During that visit Mr.. Seward made
80. ....l.-- a.u.Ala IL l.