New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-12

20 happier tribute could have been paid to the
memory Of the late Clarence King than is paid
81 this volume. a miscellany put together with
afgectiorate ny friends CT his in the Cen
tUry Association. In It. in the first place, is re
printed The Helmet Of Mambriro," one Of the
most Spontaneous. as 1t is one Of the most beau
tifuI. things IN American literature. Following
tla:s there is an account by Mr.. J. D. Hague Of
the late Horace 7. Cutter, the Dear Don Hora-
to- to whom Kings little masterpiece of TO
mantle narrative addressed, and in sue
ceediEg chapters have impressions of their
incompatible friend written by John Hay. Will
lam Dean HoweIIs. Henry Adams, John La
Fargo. Edmund Clarence Stedman. William
Crary Brownell. Edward Cary Samuel Franklin
Enmons. Daniel c Gilman. Rossiter w. Ray
Inond and James D. Hague. Books like this
have been made before. but rarely have they
possessed such living interest. Not only Will
those who knew King rejoice IN these pages. but
readers who never saw him and who perhaps
have heard little Of his work and personality,
wiz feel when they put down this memorial
that they have made valuable friend.
He had gift for getting unending delight out
Of life and for sharing it with ali with whom
he came in contact. His charm was not by any
means for his intimatee alone-indeed. how could
It have been since II was. after all. but the art
less expression of his nature? Brilliant scientist
as he was he had also something OF the char
acter Of the poet. of the debonair adVertuTer
who goes up and down the world seeking excite
inent or beauty, some and vivid sensation
and. through the good fortune that attends
such temperaments, finding what he sought
by every roadside Mr.. Emmons traverses in
this voInaue Kings work a geologist and
there are other pages here telling of what he
actually accomplished in the world, but gladly as
we may honor him for his practical achievements
& is impossible TO think first OF the latter In
thinking OF him. One thinks first. and, per-
haps last, for that matter OF his winning kind
ness IN the little relations Of life. OF his swift
penetrating sayings on books and pictures, OF his
endless Wit and fun Colonel Hay. one of those
who knew him best. testifes 20 this aubmers!on
of King as Q practical worker in King as an
enchanting companion. Il think his reputation
as great physicist suffered somewhat" he
says. from the dazzling attractiveness OF his
personality. II was hard to remember that TINS
polished trifer. this exquisite wit who dinUsed
over every conversation in which he was en-
gagged iridiscent mist Of epigram and persi-
fage was one Of the greatest savans of his
time It was hard to take seriously n man who
was so deliciously agreeable When Mir. Sted-
man first met him. a steamer bound for
England they dined and afterward walked the
deck together talking with unruffied serious
ness But 'oul on the blue, the next morning,
what a transformation, 1t was in fact
Kings first opportunity visit Europe strictly
of duty and with means that seemed to him
beyond the dreams Of avarice. He broke out
into thousand pranks and paradoXes Freedom
was what We both needed, and my own reserve
was at an end the moment l him changed
from the dignitary to a vertable Prince Flor
izeI with the tray of tarts, offering lollipops
right and left He and his comrade, / was
speedily made to know, had struc!- it rich IN a
mine and were Independent for life. His motto
for one summer at least 'Vive la baga-
telle' His frolic incessant and contagious.
He TESTED. tabled. sparkled, scorned con-
cealment OF his delight" From one of these
moments Of sheer gayety there flowed the cpl
sode which Mr.. Stedman thus describes:
Among the many wagers which he forced his
staid comrade to accept that compelled
6 2eG on 70 6erby Day 81 ht wouG @
afs1 our sT in LSnd4n KbE lost ss this c6 Se
of in the traditional style-that The Scriptures
were From tie White Horse Inn PicSadiIly,
fortnight later We took the road and shared its
guard lackey. hamper and all Nothing was
iant day our c s r6 G to in the me Centre Of
;he field, as in Friths picture and there were the
Prince OF Wales. the race, with the Duke of West
p welcher rnobbed and everything else was accom-
pIished and still cherish fading tin-type exhibit
of group the tally ho. lifting cups, with
King ss POSTMASTER.
This volume Is full Of anecdotes One OF them
relates to his inspection OF a mine in the West,
the value OF which had been impaired by the
discovery IN it of a very large horse. which,
says Mr.. Hague rs miners term for a body
OF worthless rock that sometimes dispaces the
and makes rich vein poor" The story
continues thus: when King had come out 0,
the mine after inspection he found another tele-
gram waiting for him from his impatient friend
asking. in effect: is It true that there is a
''horse' in the mine? TO which he promptly
replied: The mine is perfect livery stable "
Once. in crowded railway car, a nervous old
lady who was about to sit beside King saw that
ne had gun standing III the corner and asked
fdm with severity: Young man, Is that gun
loaded?" Instantly he replied with a charm
ing smile his eye tw1nklIng with merriment at
the thought of the old lady going a-gunning for
somebody: No, ma'am. but L can load It for
you in a minute" Mr.. Hague adds TO his
Illustrations OF his friends powers of fascination
in talk this pretty anecdote:
remember somewhat vaguely a story in eeec,
that he was once a visitor at certain country
house In England when the Prince OF Wales now
King Edward, was guest there dinner
while the men were still smoking, the host COM
planned OF some indsposiion. whereupon the Prince
begged him TO retire and leave his guests IN tben,-
selves and their resources sa wing assnri,gv =.
King and will get on well enough together
Only misanthrope could have failed to get
on with King, and even he. perhaps. would have
had moments in the company OF that bIithe
spirit which would have made him less forIorn
IT seems a pity that he was, as Mr. Howells re-
marks, above everything Indifferent TO literary
repute." The world has lost much in losing all
that he could have embodied IN books OF travel
Of criticism. of romance, il he had cared to write
them But at least he wrote, In his Mountain