New-York tribune., 1903-05-26
MEET TO LAUD EMERSON.
ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH.
Speakers EGtOI HIM as Poet and
Prophet GrozCing Greater.

Waldo Emerson was paid last evening at d uio-
ner given by the Society of American Authors
in the Astor Gallery of the Waldorf In COM
memoration of the Tooth anniversary of his
birth. There were about two hundred members
and guests present. who greeted with apprecia-
tive applause the euloges and "reminiscences OF
the speakers of the evening. On the menu card
was reproduced photograph of Emerson taken
a score of years ago. On the sorbet boxes were
portraits OF Emerson in relief
collection of books, portraits, manuscripts
and other relics, among which were rare editions
of Mr.. Emerson's books and large group OF
English reprints, including the first small Fraser
octave Of lS41, with Carlyles eulogistic preface.
was on exhibition. A bronze head of Emerson
life size, made by the sculptor e. Symonds. OF
London, and a crayon portrait of Emerson
drawn from life by Eastman Johnson on the Or
der OF Henry W. Longfellow. were greatly ad-
mired by the guests.
Ex-Surrogate Ransom was toastmaster. At
the guests table were William Nelson, Charles
II. Haswell, Mark Harvey LiddelI, Edwin Mark
ham. S. J. Barrow, Moncure d. Conway, Colonel
Henry Watterson, Chancellor MacCracken. of
the University of New-York: President ]. G.
Schurman, of Cornell and DR.. William M. Leip
Ziger.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, who was expected to
be present. sent a letter in which she said:
Words will hardly express my regret at my in
ability to attend your comnemorattOn OF the
Tooth anniversary Of the birth Of Ralph Waldo
Emerson. The widespread enthusiasm awak-
ened to-day by the remembrance of this eminent
makes evident to all the depth of gratitude
and affection with which he has been regarded
by many people in many places, 1 am one Of the
few still living who are able to recall him as
personal friend"
The following cable dispatch was read:
Edwin Arnold offers humble tribute, love and
gratitude to Emerson, immortal friend and god
father.
verse of a poem by Edwin Markham was
also read.
President Ransom, before introducing the
speakers, referred to the charm Of Emerson's
lectures his Incompatible style, and character
ized him as a poet of matchless sweetness and
depth profound.
Mr.. Conway said he was glad to bear witness
to the greatness OF Emerson. He thought that
justice had hardly been given TO his humor. the
scintillations of his wit, his charming family
life.
Charles II. Haswell, ninety-four years old, was
introduced as the oldest American author. He
spoke few words of tribute to Emerson.
Colonel Henry Watterson, of Louisville, KY,
was introduced as one whom everybody knows
and admires" Colonel Watterson, in speaking
on "The Ideal in Public Life declared there was
no ideal in public life, and continued, in part, as
follows:
The nearest approach to the ideal statesman this
country has evolved lived and died here in this
did From youth to age he dweIt amid his fances
He was truly man of the world among men of OF
world philosopher pure and simple lover d o5
eevating-he yet attained great riches. and, being
doctrinaire and having a passion for affairs, he
the yearning TO be of service to the state which
had filled lis heart. Without any of the artifces
to be power BOW r in his party thence to become the
to millions of his countrymen. who enthusiastically
supported him and who bei9Xed that s. ne was
Brook Farm was a failure because it was long
ages before its time; yet it set candle upon the
dition behind it. That lovely idyl lives to-day in
World some ' Of the millionS their genius for ac
emulation drew from it in such sums and for
fact, and not an empty saying, that there is more
in yg a5 n n Modern qe a6d
reading of the spirit of the Sermon the Mount
TAKE tn ehS his os With him no the
grace and lei us belt eve that in laying down this
hrst Of line Of Kings Whose dynasty is safer than
divine is registered where alone divine rights be-
long; of line. OF kings who shall ordain a new
towers it shall be proclaimed that there is actually
a God above riches and might, who viii demand
The IDEAL then in public life is: GFst q all and
moral oblgation in public q private affairs; ot
a public opinion able to distinguish between the the
telligence sufficiently diffused among the people to
protect them at least against the grosser forms of
Meanwhile let us not mislnterpret but carry IN
I'VE i've in 2 very low state o. the world and pay
cation 19i rsgion a06sa BE- e Voted in or s5'e
stands there to say, yesterday we agreed so and
thought
lows at distance the del decaGy of culture I and
Chancellor MacCracken of the ryew-York Uni
versity. responding to the toast. The Fame of
Emerson" said in part:
Matthew Arnold denies that he was great
man of letters because he lacked genius for style
Yet this thinker declares that his essays
teenth Century viii admit That Emerson did not
or prose. His utterances are often disconnected
Like collection OF maxms, they may sometimes
not builded upon any large plan. They are more
like stepping stones in brook than like suspen-
sentences, his sayings are wonderful speGimens Of
heY are compae solid P and graceful Thy h
hardly superfuous word. They tell you clearly
what he mea mt to express. and also what he meant
If he was not great man of letters he was,
ing by means of letters He makes It apparent
sqf' sqf wa ns mot hh enough to CONCEAL his art He
therefore more the teacher than the Poet-more the
best style OF poet-preacher that the English Ian
guage has known
Emerson meant to put forth neither a body of
doctrine nor a system of philosophy. He meant to
express feelng-moral feeling He was not exact
philosopher a doctor of theology. Take his
teaching about God. How devoid Of exact doctrine!
Sometimes he seems so imbued with the New-Eng-
land democracy as to refuse any place in the uni
verse to a personal God. He says in place.
christianity has dwelt with noxious exaggeration
about the person of Jesus. but the soul knows no
persons" He is hardly ready to admit God who
is parsonage. He prefers a composite. town
meeting of a God, OF which everybody is
equal constituent part. AZ time he calls God
q great and divine and public soul.