The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-31
MR.. SPONGE.
BY P. PoDHAMMER.

i
ance. There was 'ton" in every stitch Of
of his elegantly gotup apparel and each
individual hair of his whiskers. @
That's my friend Sponge" my COM
panion Snobbsley proudly remarked
''Grand fellow. Such style Very dis
tinguished family, the Sponges" e.,g,
dWhat is his business?' ! innocently in
quired. s5+ ~
Snobbsley gave me a look Of contempt.
"He has no business. IL a gentleman,
a man Of genius, author, artist and all
that-but merely as AL amateur, you
know. u" 4 a@4 q 1850
'Then he is man of MEANS" er5 4
"WelI, it's natural to suppose that Q
man who lives in tip.top style, without
working, is man of means @
This remark, having the force Of an
axiom, satisfied me. pa.
While / submit 10 no imputation Of
snobbery or toadyism, must acknowl-
edge that / have always felt natural ad-
miration for men Of ton" sympathetic
attraction toward men Of genius, and an
honest respect for men Of means. at
was consequently seized with a strong
desire to add to my list Of distinguished
acquaintance man who united these
three qualities, as did Mr.. Sponge. =
This desire Snobbsley, with his usual
patrOnizing amiability, at once gratified.
Crossing oyer to where Mr.. Sponge was
standing, he introduced me- was rc-
ceived with that fascinating cordiaity
which one true. gentleman instinctively
feels and manifests toward another. '
felt continuous thrill Of pride as !
walked up Broadway on his right
was charmed with his conversation.
Never had / heard such noble sentiments,
SO elegantly and yet forcibly expressed.
Such horror of meanness Such con-
demnation of the mercenary principles
that actuate society in these degenerate
days Such longing for friendship that
should not be nourished by selfinterest
and blightcd by ingratitude! As he
warmed with his subject his eloquence
took an oratorial rather than converse.
tiopal form. 1t could never be repeated
much less printed.
| felt that we were kindred spirits. Our
newborn sympathy developed over bot
tie of champagne that ] ordered at Mail.
lards into ful-grown and delightful
friendship
I yentured to invite him to dinner. To
my delight, and Snobbsley's evident envy,
he accepted my invitation His distin-
guished style and manner together with
his winning frankness of expression and
nobility of sentiment, commanded uni
versal admiration at the table Of my fash
ionable clearinghouse l was proud of
my friend. :,
When he took his leave he borrowed
two valuable books whose merits we had
been discussing, and, there being slight
threatning of rain, he accepted the loan
of nv umbrella. / was glad that it was
new and handsome one. Our intimacy
continued. He often accepted my invi-
ta:ions to dinuer, and usually took away
with him book from my choice library.
1t is true he never returned them, but
how could such man be expected to
think of such trivial matters.
had frequent occasions to thank my
stars for having allotted me such friend.
will mention few Of them:
had formerly prided myself upon my
taste in dress, but now felt that my
apparel was sadly inferior to his in style
and fitness. He entered into an elaborate
discussion of the great art Of dress one
day as we were walking down Broadway,
unfolding to me Gas indeed he did on every
topic he touched) striking and compre-
hcnsiye truths of which l had previously
had no conception. He then kindly con.
sented to accompany me- to my tailors, to
assist me in the selections OF materials.
Having done 80, he graciously yielded to
the solicitations Of that admiring artist,
and entered his own name on his books
opposite q magnificent order. need
only add that to that discussion and assist
ance owed the elegance Of costume that
subsequently elected so many compi-
ments from my friends and so admiring
glances from strangers. m
One evening he invited me to accom-
pany him to the theatre-the Sponge
family have free entree at all places Of
amusement. He introduced me behind
the scenes---a world Of mysterious inter
est to me, but one in which, as everywhere
else, he was on q footing Of intimacy.
After the play he invited number Of the
t'star" actors toa champagne supper at a
neighboring restaurant. / shall never
forget that delightful evening. Charming
fellows! they repeated old stories and