He was one of the most popular and polished gentlemen ever sent as ambassador to a European nation, and as such his presence at the Court of Saint James was highly appreciated by the English people.  When, in 1884, on the election of Cleveland to the presidency, he prepared to leave London, many glowing tributes were paid him by the English press, but none was more hearty than this, printed in Punch: 

  Send you away?  No, Lowell, no. 
    That phrase, indeed, is scarce well chosen. 
  We’re glad, of course, to have you go
    More like a brother than a cousin;
  True, we must “speed the parting guest,”
    If such a guest from us must sever;
  But what we all should like the best
    Would be to keep you here forever.

  You’ve won our hearts; your words, your ways,
    Are what we like.  Without desiring
  To sicken you with fulsome praise,
    We think you’ve seen no signs of tiring. 
  Of graceful speech, of pleasant lore,
    How much to you the English mind owes! 
  We’re sad to think we’ll see no more
    Of you—­save through your Study Windows.

  Well, well, the best of friends must part;
    That’s commonplace, like Gray, but true, sir. 
  Commend us to the Yankee heart;
    If you can come again, why, do, sir. 
  What Biglow calls our “English sarse,”
    Is not all tarts and bitters, is it? 
  Farewell!—­if from us you must pass,
    But try, do try, another visit!

After his return from England, Mr. Lowell did comparatively little literary work.  Some years before this, he had married the lady who was educating his only daughter.  He now spent the most of his time at Elmwood among his books and in the society of his friends.  In 1888 a volume of his later poems appeared, bearing the title of “Heartsease and Rue.”  About the same time “Democracy,” a collection of the addresses which he had delivered in England, was published.  But neither of these volumes added materially to his fame.

On the twelfth of August, 1891, the famous poet, essayist, and man of affairs died.  He was nearly seventy-three years of age.

* * * * *

[NOTE.—­The thanks of the publishers are due Messrs. Harper & Brothers for permission to use extracts from “Letters of James Russell Lowell, edited by Charles Eliot Norton,” and to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. for permission to use extracts from the Poetical Works of Lowell.]

THE STORY OF BAYARD TAYLOR

[Illustration:  BAYARD TAYLOR.]

BAYARD TAYLOR

CHAPTER I

HIS BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD