The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-11

FATHER MATHEW AND HIS FRIENps.-In this
metropolis, as in other large cities, we have
number of busy, meddling, officiOus persOnages,
" no are always on the ook out tor some opportu-
nifty of occupying the public eye. They are tor
mented by continual itching for notorieiy, in any
form or shape When they succeed in getting
their names into the newspapers, they are in
frenzy of delight. One of the principal means of
publicity of which these creatures availthemselves
is presented the arrival of any stranger who has
made himself famous In any particular line of
human exertion or human eccentricity. On such
occasions, they buzz around the newcomer, like
swarm of wasps around a cask of moasses. They
seize on the victim as their lawful and predesuned
prey they crowd him, crush him, bespatter him,
pull him. haul him, worry him, tease him, sting
him, praise him, stun him, hoax him, slcken him
all but kill him with their dsinterested and I'M
paralleled kindness
Fathew Mathew has not escaped the usual in
fiictlon: indeed, he has been perfect god-send
to ambitious 60 marshals" and aspiring philanthro-
psts, and illustrious common-council men, not
sa tisfed with the imperishable honors won on the
Tenth Of May. Indeed, there has been such
press made by these gentry about the reverend
iather-such halo of glory has surrounded him,
in his satellites, that we have hardly yet had a
chance TO inspect the features study the charac-
ter of the good man himself. The dust of his re-
ception was so thick, that the hero of the scene
was all but invisible. Surrounded by crowd Of
so many distinguished friends and admirers, "the
noise and confusion have been so great as to
prevent the Father from being himself heard. The
public eye was dazzled by the spendor of the cere-
monial of his emtrfe into the city. So many illus
trious Smiths, and Jackson and Thomsons, and
Browns, and Vanderdunkens, and McShanes, and
other magnifcoes with names which the world, or
the natural progress of human events,
"Will not willingly let die"
thronged about the apostle, hung upon his skirts
and trod upon his toes, that he himself, the real
hero, the genuine &c ion," the true attraction OF
the day, was thrown altogether in the shade. Now,
however, the illustnous Smiths, and Jacksons,
and Thompsons, and Browns, and Vanderdunkers,
and McShanes, and all the other magnfcoes have
had their wishes. Their names have been made
immortal in the newspapers. The boys have feast.
ed their eyes on their scarfs and their batons, and
their banners and their prancing steeds. All Broad
way has been dazzed by the grand procession Of
the city authorities and their brilliant cortfge Al
last the dust clears away. The noise subsidies
The satellites consent to withdraw themselves fol
a season from the public gaze. The wasps have
toasted themselves and await the next victim. So
Father Mathew himself is now visible, to be known
and read of all men.
We like Father Mathew. We recognise in him
a true philsnthropist. His is the charity of the
gospel of Christ, and his philosophy comes from
the same source. He does not come before the
world with splendid schemes for the reformation
of the race, which set out by overtuming the whole
social system, and promising paradise on earth,
if men would only consent to relinquish all hopes
Of heaven. lie holds that the genuine reformer
must begin with the individual, and the means of
regeneration which he employs are the weapons of
reason, of argument, of moral suasion, of Christian
charity. Hence his success. God speed him and
his work