New-York tribune., 1905-07-05
JOHN HAY AS A MAN OF LETTERS.


The character of John Hay as man of let
ters owed much 10 the fact that he was also
man of the world. he took literature as he took
lfe-with light touch; and, If his books have
the vitality Of works written only when the au-
thor has something TO say, they have likewise
the quality which comes of saying it in the
right way. 1t was Omar Fitz Gerald, we be-
lieve, who defined taste as the feminine Of
genius. There was nothing feminine about John
Hay, but he had the kind of taste that the Eng
lsh man Of letters had in mind-the taste which
acts as an all-pervading element, holding
mans ideas in solution, clarifying them, put
ting them in the best order, and, in short, rails
ing them to a higher power 1t is customary
when speaking of Mr.. Hays poetry TO begin
with Little Breeches" and Jim Bludso," and
some of his critics have been content to go no
further. AS matter of fact, those clever bal
lads, whether written in good faith or in amia-
BILE parody Of Bret Harte, are not to be taken
as expressing their authors essential gift in
verse. His true measure is given by those nu-
merous pieces In which he set forth the medita-
tons and impressions of a serious lyrist using
the metaphors and diction Of profoundly self
possessed and polished man of the world.
He was wont to underestimate the value Of
his verse. No doubt he knew that he was not
one of the immortals, and with his unfailing
sense of humor, he would have been the first to
protest against excessive laudation 1t is, per-
haps, worth noting that when his elder daugh-
ter published her first volume Of poems he wrote
to friend declaring that he had never himself
done anything so good. But one has only to
glance through his collected poems to see at
once how far he was from sharing any of the
weaknesses of the minor poet Imagination is
there with shrewd insight into human life;
also there is the gravity of a thoughtful man,
tempered by the wit Of an experienced connois-
seur in emotion, and everywhere you recognize
the pose, the instructive SKILL of a writer who
may not have been inspired, but who could not
for the life of him make poetical line prosaic.
He had the poets clair7oyance for the right
motive, the craftsman's fair for the right word.
To be dull, to be sentimental, to be slipshod
affected, was no more possible to him than to
be heavy In conversation or laundering in
diplomacy.
In prose as IN poetry he stood for clear think
ing and finished execution. Possibly the monu-
mental life of Lincoln which he wrote with Mr..
Nicolay has more historical weight than literary
charm but one would scarcely expect an official
narrative Of the sort TO disclose the more per-
sonal traits of an author, even If he were writ
ing it alone, and the main point in regard to the
great biography Is that it is strong where works
Of such scale are apt TO be weak. 1t is accu-
rate, dispassonate, orderly and compact, and
Of its theme. "Castiliap Days." written long
before, and, by comparison, in an infinitely less
serious vein, does more to show Mr.. Hays
mettle as an author. The book was written
when he was attached to our legation In Spain,
already well seasoned in public affairs, but still
the poet and eager onlooker at the pageant of
life, studying all things from politics to pict-
ures with sympathy and humor, with under
standing and with the critical sense. Mr.. Hays
later fame as q tatesman may turn "Castilian
Days" into a classic. People will read 1t for
his sake who have never been particularly in
terested in the subject. But discerning readers
long since gave IT an honorable place on their
shelves, because, in addition to its delightful
substance, II has the merit of delightful style.
In these vivid chapters you have John Hay the
man OF letters in his best estate. He is suave,
sparkling, deftly descriptive full of luminous
comment on men and things, giving his whole
soul TO the matter in hand, and yet, for all his
high spirits and his ease, never neglecting to
use the file, never ceasing TO write ike an artist
and gentleman If any interesting book, writ
ten with literary distinction, is classic, then
"Castlian Days" deserves the title.
MIR. Hay was not at any time committed to
the career Of man of letters in the strict sense
Of the phrase. His poetry and his prose were
! written as time and the occasion brought them
out, TO illustrate one phase another of richly
varied life. But men of letters will feel in his
death the loss Of one who adorning whatever he
touched, adorned their craft and in The Trib-
une If anywhere, the force Of this reelection
comes home Some of the best writing he ever
put to his credit was done for the editorial col
umns Of this journal, writing which contributed
much to maintain the tradition of scholarly
comment on current events. The events have
passed, but the example Of his satire, his wis
dom and his brillance endures. Artists also
will regret In him one whose aesthetic percep-
tions were peculiarly fine and potent. He knew
the old masters and loved them; no one was
quicker than he in responding TO the appeal of
what was best in modern art; and to listen TO
his talk amid the paintings and drawings with
which he surrounded himself was TO find equal
profit and pleasure. He shared with his life
long friend, the late Clarence King, a special
knowledge Of the Spanish school 1t is good to
know that year or SO ago he sat to Augustus
ST. Gaudens for bust which has happily been
completed. This bronze ultimately destined for
the State Department at Washington, will be
in more senses than one a fitting memorial. It
is a faithful portrait and it is mastery work
OF art. John Hay deserved such commemora-
ton. for he was himself an artist in tempera-
ment and in achievement.
PARLIA MENTA RY EQUALIZATION