Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-10
mir. BAYARD in ENGLAND.


four years' sojouru abroad, en- Joys the
double distinction of having been the
first Ambassador ever appointed by the
President of ths United States, and nue
of the mostpopular representatives, this
country has ever sent to foreign court.
Chance conferred the former distinc.
tion; the latter was fairly earned by
personal qualities To certain extent,
our official relations with Great Britain
were strained during part OF Mr..
Bayard's tenure of office; but his own
personal popularity was never under
cloud with the English people. The
remarkable article from The Saturday
Review, reprinted below, is proof
enough of the affectionate esteem in
which he was held in England it states
the case strongly, but does not over
state it. In fact it puts it no more
strongly than it was put by Mr..
Bayard's successor at the dinner given
in the departing Ambassadors honor
Just before he sailed for New York.
The impulsive frankness that must
sometimes have astonished the-conserva-
tive diplomats OF the old world was not
a quality to diminish the popular re-
gard for its possessor. Col. Hay has
Rvowej that no immediate successor TO
Mr.. Bayard could hope to rival him in
the affections OF the English people;
and it is safe to assume that his own
efforts will be directed along some
what different line.
In this connection it is gratifying to
see how completely the attempt has col.
lapsed, to put both Mr. Bayard and Col.
Hay in false positions, by representing
the former as guilty of breach of
privilege in bringing the log uf the
Mayflower to America, and the latter as
committing breach of courtesy in at
tempting to prevent his doing so. The
affair was very largely personal one
and MIR. Bayard denies having had the
slightest misunderstanding about il
with i,issuccessor; while Senator Hoar,
whose action led 10 the report of diff
erence between the retiring and incom.
ing Ambassadors has admitted that he
misunderstood the situation and has
paid due tribute to Mr.. Bayard's SER
vices in recovering the precious relic.
AN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN.
The Saturday Review, 81 March 1897.
1t is within the truth to say that nc
American Minister or Ambassador has
held SO high place IN English esteem
as Mr.. Bayard To all outward scanning
Mr.. Russell Lowell was as well re,
reived in England as anyone could be
like Mr.. Bayard he was welcome guest
in the best houses he too was asked tc
Windsor more than once; ane when he
was entertained in, the city Cabinet
Ministers appeared to do him honor.
But in Mr.. Bayard's reception there
was an affectionate cordiality which
was not shown to MIR. Russell Lowell, {
note Of intimate, personal admiration
rxfh s,l.
other foreigner. The bare fact il
curious enough to provoke explanation
Without using the comparison inpidi
ously one may say that at first busi
MIR. Russell Lowell would appear t,
have had all the advantages on his side
Not only was he the author of tn
"Biglow Papers" a poet of origina
force and significance in his own coun
try; but he was a an-of- letters in th
high sense of the word, a scholar nour
ished on the great masterpieces O
literature who had now and the
written English verse that was all bu
immortal and essays OF an excellen
prose; and withal man of fine pres
ence and urbane manners who knew th
cities of men as well as books. A
actor SO we'll graced was sure of ar
plause on the widest stage in the worl
and accordingly Mr.. Russell Lowell wa
welcomed in England and admired i
England and Hospitality entertained b
English society taking the word in il
broadcast and in its most exclusive senst
No one could tell him from q
Englishman, cried Mrs. Grundy
wondering reverence; and "he's ii
best after-dinne speaker I've ev'
heard" echoed Mr.. Grundy in grud!
ing astonishment. And thus the ma
who in his youth had doubte
dreamed that he would live foreve
with the great Elizabethans, masters
once of life and literature like Raleig
and Sidney had to be content with
half.euccess and left the European stas
with reputation iusultingly incon
mensurate with his ambitions an
abilities.
OF course the fault was oven great
on the side of the audience than
that of the actor. Few Enlgishm,
know anything about poetry or care f
it in any way, and Just as the ter
"artist" suggests poverty to them,
the word poet" suggests harmle
form OF luuacy, or at least wifi
effeminacy even more contemptibe.
spite of his great abilities and ma
charming gifts, Mr.. Russell Low
was rated in England much below /
worth. Mr.. Bayard has not suffer
In the same degree from lack Of col
prehension. He came to England as
simple gentleman with no adventitio
recommendations and Englishmen
once recognized him for what he ";
and honored him accordingly. FL
curiously enough, this people thin
more of gentleman" than of
artist, or poet, or saint or even of
captain or statesman; they hold {
heroic cheaply and cherish their &C
vention passionately, perhaps becal
it has more to do with manners th
with emotions Some time clans
before ordinary Englishmen began
see that Mr.. Bayard was gentlem
of wonderfully fine type. They want
him as an Ambassador now and then
stand upon his dignity and admins
the snub gentesl. They hoped that
would be very exclusive and refuse
know "that bounder" or the Sem
VINO was nothing if not familiar. J.
no: Mr.. Rayard had no touch of aris
cratic morgue: he met everyone W
the same gentle courtesy, and
kindliness needed no armor of pride
protect him against liberties which
one thought of taking. Was it his f
presence-the tall slight figure W
the handsome face and silver hair-t
held even the vulgar TO respect,
was 1t the touch of deafness that
centuated a natural dignity? We pre-
to believe that Mr., Bayard's az