The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-20
NEW xoRKIsMs.
From Our opn Correspondent
Newspaper once "Caller-.v

1
''characters" are popping in from morn until night
They commence making their calls directly the office
door is Open and they keep them mp until six O'Clock
at night They are isms Of New York, some Of them
very pleasant and quiet isms some Of them de-
cidedly harsh and turbulent ones. They give plea
SAINT variety 10 the secuslon Of that newspaper
ONCE, light up its gloom with pretty, varegated
pieces Of color and contribute not o. little
10 the spice OF journalistic life there.
Some OF these callers are ladies' Here is one OF
them. Her name is Madame b. Once she was
celebrated prirnG donna singing in the principal
capitals Of Europe To-day she is decayed music
teacher who receives annually "grand testmo-
nial" in the shape Of concert and who harbors
the wild haucination that her voice is as good as
IL was thirty years ago. The teeth which she has
lost she has not replaced by artificial ones, and the
squint in her eyes has become more decidedly pro-
nounced. She is wrnkled and haggard, wears a
faded grey silk dress and black lace veil with holes
in it. She has a forthcoming concert and she also
has the bronchitis and the object OF her visit to the
newspaper offices is TO beseeCh kindly ignoring
of all shortcomings. "For the sake OF my family"
she urges. 81 have family depending upon me, and
should lose all my pupils Immediately If anything
hnkind about my voice appeared in the newspapers
SO saying she takes out some cards OF admission for
the next evening dhe date OF the concert in ques-
tom, asks for pen in order to write compliment
ary" across the back OF them and leaves the oflce
made happy by the assurance that nothing but what
Is KIM snail DE SAID OF ner ana nerS Years ago Snc
was truly celebrated cantdtrice What has become
OF all her savings? you will ask. Alas! she never had
any. gambling, thieving husband, who went
round counting the house while she was on her knees
as Gamma or "LuCrezia Borga," swallowed up all
the receipts in the treasury, and often she had
not enough money in her possession to carry her
from one city to another That kind of life lasted
for many years. until in fact, Madame B. got too
old to be anything but ridiculous the operate
STAGE and audiences laughed instead OF applauding
when she presented the shadow Of her once-magnia-
cent 'IucrezIa" Finally she was left without
husband, without money, with few friends, and with
but the scant remains Of voice that, during her
many years Of public life, must have brought her in
half a million OF dollars.
Another one of these isms is literary ism, known
to all the story papers OF Gotham. He is young
man OF twenty-siX, with blue eyes, blonde hair,
black coat too short in the sleeves black pants too
short in the legs and no linen to speak Of. He has
gaunt red hands, which look filter for handling
packing boxes than pen, ink, and paper, and he
brings endless rolls of manuscript, wrapped up in
brown paper and written on both Sides He is a
story-writer, earns his living by writing stories
though where they are published am unable to say
never having fathomed the mystery OF his name
and never having seen published elsewhere the
stories that are rejected at the Office in question
But this / do know about him, that all his leisure
hours-and they are many-he seems to employ in
sitting in City Hall Park. There he lounges on one
OF the toadstoOs near the fountain, morning, noon
and night, for there time and again. passing by at
those hours, have him sitting, with his eyes
bent on the grOuhd, and his chin upheld by his
hands, and brown paper parcel without doubt
rejected MSS.) tucked under his arm Perhaps he
is picking up characters for an intended work of 1c-
ton; but if he would pick up himself bit, and get
situation as salesman it would be better for him.
Who is this in light array, dressed eXpensivey but
not neatly fashionably and oridly with glaring kid
gloves and anOinted with penetrating perfume
She is not authoress. Authoresses are never
overdressed They are generally timid-looking
women Chose who nfest newspaper officers, at leasD
with frowsy hair, slouchy bOnnets and gloves a mile
too long. This one is brilliant and debonnaire, eX-
ceedingly rich in ribbons and with mellow orotund
voice. She announces her business with fasoinat-
ng assumption of modesty. 1t appears she been
shamefuly misTepresented in the newspapers Her
name has been dragged before the public in spite
of her having avoided scandal during all the years
she has devoted herself to her profession" and she
has been exhibited in very repulsive light Further
information reveals the fact that she is sack-wre
performer, Madlle Rosalie Y, at one of the
smaller places Of amusement and that she has been
driven "almost wild" by certain scandalous reports
What she comes to ask for is the generous support
of this newspaper. This cannot be promised, but
she goes away greatly Modified by the assurance
that the newspaper will take no action against her.
Here is a woman who wants to write religious
poetry at ten cents verse here man with apatent
burglar alarm that simultaneously lights a CANDLE
rings bell and fires pistol people with patents
correspondents about to sail to all parts OF the world
from Alaska to -Fuego captains of sailing
packets, who have eluded the Custom House, have
India shaWls to sell at bargain; bullies who have
come to try their muscle against that Of the editor
by whom they fancy themselves DETAINED; Sore
tbroated ministers with copies OF their last Sundays
sermons: artists whose pictures have seen the
light OF an exhibition; foreign bummers,N with
forged letters of introduction frOmSa suppOstIOus
consul: abused authors intent upon a personal in
terview with the critic who has sashed into them
all these come trampng into the Office from morn to
night week in, week out, daily presenting new
shades OF character, and suggesting the question
whether the supply of Gotham newspaper office
loungers will ever be exhausted?
clearinghouse Signs.
''For gentlemen only" is the announcement
figuring on many placard pasted in the windows OF
lodging houses, and meant to bytray unwary bache
lors The announcement looks respectable and
harmless. You feel you are entering an abode
where woman is denied admission, and where all
the delights of blessed "one-edness can be enjoyed
CHEAP Miserable antlcpatiOns BIghted hopes!
Upon ringing the bell you are confronted with an
emnently respectableIooking woman, in chinz
dress with yellow hair and eyes the color OF pale
indipo-water Her voice, like her terms is low. and
she is the very picture OF mlddle-aged virtue
There is pious resignation in her
sigh as she shows you the furnished
apartment and a touching submission in her voice
when she con1des to you the fact OF her having
seen better days. Before the interview is over
your heart quite warns TO her, and If warmth OF
heart had any influence in expanding the pocket
you would no doubt pay her month in advance be-
fore leaving the room. Your worldly prudence,
hOwever-of which your experience among New
York lodgng-letters has furnished you with an I'M
mense stock-holds you in wholesome check and
Won content Yourself with leaving her one weeks