New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-14
PEOPLE DIR. CUYLER KNEW
VETERAN PREACHER TELLS OF CAR
LYLE. DICKENS, GLADSTONE
AND OTHERS.

Genealogical and Biographical Society at their quar-
s-s No e2s West Fifty-eighth-et. Some Memories
:, Men Worth Remembering was his theme. Speak
,nr without notes. and in a conversational manner
hat added to me charm OF his "reminiscences DR.
rsyler pictured the personal characteristics as he
had observed them OF whose names are among
.hs highest in the history OF the century that Is
,assing He related anecdotes of the famous men
with whom he had come in contact in the course
=. his long lie Taking his memory back for ilp-
ward OF sixty years. DR. Cuyler described his first
meeting with Wordsworth amid the sylvan sur
roarslncs OF which he sang so much in HIS poems
On the visit Scotland he visited the birth
place Of Robert Burns. and graphically described II
Is he thea found II, when il necessary TO take
long drive TO reach IT and before II had become
slle7 place for the rushing traveller and a haunt
fo- rellc hunters. 1t then the old clay but as
really existed when Burns opened his eyes within
remember DR.. Cuyler said asking the old
wcran whom found at the cottage if she had
ercr seen Burns. Yes, often.' she replied l asked
h, o tell about him. and she said that when he
cane in in The evening he was often downcast and
xoala ST Down beside the fire In gloom and silence
tz-t.' sae added. when re got drap he was
ava.
WHEN CARLYLE WAS IN HIS PRIME
When I got to London DR.. Cuyler proceeded.
=; ser: a note to Thomas Carlyle He was then In
,bs GAYS cf his splendid glory. and though l saw
hin again in his old age, he was at the time of
r-hich ] speak at his best. He was a superb look
iag man. We have very few good pictures of him
verv fesr in fact. Of him as ] saw him then
When : saw him first he sitting behind a pile
RI hooks in his room. He was a man of fine pres
ence ard with splendid eye II was like the eye
II an e1se. H rose 20 greet cordially. His
t-s, Eolds 20 ne were. You are very young
man'E had graduated at early age-and I re-
rl4d Yes l am. but II is a fault that will be
easily re1eGIed il time
Lacking my card and reading my name he
remarked in his broad Scotch accent, You are a
pu,chman. I said, Yes
"cUyler, Cuyler,' he unused. that means a dig
ger deliver who digs does it not?
Yes ! assented. and I suppose the attribute
belong 10 family
TIE Dutch Carlyle said, were the bravest
people ever made. The world has wild after a
red rag Of Frenchman,' he said, referring to Ma
poleor. but he is nothing TO William the Silent
During our conversation I mentioned that the
o,d man who kept Robert Burns's cottage was
dead. ard that he spoken Of as having drunk
himself 20 death. To my establishment he laughed
long and loudly and when I asked him what there
IVES in my information that he regarded as Iudi-
crous he explained. 'Weel, weel. but a bit drap
will send long way
Before left him I asked him why he did not
come &c America and study the working Of demo
cratic government. 1 told him much about my
country. In the course Of our talk he interjected
You can talk about your democracy or any cracy
as much you like but the real reason why you
are SO happy IS because you have vast deal Of
land for very few people
IN his old age, thirty years afterward saw him
again He attred in q long blue gown, with
hair unkempt, but with the same blue eyes shoot
ing out fire. Newman Hall was with me on that
occasion. We got Carlyle going and such an erup-
ZION has never been known since Vesuvius. He
was in a mood that may be described as just Car
lylese. He used the words 'damnable' and
damned frequently in his emphatic utterances
John Bright, he said was Manchester bagman
os1p6- Into.
his samples on his back. Parliament, he said, was
an everlasting hurdy- gurdy. just a babbIement
one Of his pessimisrns with regard to his coun-
ny, which he asserted, going down into a
cesspoo Of damnation, and that was the culrnna-
ton Of his eruption.
TALK WITH DICKENS AT HOME
Upon that same visit to London saw Dickens.
had seen him before in this country but on this
occasion saw Boz at home in his beautiful hues
How handsome he was then, with his dark locks
and laughing eyes! How delightful was the talk 7
had with Dickens that morning and in the midst Of
little girl with her mother came running into
the room, and lifting her face 10 be kissed she
bade him Good morning. papa
: went 10 the houses OF Parliament and one Of
ne characters which attracted my attention was
an extraordinary individual with a great crop of
gray hair, dressed in a green coat and check
trousers He was Lord Brougham IN his old days.
ina. was the great LORD Brougham whom every
one knew by his nose It was something Ike
Funcfs. and his only gesture when he spoke was
ne working Up and down of his nose Brougham
N SAID to be the only VINO could write a
speech. make a speech and read two books through
y fifteen minutes. That joke of course but
ne was one OF the last Of the giants of that age
as was the old bois.erous eloquence Once he
sac Of one Of his opponents in the House: When
1he honorable gentleman stands tiptoe he barely
touches The level OF mediocrity'
= had the honor of knowing Gladstone well and
rfTr In
delegate 10 the General Assembly In an address
BEFORE that assembly / spoke of the Alabama mat
ee' which was then being considered at Geneva.
aAuded TO the feeling in America in my speech.
-nhss were looking squally that moment, and
+'aostone wrote nc letter asking me TO see him.
I'D 50. and talked together for some time.
az asked ne 10 call on him again morning.
Deah Ramsay was with that morning, and
NE Breakfast able l remember that related sew
tia carkey stories which amused Gladstone very
alcn. During talk servant came In with
dispatches Gladstone paid no attention TO them
'S some time. but after a while he retired into a
1anef Of the room and began reading them. After
: 4sise o some time he came toward me, saying,
D'e'of the war is over. have good news from
'eheYa ] think it is settled. I don't profess to
&c the designs Of Providence. but no earthly
ne" ran prevent an honorable and enduring
Pe aqe With your country
~. was something 10 have been with Gladstone
ming. when his desire for the success Of
so5a ration no. was satisfied The last time saw Glad
IL vas a few DAYS before his golden wedding
~ aad aged much. his figure had shrunk and his
80 nung loosely upon him, but he still had his
ne me- u voice ] spoke of his health. and he told
fGrs 'naj re owed his health TO God and TO the
the c esL 81 mind and body which he obtained on
Sss 0aonath He was strict Sabbatarian, and he
o. o. 4lVlng argument Of the wisdom OF God in
Hs rest upon one day in seven.
dHCoLN's ASSASSINATION RECALLED.
". cuyler began reference TO Lincoln by re-
hitting his audience that the night was the an
AIRY Of that night thirty-five years ago. when
- accursed shot fired which rings yet
arsrtssn Sn1stendom. Thrty-ive years ago the
rour,,~1 me me Almighty ever gave your
his fer and mine was stricken Dwelling upon