New-York tribune., 1910-12-10
HOMAGE TO JOHN B|CELOW'
Laughter, Too, When Nonagen-
arian Confesses Visit to Dentist.
HUMOR IN IMPROMPTU TALK
Genealogical and Bio
graphical Society When Pre-
sented as Author.

graphical Society When Pre-
sented as Author
John Bigelow made the audience laugh
almost at every sentence in his speech that
was entirely unexpected. even hz- himself.
at the New York Genealogical and R:o-
graphical Society Yesterday afternoon
He was detained. he said. by his dentist.
Even when he referred to the dentist WITH
bitterness there was laughter He assured
the audience that between having e sub
nit 10 the exasperatiug demands of the
man with the tweezers and the making If
an impromptu speech. there was oppoT-
tunitv for mental speculation concerning
the experience 'twere best % avoid. To be
the chief performer at both occasions in
one afternoon. Just two weeks 70 the day
after ones ninety-third birthday. might
With modesty II was Whispered round
E bout. t,e construed bv Mr. Rigelov as
marvellous But as for Mr.. Bigeiow. he
did not mention MS age anv more than he
locked II which was not at all.
For forty-one years. o. since 1864. when
the society was established. the sessions
have been in the evening The meeting
yesterday afternoon was arranged so that
Mr.. RigeIow might he the guest Of honor
Charles Francis Adams. Of Boston. prest-
dent Of the Massachusetts Historical So
ciety. read 4 paper entitled. Our Civil
War and the Diplomatic Complications OF
That Period Joseph II. Choate was sit
ting on the platform listening intently 70
the address when there was rustic
throughout the crowded room as John
Rfgelow strobe unassisfed down the aisle to
the speakers stand Air. Adams stopped
in the middle OF a sentence. and. hurrying
to the edge Of the platform. earnestly shook
Mr.. Bigelow's hand. saying not word. He
made as If TO assist Mr.. Bigelow up the
steps but Mr.. Bigelow would have none OF
that. The applause that had been with
held by some tense indecision as TO what
the audience should do broke spontaneous
y with the agile stepping up to the plat
form of the sixty-year-old scholar OF the
ninety--three birthdays.
Mr. BigeIow in Seat of Honor
Mr.. BigeIow sat in the seat of honor. with
Mr.. Choate on his right. His face was
rudy, his hair and whiskers were gray. not
snite, as though they had begun TO turn
from black perhaps five years ago He was
introduced as the author of a book in three
big volumes. the fourth in preparation and
the fifth volume hoped for by US all AT
the same time it was announced that Mr..
BigeIow had been promised immunity and
need not speak therefore
With a smile that was engaging in its
sparkling good humor. Mr.. Bigelow said:
II have been introduced to you as an
author whose claim 70 your attention is
based upon a book remarkable for its size
and its incompleteness. I had no right TO
be called to this place on the strength of
my -Retrospections of a Long Life, be-
cause the work cannot he Judged as
whole until il has come 70 an end. and
there is no end TO it. I was a little late
getting here because I have just come out
of the exaCting grasp Of .. dentist | have
been greatly interested in Mr.. Adan1s's
splendid paper dealing with an episode Of
that time when our government was in
danger. Government of the people. by the
people and for the people had never been
an issue before and I trust never will be
again
Mr. Bigelow commented further upon the
address and then said:
But Mr.. Adams is the son of an orator.
and / not being an orator nor the son of
an orator, nor the kinsman Of an orator
blush TO think how long I have spoken in
the presence Of one of the worlds greatest
orators. ladies and gentlemen. Mr.
Choate'
Address by Mr.. Adams
Mr. Adams's address was based upon
the diary Of his father. United States Min
lister ar London during the years OF the
Civil War. He told OF the threatened inter
vention by England on behalf of the Con-
federacy in October, 1862 He said:
AT the critical moment Russell. disre-
garding GIadstone's indiscreet disclosures.
was disposed 10 60 forward in the policy of
recognition and Intervention; il was Palm
erston who hesitated and called a halt.
The Premier was not disposed 70 forego
the opportunity of disciplining indis-
Greet colleague whom he thoroughly dis
liked even though by so doing the recogni-
ton of the Confederacy was postponed In
the event. that postponement proved final
Then and there the dice unknowfngly had
been cast Nearly three years later, when
the COnfederacy was in its death agony,
Lee mournfully confessed that he had never
believed il could, in the long run, make
good its independence unless foreign pow
ers should directly or indirectly assist it in
so doing"
SlF. ChCaIe pdld d warm uIDut" 10 the
speakers father who. he said, deserved
monument at Westminster well as at
Washington. and was followed by General
James Grant Wilson. The audience was
preparing TO leave the room. when Mr..
BigeIow arose and said:
Just minute addressing Mr. Adams
Was the letter that Seward wrote 10 your
father giving him instructions as TO his
official conduct ever published?"
Assured that it had been, Mr.. Bigelow
apologized and said:
1T is strange I seem 70 have for
gotten it