New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-12
GAN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN"

What is most noteworthy In 1.-The Saturday
Reviews" eulogy upon Mr.. Bayard. under the
title above quoted. is not merely that 1t Is
euloey. The personal note is dominant through
out. distinctly and avOwedly dominant, ana
personally Mr. Bayard is so deserving or eulogy
TINT not even "The Saturday Review" could
well withhold 1t from him. What 1t says or
him is quite true His attractive physical pres
ence his transparent sincerity. his ingenious
ness. his freedom from unclean speech his
optimism, his idealism, his sympathy with what
is best in life, his exquisite balance and charm
ing temperament" are all known TO his own
countrymen and it would be little to England's
credit If she did not appreciate them. 1t Is be-
cause of such things that Mr.. Bayard has been
more popular in England than any other Ameri-
can Minister.
Even than Lowell. The Saturday Review
itself makes the comparison. and it must bear
the odum If It be invldious. Frankly-and this
is more noteworthy than the eulogy of Mr..
Bayard-the English did not and could not APP
precIate Lowell. 1t is "The Saturday Review"
that makes the confession Lowell was dis
tinguished author, and "a man of fine presence
and uIbane Manners He had great abilities
and many charming gifts" Yet he left Eng
land with a reputation insulingly incommen-
surate" and the fault therefor lay with Eng
land more than with him. So says THE Satur-
day Review" 1t Is an indictment Of England
more severe than an American would care TO
make. There are those who will wonder, how
ever whether the diplomatic factor did not en-
ter into the determination Of the problem. For
Lowell was diplomat, in the practical business
sense as we'll as in the merely social and orna-
mental sense Of the term. He attended TO his
country's business, sometimes necessarily in n
way not altogether pleasing to the English. Per
haps, after all. that has more to do with Eng
sh preference for Mr. Bayard than is made to
appear in "Thc Saturday Review"
But what is most significant in this once ran
corous critics eloquent peaceOffering is the
frank confession made with studied conspicu-
ousness that men like Mr.. Bayard-Inen Of
"curOusly beautiful nature" gentlemen OF "a
wonderfully fine type'-"are not as rare in
America as they are in most other countries
That is indeed a tribute. An American might
well have been content TO say modestly that
they are not more rare THE Saturday Review"
saws pumply mot as rare With such judg
ment. gratuitous and, if truth must be told, I'M
wonted It would be most ungracious TO quarrel
But if 1t be accepted. what then? May it not
be argued that democracy. this very levelling OF
artificial ranks, and jostling of elbows clad III
fustan or quite bare with those attired in broad
cloth. the very conditions that Old World crit
les have deemed to make for crudeness and
negation of culture. actually make for personal
and social sweetness and light?
Certainly il is the modest course TO pursue TO
assume that it is so. For if not. If Americans
have this gentlpness Of life despite and not be-
cause of their democracy, their claim of credit
must be much higher still. With the lesser do
gree they may well be content. And perhaps
with such encoura cement as this which we nave
quoted. they may one day be able to convince
the English that the utmost fineness OF person
atty and grace Of social qualities are entirely
compatible with robust and vigorous American
ism and with inflexible devotion to American in
lerests. Or if they do not succeed in such con-
viction, they will at least have this high British
anthoriry's confession. of unappreciatiyeness TO
give them comfort in the failure; that, and the
realization that their Ambassador, if not es-
teemed at his full worth abroad, is fulfilling
faithfully and efficiently the duties of the more
important mission whereunto he is sent.