The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-04

Snowman, Journalist and Diplomat-The
New York Herald and the London Times.
The official certificates brought forward by
the Chevalier Wikoff, in the "lamentable
comedy of bis adventures with Mlss Gamble,
establishing his late diplomatic association with
Lord Palm, rston, have proved to be exceed
iDgly ~perplexing to the iacredulous directory
of the London Times. They are evidently dis
GUESSING a mystery in discussing Wikoff, or
Nichoff, as they blunderingly Russianize him;
and yet, in lacking him on to the New YORK
herald as an editorial diplomat Of the Gear,
they betray a knowledge Of the real character
Of the Chevalier, which could hardly have been
derived from conjecture. They must have seen
their man, or consulted H. u. Addingto1, or
Mr.. Bates, or the diplomatic Mrs. Grote, or,
peradventure, the cruel and intractable Miss
Gamble herself, in anticipation Of the Court
ship and its Consequences"
In order, however, to enlighten our London
cotemporaries respecting the diplomatic Office
Of Wikoff under my Lord Palmerston, and his
present alleged engagement in New York as an
emissary of Russia, we deem it worth the
candle to give an outline of his whole public
career, from his departure hence beyond the
seas, some twenty odd years ago, with q for
tune in his pocket, in quest Of adventures, down
to the unfortunate issue of his Italian cam
paigns in pursuit Of the hand, or " half the
income" OF the incomprehensible and inaexible
Miss Gamble.
Some twenty odd years ago, then, the Che.
Waller Wikoff, of Philadelphia, possessed of a
collegiate education, q fortune, youth, q good
figure, talents, confidence, ambition, and q fix d
resolution to enjoy himself and make a noise in
the word, went over to Europe. After a time
he returned, bringing with him the embodi-
ment Of a pr odigious sensation in the person Of
Fanny Elssler. Under his managerial protec-
ton she danced all over the United States
creating a perfect furore, and coming money
by thousands in every enraptured city. 1t is
difficult to say, even now, when the s0eteniug
Influences of time ought to insure an impartial
judgment--it i hard to say whether the glori-
Gus legs of Fanny, the danseuse, or the won.
derful voice OF Jenny, the nightingale, carried
of the premium in this country, in public en-
thusiasm We rather think that Wlkoff and
Fanny were the more rap.urously received,
while, owing to the subsequent discovery of the
California gold mines, jnst in the nick OF time
fer the nightingale, we guess that Barnum and
Jenny gathered up much the larger contribu-
tions Of solid cash.
This victorious enterprise with "the Elssler"
gives us the first professional vocation Of WI
koff. 1t was the profession Of a Snowman, d la
Barnum, and had be been equally successful in
his subsequent characters of journalist, diplo-
mat, and lover, he might now be the envicd
master Of q winter palace in Paris, a summer
villa on Lake Como, "a shooting box on the
Upper Mississippi, " and the happy husband Of
the lost heiress, with all her income, said to be
not less than the interest of one hundred thou.
sand pounds sterling. But in dropping the
Snowman to become journalist, Wikoff com-
mitted a fatal blunder. His success with 'ithe
Elssler" indicated his proper calling; and he
should have followed it up, as BArnum did his
European mission with Tom Thumb, with other
attractive novelties AID celebrities. Barnum
acted wisely. He had dabbled a little in jour
nalism himself but it was not his calling, aud
same thing. Pity he didn't.
He became o journalist. He get up q demo-
cratic paper in New York, but 1t fell through.
Democratic party papers always do fall
through in New York. He next tried the
higher branches Of his party politics in
the Democratic Monthly Rerie,c. But that,
too, proved a losing investment, and he sold
the concern at q sacrifice. Next, we believe,
be made q dashing experiment in the mcrcan-
tile line, under the attractive title Of the Can
ton Tea Company; but for the want Of a good
agent of Canton, or some other cause, this en-
terprise also proved a failure.
But our elastic and ambitions Chevalier was
rot the man "to give it mp 60" In lsi9 the
reaction from the European revolutionary re-
WILSON'S of 1913, opened up an inviting field
for extra diplomacy at London and Paris, COM
pretending the newly developed important re-
laliopsbf the Old World with the New. This
was. perhaps. the true Geld for the talents, ex-
perience, and sagacity Of Wikof-the field of
supplemental diplomacy. So he reappeared
in Europe and having previously visited
Louis Napoleon in his prison a. fam, az q sym.
pathizcr in his misftltunes. the Cheyalier had
secured a friend Of TIE first importance for his
diplomatic debut. lie commenced writing on
political affairs, in the French journals. in con-
nection with the political institutions Of the
United States and the policy Of France, keep
ing his eye upon Louis Napoleon. lie was in
troduccd, of Paris, to the British legation. and
from bis SCATTERING representations TO them of the
rolicy OF manufacturing public opinion through
The newspaper press on both sides Of the At
lantic, in behalf Of more intimate relations of
friendship between France, England and the
United States, than existed, he wos commended
TO the special attention Of Lord Palmerston.
lie crossed the channel accordingly, had one or