The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-05
Populsr Dcmcnssrastons-Thc Cness Car
Ulyal.

though Heaven knows they have no spice of the
Attic salt 10 Europe they are called cheualies
d'mdustrie possibly because they despse anything
like labor as heartily Ms Jew hates the true
cross Here we have no special name Tor them;
their ways of living and their positions In the
community being 50 widely various as to render
the application Of a generic designation matter
OF impoesibility. But there IL one ass Of i'm
posters who trade chiefly upon the public conf
dence and manage to keep their names in the
journals by artfnlly seizing upon and turning to
account the leading topc-whstever i may be-
OF the day. This morbid anxiety fos notoriety
Of any kind, and at whatever cost, iscaused BY
our general tendency az people to run after the
last new thing, whatever it is-a prims donna or
politician, work of art or racing horse,
\ pugilist or q parson-it is all he same.
Adventures find that by placing themselves at
the head of u popular movement they can easily
claim to have originated it, and secure by the
force of impudence the honor and profit accru-
ing from it. Then there are always certain re-
spectacle and well-intentioued citizeus-promi-
nent men at the bar. in the pulpit or in trade
who cannot foreg0 certain amiable weakness for
seeing their names in print. Therapeutics say fine
things Of them; call them learned, eloquent,
witty or pertinent, and the next morning
they are an inch taller, and find Broadway
the sake of this small drink at the cup of fame
these persons give the weight of their influence
to help along the little schemes of the adven.
turers. Over and over again, this metropolis has
been the scene of many such foolish demonstra-
tons, ofwhch that given the other day to Mr. Paul
Morpby was the last aud the most absurd. Alb
surd ia its inception, and particularly absurd 10
the way in which it was carried out Mr.. Morphy,
who has received more honors than we have ever
given to our noblest statesmen, our best authors,
our finest artists or our bravest generals is only
a successful player at chess, game through
which great many lazy people in this coantry
and in Europe waste great deal of valuable
time, aud by which certain patriotic persons
manage to make good bit Of money now and
then. Mr.. Morphy went to Europe, aud we be-
lieve was victorious over those of the leading
chess players who commended with him. 1t may
M we'll be understood that Mr. Morphy's games
were played for money and 80 came under the
rule Of gambling as much as match at whist
or game Of ecart or piquft We may as well
call things by their names 10 plain English. In
these days Of gasconade and charlatanry little
canoor will do no harm.
When Mr.. Morphy returned to New York, he
was loaded with cadeaux and stuffed with
speeches. Mr. John Van Buren,, who ought to
know better, talked at him for an hour, COM
mencpg with the creation of the world and coming
down to the Cafe de la Regence. Succeeding
Van Buren, came person named Fuller, who was
spread eagleish in the extreme. By his account
the starry banner of the republic had received
new brilliance from the fact that Mr.. Morphy
bad won some money at chess from Europeans
Other people were equally ridiculous; the only
sensible person concerned being the young man
himself, who evidently has gentlemanly instincts,
and therefore cannot fail to see the bad taste that
directs the lavish eulogies of his admirers At
the same time, if be is as keen about other mat
tiers as chess playing, he will see that many Of
those who surround bin care nothing fer him OF
his games but are endeavOring to share little
of the sunlight of public favor in which be now
stands, or is supposed to stand; for had not the
newspapers taken up the chess MANIA the public
would have had no interest in it.
The Bostonians are nearly as absurd as the
metropolitans. Boston is the centre of the uni
verse, and the Revere Tavern is the centre of
Boston. Around this centre, the other day, there
revolved the greatest literary, scientific, legal
and clerical lights that the world has ever seen.
They are all living in Boston now-all at once.
The consequence is that everything and every
body in Boston is better than anywhere else.
Among other things, dinners. No dinners any
where else except Boston. No dinner men any
where else. So they dined, and wined, and
speeched poor Morphy almost to death. Doctor
Holmes poked fun at him; Professor Lowell read
doggerel to him Agassiz talked technology at
bin, and the lively, entertaining, polished aud
ChesteIfe)dian Chief Justice Shaw threw my
Lord Eldon at him. Morphy made modest
speech, in which he seemed just bit bored and
good deal ashamed. If be had reflected that
these men came together only to feed and drink
well, and to listen to the dear music of their au-
tique witticisms, he might have sat and slipped
his Bordeaux like philosopher.
When the celebratcrs, and welcomers, and
orators, and demonstrators are tired of Paul Nor
ply, and have returned him to his own charming
bayous, who else will they parade? They must
have somebody. Suppose they look about the
clubs and pick out the strongest hand at whist,
or journey to the land Of cane-brakes and street
fights for slasher at poker, or a conquerr at
cut-throat euchre, or successful professor at
high-low-Jack- aDd the-game? Or ifthey wish to
honor one who is really great public benefac-
tor, as well as a modest, amiable and estimable
gentleman, in the best circles of the highest Co
iored society, let them give demonstration to
our old friend Downing the greatest oyster pur-
veyor in the world. There are no such bivalves
n1zr s. Sy~l H. D.zl 3