The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02
THE JOHN HAY or THE SEVEN
TIES. ..t

THE JOHN HAY or THE SEVEN
TIES.
| "reminiscences Of His Career IN New Yerla
Generation Ago.
To TIE EpIroR OF THE suN-S&: II was
| my privilege to know John Hay somewhat
intimately during the period between 1870
and 1878. when he was In New York. Az that
time he was Q remark ably handsome youn
man. with . pesIhes and cream oolorins Of
complexion which might have suggested
something Of efYeminaoy to those who saw
him only casually. About him also were Q
grace Of bearing and q refined delicaoy OF ex-
preston which. remember, struck me ~
drst with some surprise. considering tho ante
oedents Of his early Western SURROUNDINGS
and tho rough and tearing labors through
which he had gone as q secretary Of Abraham
Lincoln during tho civil war. Underneath
these outward appearances almost suggestive
of tho flnicai I found however. there were Wig
orous masculine strength Of intellect, com
mon sense and practical Western way OF look
Ing at things He was far from the spoiled
darling Of the drawing room which to q
casual observer he might seem.
In his temperament and the cast OF his mind
there was, however, much that was disttnc-
lively artistic and poetic. Hs was natural
writer, graceful, OF quick incuitive percep-
lions. and OF charming literary form. and at
that time any eminenoe TO which he might
obtain. 1t seemed to me, was destined to be
In the more artistic range Of literature. His
taste In all art was nice and spontaneous The
artists OF the New York OF that day must recall
him as q frequent visitor to studios, and, In
deed. his associations generally were most
with artists and literary people. His tastes
and sympathies were with them.
Neither In his conversation nor 10 his choice
NJ aaaociat IL m ada anoarent even to
many Of those with whom he was on terms
Of intimacy, that he had any other than
a purely professional. journalistic interest In
the larger and deeper Affairs Of politics and OF
State. During that period. however. John
Hay was handling editorially some OF the
greatest questions which have ever risen IN
the politics OF the world. and more than any
other editorial writer In New York at that
time. In a subordinate place. he was master
OF them and his judgment on them was mature
and wise. His political writing. his main and
his central work. was well compacted and had
In II a quality OF distinction. He was. by all
odds, the abest writer on the Tribune, the
most dominant personality: yet he had also
real talent for verse and for graceful and
artistic and humorous literary composition
which gave him reputation that overlooked
his solid Intellectual quality.
Few young men In America had had larger
experience OF the world than was John Hays
when he came to Now York Already he had
been initiated into the mysteries OF interna-
tional diplomacy and had made himself
veritable diplomat. He knew by personal
acquaintance and intercourse almost every
considerable man In domestic and foreign
politics and In the higher walks Of statesman
ship. He had gone into the White House as
secretary TO Lincoln only three years after
his graduation from Brown University. and
during tho whole period Of the terrible strain
OF the civil war he had been brought into the
closest familiarity with the great questions
and the great personages then prominent. II
was work to make man Of him. to develop
in him reserve. judgment and critical per-
cepton. to give to him q maturity. at time
when his appearance was almost boyish.
When John Hay went to Paris as Secretary
OF Legation, after Lincoln 3 death. our Minis
ter there was the Hon. John BiSelov, who
has spoken to me often Of the knowledge and
ability and natural diplomatic aptitude Of
his young assistant. II was critical period
Of the empire Of Louis Napoleon. whose for
eign policy had turned out so disastrously.
and Hay was a quick learner In that trou blous
school of politics. Afterward he was Charge
d'Anares at Vienna. and just previously to
his arrival in New York he had been Secre-
tary OF Legation at Madrid under Gen. Sickles.
1t was a career wonderfully broad and varied.
This young man. by the time he had reached
his thirtieth year. had been brought into con-
tact with the largest affairs and the largest
men OF the world. Still youthful in appear
ance and Of a seemingly delicate and poetic
refinement which untitled him for the rugged
work of life. he was really cool. hard headed
and OF knowing worldly sense remarkable
at any age. John Hay never rushed after
illusions; he was never intoxicated by the
sense of beauty which was 50 strong In him.
He gave to practical advantages their due
recognition. He never lost bis head. never
let his imagination run riot with his judgment
and prudence.
1t is not necessary that should recall the
later achievements OF Mr.. Hay-his service
as Ambassador to England and as Secretary
OF State. To those OF us who remember him
when he was in New York handsome, grace
full, youthful dainty In tastes. the frequenter
of artists studios and literary circles. his
subsequent and rapid development into the
foremost figure In international diplomacy
has seemed something marvellous. It was
the evolution least expected Of him. We
looked rather to his becoming bright orpa-
ment In the field of American literature.
1t was. however, a logical development.
as. think. have indicated In these slight
"reminiscences. 1t was a natural graduation
from the school of training in which he had
been almost continuously from the time he
was college boy. Poetic, artistic, Of gentle
and beautiful perceptions. intuitions and
imaginings, John Hay was yet. first Of
ALL man who was master Of himself and of
the circumstances he would shape to his ends.
A very remarkable personality--a product
of the West at a time of its ruggedness. yet
flower OF the graces Of courts. a poet. but not
a dreamer a man of the polite world. a stu
dent, a clear and shrewd observer in fact. a
very good type Of the Americanism of his
generation. A Cont EMPoRARY.
NEW YORK. July 1.
Danger Signals for Railroads.
From the Railroad Gazette.
The existence on a high speed track Of facing
point without distant signal protection stands
out as a clement Of danger In ar q he r,Uisa