The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
DEAN STANLEY AT THE CLUB.
An Incident OF the Famous English Clergy
mans Visit 10 America.


"In 1878 or t~hereabouts,- said a man, Il
was a green reporter in New York. I
follow ed that line for a year or two and
che only noteworthy thing l did was TO he
che unwilling instrument Of handing to
one of h worlds most amous men the
humblest moment OF his life.
1T was in 1873 or 1879 that Arthur Penrhyn
Stanley, dear of Westminster, visited
America His position was, perhaps, more
conspicuous than that OF any other living
clergyman.
He was greatly honored by Queen
Victoria. IL was he who preached the
funeral sermons for Carlyle and Lord
Beaconsfeld. 1t was Queen Victoria who
gave him the prOudest moments of his life;
It was who, all unwittingly and UNIV illingly,
gave him his humblest moment.
while he vas in New York Dean Stanley
was most Of the time the guest Of Cyrus
West Field, the man who became world
famous by demonstrating the practical
oility Of ocean telegraphy. honored and
decorated by kings, and whom Ohm Bright
pronounced the Columbus Of modern times,
who by his cable has moored the New World
alongside the Old
One aft aInoon the city editor told me
W call al air. Fields house in the evening
and find how his distinguished guest had
spent the day. Mr.. + ield received me
civilly and gave me the Information.
Il asked him what was the programme
for the following day. and he said the first
thing was TO be a breakfast to Dean Stanley
at ii O'Clock at the Century Club. ! asked
him if Dean Stanley would speak.
Most likely, said Mr.. Field, he will have
something to say
Then t will be his first public or semi
public utterance since arriving in America
-'Ses, replied Mr.. Field. but rather
semi-public than public
"'Can / get imp | inquired.
NO said Mr.. Field, for 1t is against the
rules of the club to have n reporters
present
How about guests?' I asked.
Each member OF the club, | think, may
invite two guests he said.
will you invite me as one Of your guesrs?'
1 asked.
l ought TO do that, but
But | interrupted. Dean Stanley's
first formal ak in America will be very
interesting 10 Americans, and they will
want TO know what he said, and | very much
want 20 report it.
Mr.. Field was silent for a moment Then
he said;
10 the club a little before II in the morning,
send you card TO me, and maybe you will
get in"
THE next morning, when / began to
dress for the breakfast at which / hoped to
get a seat-there have been times in my life
when | wanted a breakfast mighty bad, but
never another time when l wanted one 50
badly as | wanted this one-I was In a guam
dairy as TO What l should wear. Mr.. Field
had told me the names of some Of the guests
who were TO be there. and / figured that l
would be as inconspicuous In evening clothes
among them as in a morning suit.
80 | went around in a dress suit and
black tie, and, greatly 10 my relief, found a
majority Of the men in sight were similarly
attired.
Il sent my card TO Mr.. Field and he came
and spoke to me pleasantly, introducing me
TO three OF four men whom he greeted at the
same time. When breakfast was announced
l went in with them.
1T was like the ordinary breakfast 10 a
distinguished guest, and everything went
smoothly for me until the guest OF honor
was introduced and arose. Dean Stanley
was a rosy faced little Englishman, full OF
good humor and very much at home on such
an occasion.
When he began To speak your humble
servant got busy. Nv left arm Law in my
lap and on the shirt cuff | was making
pot hooks intently, but, ] hoped, %unostenta-
%tiOusly.
Suddenly Dean Stanley stopped speak
ing. Looking down the tables toward
where | was sitting he said. very gravely:
Gentlemen. { his is the humblest moment
Of my life!'
Then he went on to say that he was not
used To American ways. but the last thing
he anticipated was that in an exclusive club
he should find hls remarks being taken
down in shorthand, presumably for publ
cation. There m Ist have been something
in the looks OF the other guests. most of
them elderly men and very used to Ameri-
car ways, which told him that the incident
did not strike them as particularly out
rageous for his manner became less grave
and he wound up his allusion to the incident
in a half humorous way that seemed TO
be intended to assure those present that he
had not taken offence.
Was ! embarrassed Well, never mind
me-. The rest Of the Deans talk I reported
from nor