New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-01

ton and publication, this book at least
avoids the characteristic dulness Of
most such prints. There il really
rot dull page in It. while most Of its
rages are instinct with warm. pulsat-
ing vitality, and with q human SYM
pathy the charm Of which IS IRE
sistible. The monotonous Official typog-
raphy is at least finely legible. More
over. the volume is adorned with
wealth of excellent illustrations which
alone would make it of exceptional in
terest. II would probably be impos-
sible to find in any other work any
thing like such an array Of Greeley
portraits and of scenes associated with
the great publicist's life and work. /.
IS veritabe Greeley gallery.
The text Of the volume, apart from a
few passages of narrative and descrip-
tion, consists chiefly OF addresses on
various memorial occasions, newspaper
tributes, etc, and number of reprints
of letters and articles by Greeley him
self OF the former Of these we may
gladly witness that they generally
avoid the fault which we have mem
toned as marking too many utterances
about Greeley, and that they are marked
with the very qualities which their illus
trious theme deserves. There is a
notable variety of addresses and
printed tributes, regarding their sub
iect from almost every conceivable
point Of view and presenting the con-
ceptiOns and estimates of him which
have been formed in great variety Of
minds. There are some from men who
were his contemporaries, co-laborers
and close friends. There are some from
men who were not yet born when he
died, and whose lives and training have
been quite antipathetic 10 his. Yet
there is not one which we could wish
had been left unuttered.
1t may be that speakers and writers,
like holders of public place, rise TO the
height Of their occasion. In the lounge
room OF the club, or in post-prandial
persifage. men may chatter all sorts Of
frivolous inventions. But when a cen
tenary is TO be celebrated, or com
handing memorial is 10 be dedicated,
the inspiration Of the theme possesses
them 20 the exclusion of lesser things.
SO II comes that these various utter
ances upon Greeley form a singularly
judicious and instructive symposium,
which may 90 far toward indicating not
only the outlines but also much of the
detail and even the cOloring Of the de-
fnitive life of Greeley which must some
day he written. And the variety of
their sources and Of their tones is the
more valuable because of the almost in
finite variety Of their subject.
Greeley has. 1t is true, often. if not
haoituaily been spoken OF as a man Of
simple character and simple life.
That adjective has been applied TO him
more than almost any other; and il is
quite true. Yet. paradOXIcal as it may
seem, while simple, he was bewildcr-
ingly complex. His interests and sym
pathies were as extensive and as varied
as the human race itself. He touched
human life at an uncounted multitude
Of vital points, and-a5 was written OF
far less mamie touched nothing
that he did not adorn, or that he did
not enrich with some measure Of his
Astounding benefcence. IL has been a
commonplace TO speak of him as the
greatest editor of his land and time
and one Of the greatest of all lands
and times. lie was. One of his eulo-
Cists il this volume declares him 10
have been perhaps the greatest politi-
cal force that this country ever knew,
except Thomas jefferson. OF his in
fucnce in the cause of labor. his i'm
petus toward Western colonization, his
work for temperance and social sani-
tation, his interest in popular educa-
ton. his championship OF civil and re-
ligious freedom the world around, too
much is likely never to be said.
This volume ia, therefore, TO he well
coined as a more than ordinarily valu-
able contribution TO permanent litera-
ture, even though it be literature in
the rough. II appears opportunely with
the completion of three quarters Of Il
century Of the life Of the journal which
Greeley founded, and which, as he in
often quoted phrases so eloquently
hoped, has lived after him for many