The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-24
From 0w o,On Correspondent

TWIN wv VtoH correspondents
NEW YORK. June "a, 1869.
Among all the clever and renowned New-Yorkisms
whom have mentioned, have ever said anything
IN relation TO the New York correspondent OF the
Philadelphia Sunday Dispdtchf Years before I saw
that gentleman, worshlpped him at a distance. In
common with thousands Of others, his letters were
what principally cared to read in the columns Of
that extremely wel-regulated Sunday sheet. All
New York appeared to run through HIS fingers ends.
He had been soaked In Gotham and perspired It
spcily In printers ink Hts hebdomadal resumes OF
the events Of the week were highly seasoned with
literary ailspioe. Guilt and gossip, crime and COM
nonsense, people an politics alike became read
able, when the events touched upon were neck
laced together by his string OF puns and With
cisms
The real name OF the gentleman who corresponds
with the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch under the
name Of "Knickerbocker" ought to be known TO all
the readers Of that paper for it has been published
therein at least once in connection with his do
plume, coupled with the explanation that no other
writer ofciated for it in that capacity. Since
however, he deems it expedent to disaVow, or at
least ignore 'any connection with those letters"
viii not step behind the inoo9nito he chooses to
Clothe himself with. His letters precisely what
such letters should be- They brm with facts dressed
fancifully. How he obtains these facts, what are
his mysterious sources of information, and how 1t
happens that he always has so much to say that Is
excellent in its way, will not stop here to very
minutey inquire. Mr. Barnum, in his autobiography,
remarks that once upon time stranger stepping
up to the ticket Office of his museum, threw down
the price OF admission, and asked whether that was
p T. Barnum? Mr.. Barnum, who was then acting
as his own treasurer, responded in the Affirmative.
tAll right, then" said the man. 81 have had the
worth of my money; have seen Bar
num-" and, turning on his heel, walked
of, apparently more than satisfied. l can easily
imagine something like this occurring to "Kncker-
booker" People, after seeing him. would go back
TO reading his letters again with greater gusto,
ing, with an air of self-complacency 81 have seen
"Knickerbocker.' have seen the man that does the
New York correspondence Of the Philadelphia Dis
patch," Colonel Knickerbocker's personal appear
ance genial and prepossessng. His eyes are full of
genial warmth, and his complexion has the norid-
ness and his person the moderate rotundty of per-
feet health He is one of those men that never grow
old His health is indeed wellnigh perfect, and the
buoyancy OF his spirits has made life almost one long
summer to him. He does enough work to fatigue
many younger man, and is more youthful at his
present age than most literary men at half OF it.
He has several dosyncrasies, but they are pleasant
and harmless ones. He is Of an extremely social
nature, and loves music, books, and flowers.
When he is not writing, he Is working in his
garden-in one of the peasantest suburbs of New
York-or playing upon his piano. Without making
any pretensons to being poet or musician, he COM
poses better poetry and music than four-hfths Of
those ladies and gentlemen do who are forever set
ting up claims that way. He is an exceedingly we'll
educated-I might almost say learned-man hav-
ing the modern languages at his tongues end, and
with no obscure "reminiscences OF the ancient
tongues great deal Of his work is done while less
prudent and less hardy people still in bed Per-
haps the reason his wit remains so bright, after a
vast amount Of literary work, may be found in the
fact that he has always been an early riser Summer
sees him up at 4, winter at g. and frequently all his
penwork for the day executed by 10 O'Clock in the
ofra fn hoy m hah hau
been writing for the Dtspatch-as long, pro-
badly, as he has been resident in New
York, and that has been for at least
fifteen years. Formerly he was as much Philadel-
phia ism as he is now New York one. Years ago
the 'Ivest newspaper in the Quaker City was under
the guidance OF the "Knickerbocker" of to-day His
aim was to create daily legitimate sensations, and
he succeeded to an almost ilimitable extent He
created great havoc more particularly amongst the
theatrical folk, and for long time his authorship
of those piquant criticisms remained unknown and
unsuspected. He was keen judge OF good acting
an artistic detective of art. His dramatic criticisms
sgnalized an era in newspapertheatric annals, and
NAV be said to have been the commencement OF i'm
partial and trenchant Judgment. Though gene
rous liver, and most boon companion. "Knicker-
booker is as abstemious as an anchorte during his
hours OF business and of writing. All the inspiration
he ever needs is the early hours OF the morning. pen
ink, and paper, and jug OF cold water.
Consequently, all that hows from a
brain Injured to such habits OF health
is sure to have good, hearty, vigorous tone about
it, In nothing that he writes is there faint Of NOR
bidity. His experience of 'life,' both in the Old
World and the New, has brought him into contact
with vast number Of curious people and incidents.
His company is therefore always interesting. His
"reminiscences would make a volume as interesting
as those of Vincent Note, Madame Pfelffer, or the
Countess OF Landsfeldt. Interesting as his weekly
correspondence is it never devotes any OF its pquan
cies to the scandal Of personalities violated conf
dence. Whatever he publishes he has the right to
publish, never stepping behind persons private
life and holding up the gaze Of the world certain
household facts that should be secret He does not
share the failing OF so many newspaper correspon-
dents, viz the desire TO utter smart malignities.
~Old times" have great influence With him. He
cannot forget past relations of Kindness with any
one and l, for one, hope he may go on writing for
the Dispatch for the next hundred years.
Ar