The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-10-03
From the Few York Leader
THE PEOPLE WE ME ET-OR, UP AND
DOWN THE PLAZA ON THE SAILLING
SIDE.
JOHN BIGELOW. OF THE EVENING

~ EAOEA6 " u M6 6T-OfS, VT AM
DOWN THE PLAZA ON THE sHILLISl
SIDE.
JOHN BIGELOw. OF THE EVENING
Advancing at an easy contemplative gait, thi
rather tall, slightly built but shapely gentleman
presents an aspect to arrest attention. Not mor'
than forty years of age, the face gives unusua
indications of thought or care. 1t is strikingly
handsome head, well balanced, well proportionet
and lofty. As he lifts his hat to salute the la
dies who have just bowed to him, We observe
that his hair is dark brown, of a dry silkiness
and not so thick as it may have been a dozer
years ago. The forehead which it shades i:
singularly high and benevolent, prominent in the
organs indicating analysis and with imagination
largely developed at the sides. The blue eyes
very mild and full, are deeply set under dark
eyebrows, and at more than the average distance
from each other. The nose is moderately aqui
line, and in all features save the height of the
forehead, the face is Of the strictest Roman type
The skin, which must been very delicate and fair
in youth, is now rather pallid and traced with
innumerable minute lines-the kind of network
which Time weaves for the capture of wisdom
by that rough old sportsman, Experience. Add
to this description, side.whiskers of dark brown,
joined together by large sandy bridge Of nous.
tache; teeth very white though not perfectly reg.
'.ia-, and shapely square chin, such as should
finish off such picture-and the reader will
have as good a portrait Of John Bigelow of the
Evening Post as our pen, in this hurry, can
strike off Born in Walden, Ulster county, of
family possessing moderate wealth and good
social position, John Bigelow was pupil Of the
venerable Professor Mott, and graduated at IN
ion College, Schenectady. While still in college
he was employed as professor Of rhetoric and
science in various neighboring academies
or two female seminaries, amongst others, bav-
ing the benefit of his industry and talents. The
female pupils, i; is said were very attentive to
his teachings, and used to dress with more care
than usual on the days set apart for his appear
ance. College life over, he came 10 this City
and commenced studying law in the Office Of
the late Theodore Sedgwick-to whose good
memory peace,
About seventeen or eighteen years ago he
was called to the bar, and began his profession
by allying himself in partnership with John T..
Seely, a very eminent lawyer of tine old school,
formerly Mayor of New Haven. They did fair
business together, and had more than average
success hut the junior partner evinced from the
frs: a strong political tinge, and his hankering
after journalism was passion not to berepressed.
At length it SO happened that on the retirement
of VIM. G. Boggs from the Evening Post,
(Boggs going out west and settling down into
an Ohio postmaster,) VIM. Cullen Bryant wan.
ted partner to share his labors, and began
looking round our city for the right kind of man.
He was not long in the search, Samuel j. Tilden
suggesting, and his own judgement concurins in
the selection of Mr.. John Bigelow for the respOn-
sible position. Since the formation of this lat
ter partnership the Post, as We all know, has
improved in the general ability Of its manage.
ment, M. Bigelow relieving Mr.. Bryant Of much
drudgery and organizing the Office so as to take
care Of itself; and still more has it improved fl.
nancially, under the legal advertising patronage
which the new partner brought with him, assis-
ted by the better business habits Of the manag.
ing publisher who succeeded Mr.. Boggs Polit-
ically, Mr.. Bigelow commenced lite as Demo-
crat of the straightest school, and continues in
that faith to day, the negro question alone ex-
cepted In lS4S he sided strongly with the
free-soil Democracy Of the day, nor has he ever
since abandoned that position, maintaining him.
self in the Democratic party and also maintaining
his free-sol down to 1885, when he finally went
over to the Republicans in support of free
speech, free men and Fremont" A very vivid
recollection of the year lS4S seems to have i'm.
pressed itself on Mr.. Bigelow's mind, insomuch
that he can never speak with patience of those
who were with him in the Buffalo business, but
have since seen the error of their ways. just
give him a chance for a rapier thrust at John
Van Buren, John Cochrane, Nelson G. Water.
bury or John A. Dix, and see with what venom
and celebrity the steel will glitter as it is driven
home!
As writer, the subject Of our sketch is of q
decisive, incisive and epigramatic turn, fonder oi
the scalping knife than of the tomahawk, but
frequently ruthless in his attacks and inflictine
more pain than his calmer judgment would ap
prove. His journalistic cato -nine-tails has
knots on every throng; and when he tries to be
as funny as he can, portions Of the flesh are like
ly to come away where only an agreeable titilla
ton was intended. Highly educated and versei
in many languages, his style has neatness with
out elaboration, ornament without redundance
Those who remember his slashing magazine re
views Of former days will admit the justice o
these remarks. Of direct and practical turr
of mind, he is free from autorial vanity and ha
a wholesome horror of being lionized, thougl
not without certain kind of quiet self-assertioI
in political or literary circles. Possessing keel
sense Of the ludicrous and with an eye that pier
ces the majority of social illusions, Bigelow cal
enjoy beyond most men the misadventures of al
i toSquoAusouSO, SonhS quiCt CuuChic III uiS uOO,
while he draws out the foibles or small follies o
friend. In his social and private aspect, VI
have heard that he is genial, friendly and enter
tanning, given to that hospitality which look
more to distinction than numbers, and well abl
to bear his part in table encounters of light logi
or flying wit. Some ten years ago he marrie
a daughter of Evan n. Poultney, of Baltimore
lady much admired and much deserving. Ii
has recently purchased pretty homestead a
West Point, and may be set down, in his world
ly affairs, as one of the very few thoroughly fol
tunate literary men of our day. 1t is not man
months since he returned from long Europea
tour, and his inclination as vet would not appea
to have bent itself quite willingly to a resumE
tiOn OF the Journalistic harness. Without an
abatement OF industry, it is remarked by thos
very intimate with him that he seems to hav
lost that editorial zest which of old made wr
ting more of pleasure than task.
MACHINE FOR DorNa Up WooL.-Mr. Jane
Geddes Of Fairmount, Cortland Co., has contrive
an improved machine for doing up wool, whic
should be made known to wool growers. A
apparatus has for some tina been in use, consi
ting Of box or trough, about three feet Ion,
ten inches deep, and ten inches wide ION the il