The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-21
NOTED men HONOR
LOWELL'S MEMORY
Tlfhu Root Presides at Dinner
Attended by British and
American Scholars.
gALsWORTHY A SPEAKER
Brander Matthews Tells of
Genius of Writer and
Ambassador.

n was agreed last night by all the
speakers at a dinner held to oommemo-
rata the centennial Of the birth Of James
Russell Lowell. and attended by notable
representatives Of American and British
art and science, that Lowell as a man
Of letters had conceived his talents TO
DO trust reposed in him for the bet
tsrment Of all mankind, and that the
trust OF which he was 80 fully conscious
should be assumed as an ideal and a
tradition by American and English liter
ary men Of to-day.
The dinner. with Eliifu Root presiding,
was held in the Ritz-Carlton under the
auspices OF the American Academy Of
Arts and Sciences and the National In
stitute Of Arts and Letters. The prin-
eipal representatives of English letters
were Alfred Noyes, poet, and John Gals
worthy, novelist and playwright Men
eminent In American, English and Cana
dian art and science and noted for
their achievements in widely divergent
branches OF learning and public service
were at tables all through the room.
The speakers, with Mr.. Root. were Mr..
Gslsworthy, DR.. Brander Matthews Of
Columbia University and Maurice Hut
Ton, president Of University College.
Toronto.
The duty of literary men to draw
from the life of Lowell the lesson that
their mastery of the written word in
vests them with the obligation to en-
ploy Il to keep the lights OF truth and
Justice clear before men, and to bring
them, especially at this crisis in the
worlds history and affairs. to full
understanding of the meaning OF civili-
sation's triumphs. and their cost. was
pointed out almost at the beginning OF
Ills speech by Mr.. Root as he rose e.
present the other speakers.
Tells of Lowell's Services.
Upon the score that his own labors
had been but slightly In the domain Of
literature, he spoke only briefly. or
Lovell's services as his country's Min
ster to Great Britain, Mr.. Root could
speak with better authority. he said.
But he was sure that the fitness for the
post Of diplomat which Lowell showed
so sgnally had its foundations In the
broad understanding he had acquired OF
the English as we'll as the American
heart through his deep understanding OF
the literature OF the two nations. And
Lowell's achievements as an Ambassa-
dor were important and permanent
through his having been in the first In
stance a writer, scholar and critic.
Mr.. Roots speech. like those of the
men who followed him. dwelt with
emphasis on the valuable services Of
Lowell in bringing together this and the
English nation. between which. preced-
ing his Enthusiastically. wide gulf
Of estIangement lay.
But Mr.. Galsworthy, a writing man
himself. having paid due homage to
Lowells memory and attainments. spoke
forcefully to his literary brethren Of
the obligation which Lowell. having car
He'd 1t all his life. had passed directly
down to them.
What is 1t we seek he said. Gin
this motley OF our lives? To what end
do we play the multifarious traffic OF
civilization? Is it that we may become
rich and satisfy a material caprice, ever
growing with the opportunity OF salts
faction? Is 1t that may, OF set and
conscious purpose, always be getting
the better Of one another? Is 1t even
that OF no conscious purpose we may
mound the roads OF life at top speed
and blindly use up our little energies?
Galsworthy Outlines Ideals.
y cannot think go, Surely, in dim
sort We are trying to realize human
happiness. trying to reach a far OF
goal Of health and kindness and beauty.
'rying to live so that those qualities
which make us human beings should be
ever more exalted above the habits and
PASSIONS we share with the tiger. the
ostrich and the ape.
And so I would ask, What will be-
come OF all our reconstruction In these
Jays II 1t be informed and guided solely
ny the spirit OF the market place? Do
trade, material prosperity and the
a5undance of creature comforts guaran-
tee that we advance toward our real
goal? Material comfort in abundance
= no bad thing. ! confess to a con-
siderable regard for 1t. But for true
progress 1t is but fight consort.
Il can we'll see the wreckage from
he world storm completely cleared
away. the fields of life ploughed and
,anted, but no wheat grown there
which can feed the spirit OF man and
Asip its stature. What power and in
flence can we exert?
There is one at least: The proper and
oNalted use of this great and splendid
instrument, our common language.
Speech is action. words are deeds. in a
Sophisticated world; we cannot watch
our winged words too closely. Let us