The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-27

|
to commence the publication of this curious, phi
losophica Platonic, interesting ecstatic, extraor-
binary, funny, and amusing correspondence, writ
| ten by Chevalier Henry Wikof, during the time
that he esred in triumph this country, and
attended to the engagements and the business Of
Fanny Essler, OF the most brilliant artists that
ever appeared in this or any other age.
This correspondence begins in May, 1910, and
ends in May, lS43-making three years, and three
years, too, of more extraordinary events--wonder-
full gyrations-Platonic experiments spiritual ava
kenings-and patriotic impulses, than ever dis
tlnguished any three years since Abraham left
Mesapotamia, or Moses crossed the Red Sea,
never looking behind at all. Within the compass
OF these three years, it will be recoected, that the
Bunker Hill Monument was finished This of it.
self sufficient to mark that period OF the year as
most distinguished era in this present remarkable
age.
We will show also, by this correspondence, the
extraordinary efforts made by ChevaGer WikoH III
completing and finishing the spiritual, philoso-
phical, Platonlc education of Fanny Elssler-that
beauteous danseuse, who received the first elements
Of her education from distinguished German
statesman, whose name we have now forgotten,
but it was something like Getz,o or Gitz, or Gutz; but
it was reserved for Chevalier Wikof with the as
sistance, the Indispensable assistance the unbought
assistance of the NeU York Hcrald to complete
that education, and to spiritualize and Platonize
one Of the most extraordinary beings that ever ap-
peared in the world. All this, too, was under
taken by the chevalier from the impulses OF a
lofty devotion to the fine arts; and although
it cost him $4,000 in the course of these three
years, still he considers the money well laid out,
and that it yields more in the recollection Of the
pleasure it brought him, than even the Illinois
bonds which he put into the hands of Duff Green,
wherewih to establish the new, moral ''Pig and
Whistle Gazette" But this career, and this CHI
valric expedition had two purposes-to make the
| fortune of Fanny Elssler, and to spritualize her
original mind and imprisoned sensibilites. Both
these objects the chevalier accomplished, by the
aid of our "wonderul pufis as he calls them, and
repeats again and again. For says he, "there is
no man but you, dear Bennett, in New York, that
can write paragraph-there is no man in the
United Statesmen even in Europe-and doubt
whether there ever was snch man Won. dear
Bennett, at paragraph! ~
In this correspondence, too, besides the phlloso-
ply, the Platon;sm, and the money-making part Of
it-besides the patriotism of finishing Bunker Hill
monument, and of aiding the funds of fremen-
| and Of playing at bene6is-and besides the beauti-
full and piquant description of fishing for minnows
at Coney Island, and of the row there, which was
quelled by the Governor of that renowned territory
and besides the account also of the quarrel with
Stout, the sculptor, in relation TO statue
of Fanny Elssler, principally on account OF
some drapery-besides all these things, the
correspondence will contain some very preg.
nant illusions to many of our contemporaries
In this correspondence, it will be seen how Cheva.
ler Wikof walks into that celebrated financier
Moses Y. Beach, on the score OF morals; how he
takes tain Vauxhall slice out of Gen. George p.
Morris how he knocks off the head of one Tom
Nichols; how he shows up with the power of a
Goethe the humbug fashionables of Boson--and
how he cuts it thick into Simpson and Blake of the
Park Theatre, on account of boxes, engagements,
tickets, auctions, and God knows what
So much for to-day. This is only an inkling OF
what is coming We shall begin with the begin.
ming of next week, and end probably by the end OF
next month. In the mean time we have only to
say, that Chevalier Wikof is on the turning point
of his great career in this word-that he is en-
gagged in very doubtful enterprise-and that if he
does not take care, the only end he can come to
will be to lose all his money and come to the fol.
lowing result: