The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-17

of the death Of person somewhat celebrated in his day
This life AZ the age of N years 10 most old
Knckerbockers, especially 70 those who sowed their
wild oats" i've and twenty years ago, this patriarch
among the negroes of this city well known and as
much respected any in his class ever was CATO
Alex .nder other days he'd much the same rank IN the
sporting world Downing does now among the oyster
eating and Newport frequentng merchants CATO had a
much venerable hook than Downing his har looking
exactly like white sool while bis manners were ana
Of cid school, Unlike DO wing also Cato never daobed
much politics. had troubles with any pody out stuck
to his business and made ftrtane
Cato Alexander resident or New YORK nearly all
his life la his early days he slave but obtained
his freedom with others by the legislation OF States he
was here In the days when Gen. Washington this
civ and loved p his old age tell and again
that he had waited upon that great man. now ne
had helped him To mount or his ,rse and many
other things which, done IN Connexion with iiusrious
persons wonderfully increases the pride OF darkey.
Cato seemed TO have peculiar gift for hotel keeping
His arder Of the BEST and his liquors we're the boast
of connosseurs
After many changes and experiences host Of public
inns, Cato took place out ION the road" opposite the
shot tower Although the locality not out Of the
city, the days Of Catos glory and prosperity was
drive OF several miles TO his resort Then there was but
one public road lit for fast driving, and s terminus was
Catos. Every body there II the rage and the
fashion His suppers were proverbal Tor excellence ana
in times the fathers and mothers present
generation carried many Of their hratons in the par
lor of this then popular Negroes house
Cat,s prosperity increased with time. He was reputed
TO have amassed fortune There must have occurred
crisis about this time-for the very men-tbe Young
America Of that day. who made Cato rich oy their LAVISH
patronage. turn became mara ana were dCCus-
toned " borrow first small and then larger sums They
were generally men of responsibility and good fami-
ly ana Cato proud 10 be Of service TO them
But once embarked in he career OF money lender
as well as money maker, the old man commenced
going down the hill He has been heard TO say that he lost
100000 in these friendly loans TO the fas men" OF
his day His place began to decline in favor its reputation
was on the wane Old friends deserted it, while
could not be retained and diverted TO ambi
tous places Of resort which began spring up IN the
suburbs Of the city.
Cato fingered ia bis old place for number OF years.
The read which passed by changed TO ano her drec
ton and this ma everything sround It lock t more
deserted. He afterwards became involved, and his old
house was sold. Cato almost too old TO com
life anew but he stll made several unsuccessful
attempts His las; effort to open oyster saloon in
Broadway, near the Metropolitan Hotel HIS familiar
name associated with many Tecoectons OF ne irolos
the past, drew 10 his place small share OF custom
The old oges" often 10 DO met IN Catos cellar,
dscoursng freely with him about superior epjoyments
of their young days-laUd0ores 'eporas Gct-as CON-
pared with the present
In short time Cato gave up this place add his name was
heard his person Broadway after 70 al time
He lad ouved everything but the memories OF his early
riumphs an success and, renqusning ell hopes OF ever
retrieving his fortunes retired TO Church street.-the
resort only negros and the lower and degraded
classes Of whes-where he died and whence his funeral
will be soemnized TO morrow.