The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02
TEE JOHN HAY or TIE SEVEN
TIES,
"Reminiscences Of His Career In New York
Generation Ago.

/ - - WIN AAh1 Os 80
"Reminiscences Of His Career In New Ysrh
Generatisn Ago.
To THE EDITOR OF The BUN-ST: 1t wal
my privilege to know John Hay somewhat
Intimately during the period between 1916
and 1875, when he was in New York. At that
time he was q remarkably handsome YOUNG
man. with q peaches and cream coloring OF
complexion which might have suggested
something OF effsnninacy to those who saw
him only casually. About him also were a
grace Of bearing and Q refined delicacy OF e1-
precision which. remember, struck mo at
first with some surprise. considering the ante
cedents of his early Western surroundings
and tho rough and tearing labors through
| which he had gone as o secretary OF Abrah
Lincoln during the civil war. Underneath
these outward appear ances almost suggestive
| of the fnical found. however. there were Wig
| orous masculine strength Of intellect. com
mon sense and q pr actical Western way OF look
Ing at things. He was far from the spoiled
darling" OF the drawing room which to a
casual observer he might seem.
! In his temperament and the cast Of his mind
there was, however. much that was distinc-
lively artistic and poetic. He was natural
writer. graceful, OF quick intuitive percep-
tions. and OF charming literary FORM and az
that time any eminence 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 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 in his choice
Of associates was it made apparent. even to
many Of those with whom he-xas on terms
oP init m nj ho nd other than
purely professional journalistic interest in
the larger and deeper affairs Of politics and OF
State. During that period, however, John
Hay was handling editoraly 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 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 we'll compacted and had
in 1t quality of distinction. He was. by all
odds, the ablest 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 New 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 az q
secretary to Lincoln only three years after
his graduation from Brown University. and
during the whole period Of the terrible strain
OF the OWL war he had been brought into the
closest familiarity with the great questions
was work to make man OF him. to develop
in him reserve. judgment and critical per-
ception TO give to him maturity. AT u time
when his appearance was almost boyish.
When John Hay went to Paris as Secretary
of Legation after Lincoln's death, our Minis
ter there was the Hon. John Bigelow. who
has spoken to me often of the knowledge and
ability and natural diplomatic aptitude. of
his young assistant. 1t was critical period
of the empire of Louis Napoleon. whose for
eign policy had turned out so disastrously.
and Hay was u quick learner in that troubl6us
school of politics. Afterward he was Charge
dAffaires at Vienna. and just previously to
his arrival in New York he had been Secre
tary of Legation at Madrid under Gen, Siokles
1t was 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 q seemingly delicate and poetic
refinement which unified him for the rugged
work of life he was really cool. hard headed
and OF a knowing worldly sense remarkable
at any age. John Hay never rushed after
illusions; he was never intoxicated by the
sense OF beauty which was so strong In him.
He gave to practical advantages their due
recognition. He never lost his 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
az Amba ssador to England and as Secretary
OF State. To those OF US who remember him
when he was in New York. handsome. grace
ful. youthful, dainty in tastes, the freQuenter |
of artists studios aud literary circles. his !
subsequent and rapid development into the /,
foremost figure In international diplomacy !
has seemed something marvellous. 1t was
the evolution least expected Of him. We |
looked rather to his becoming bright orna-
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 a college boy Poetic. artistic. Of gentle /
and beautiful perceptions. intuitons and
magiuings. John Hay was yet. first of
all. man who was master Of himself and Of |
the circumstances he would shape to his ends
very remarkable personalities product !
Of the West at time Of It's rpgeedness. yet a /
flower Of the Rrsces Of courts. a poet. but not
a dreamer. man Of the polite world, a stu
dent, q clear and shrewd observer: in fact, a |
very good typo Of the Amercansm Of his |
generation. A CONTEMPORARY.
NEW YORK, July 1.
Danger Signals for Railroads
From the Railroad Gdsette.
The existence on hiRh specd track Of A facing