The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard TaylorConwell, Russell H.
General
The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor
Conwell, Russell H.
Taylor, Bayard, 1825-1878
In the editorial room of the New York “Tribune” sat the editor, whose
name is being written higher, on the list of America’s great men, by
every succeeding year. To his quick eye, there was promise of noble
things in the countenance of the boy. He had himself been a venturesome,
ambitious, penniless boy, and, like Bayard, he had boldly pushed his boat
into the dangerous billows. He may have remembered Benjamin Franklin’s
hazardous trip, as a boy, to Philadelphia, for Bayard was mentioned
by Mr. Willis as a young man from the Quaker city. Whatever may have
been his thoughts, he treated Bayard with his usual consideration, and
informed the youth that he was ready to publish and pay for all letters
that were worth inserting in the “Tribune.” But he solemnly warned Bayard
against attempting to write anything until he knew enough about the
country to write intelligently. Bayard told Mr. Greeley that he would
try to get acquainted with the people of Germany and their institutions,
and, as soon as he felt competent, would send a few letters for Mr.
Greeley’s criticism. The busy editor nodded as the boy thanked him, bade
him good-day, and, doubtless, instantly forgot there had ever been such a
visitor; and left the fact in oblivion, until it was brought to mind some
months afterwards by the arrival of a letter from Germany.
Mr. Willis told Bayard, as he said afterwards, to keep up his courage,
and go forward: “The way to Valhalla is broad and smooth to the hero,
but narrow and dangerous to the coward.” It appears by the brief account
which is given in the introduction to his “Views Afoot,” published by
Putnam & Sons, New York, that the party had a difficult task to find
a vessel in which the accommodations, rates of passage, and port of
destination were within their plan. They intended at first to take a
vessel direct for the Continent; but in such of them as were bound for
continental ports, the fare was too high. They were, however, on the
point of taking passage in a Dutch sailing vessel, the consignees of
which were acquaintances of Mr. Willis, and consequently made some
reduction in the fares, when an opportunity offered itself for a steerage
passage in a vessel bound for Liverpool. In that way, they would be
conveyed to England for the sum of twenty-four dollars. But such a
passage! Think of it, ye disconsolate, fault-finding tourists, who lie in
the soft beds of a steamer, with fresh air and plenty of light! Think of
it, ye sufferers that occupy the great forward hall of a steamship, and
who curse your fate that you are compelled to take a steerage passage!
What would you do or say should you be crowded into a cabin of rough
planks, eight feet long, and seven feet wide, with nine passengers and
eight narrow berths, in a clumsy, dirty little sailing vessel? Yet
this was the young adventurer’s choice, rather than expend the small
sum of twenty-five dollars from his small store. These three boys were
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account