The St. Landry whig., 1844-09-12
i c-,1,AMnous.
IN TWO cnAfrERs,-cHArrER ONE.
UarE1ropTA,
OR A ~DuTcnMAN's vrsIr TO rnE REALMS OF
FUTURITV.

Ofthe anecdotes that my grandfather used to
relate, as ] hung, while an urchin, on the old
gentleman's knee, | well remember some stories
of the Dutch philosopher, Jacobus Dyckman,
who must have been no inconsiderable charac-
ter in his time. 1t appears that he flourished
in the city of New York about the year 1890,
Fand lived for a number of years in a small, queer
looking ediiice at the south end of William street,
and which was standing as late as the year
| 1850.
The recovery from oblivion of a curious Dutch
MS, which / accidentally discovered in my am
%cester'ss library, has furnished certain other par
~iiculars of the life and times Of Jacobus, IN many
respects corroborating the truth of my grand
parents stories.
It appears that Doctor Jacobus Dyckmon was
what is a rara dpiS IN tearis nowadays, both a
theoretical and practical philosopher. He be-
came noted throughout the isle of Manahatta
when quite a youth, for his love of the simple
and sensible ways Of his forelathers, and his dire
hostility to any deviation from them, whether for
the better or worse. Onthis account he was in
great repute with a large majority Of his fellow
townsmen, who entirely agreed with him.
As he grew in experience and wisdom, his
popularity and influence extended, until ulti.
mately he was regarded, by common consent
as possessing the soundest skull in the settlement
Like some Of the ancient philosophers, Jacobus
might be said to have been the founder of a
school; for his opinions We're ever at varience
with divers of the notions entertained by cotem
porary sages--especially those who mined Al
oyerthrowing the established order of things
and, like them, too, he was wont to expount
his doctrines to his disciples, not exactly from g
porch, or beneath the shades of a grove, hut ii
| AZ. H., nn~,, ~ Nj In,, N 49, ba3ol .,,nm
known at that time as the sign of thc mug
At this distant period it is difficult to explain
the precise character Of DR.. Dyckman's philoso
ply, for few vestiges Of it have escaped oblivion
but from the relics extant, it is obvious that thu
doctor-peradventure he never heard of The
man-was Il stickler for the doctrines of Dioge
mes. There is reason to believe that the chic
feature Of his philosophy was O mortal hatred tt
all quackery, including poetry, love, learning
and Improvements Of all kinds.
He thought that the necessities Of man wert
confined TO a few simple wants, among which
were food, shelter, and an occasional swigere
of beer and just in the ratio that men swerve.
from this ~salutary rule, and chased after object
Of mere fanciful utility, they became poets an'
madmen. The common saying Of the doctor OF
this subject was, what has since been tortureC
into poetry by some remorseless rhyn1estcr
MAR wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long"
With this idea ever in his head, the docto
was a sturdy and formidable enemy TO the en-
croachments Of improvement, which he pro
nounced to be another name for qaackery. o.
all occasions he would lift up his voice agains
il; and so powerful was the influence Of hi
opinions, thai for many years not a change Of ain.
consequence occurred in the government, laws
customs or habits Of the worthy Inhabitants .
Gotham. If Gov. Kieft conceived the idea Of
new regulation for the welfare of the citizens, hi
was sure TO incur the opposition Of DIR. Dyck
man, and the projected improvement was there
upon abandoned with precipitation. Ifn dcvia