The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-05
~ II WV o n II I q M g.
From Our Otsn Correspondent

will prove the assertion to be true.
There are in New York scores of gentlemen
who, when they ride dow town or up, generally
do so on top of the stage, seldom inside. They
like to smoke, to hob-nob with the driver, and
to survey Broadway at their feet. Impelled by
these desires, o gentleman q mention no names)
climbed, on Wednesday afternoon, to the sum-
NIT of q Fifth avenue Omnibus" and took his
seat beside the driver. On the other side of
that functionary sat a remarkable-looking man
of about sixty years of age. He wore blue
trousers, a blue vest, and a long, light linen coat.
The shirt collar was low and loose, and would
have displayed, in sailor fashion, several
4nches OF brawny chest, but for the
full white beard three-quarters of
{. 4 foot long. His abundant hair also was white.
The breast was broad and deep, capable of
taking mighty breaths. The look upon the face
was frank, fearless, and big with thought. The
possessor of these singulsrities maintained a
profound silence, and looked about him with a
Sontemplative stare. At the intersection of
Houston street and Broadway lie requested the
driver to stop. The driver did so and the
stranger got down, and 1 suppose / ought to
conclude the paragraph by saying that he 'mys-
teriously disappeared" My love of truth, how
ever, forbids my -sacriicing 1t in order to pro-
duce q meretricious '~cffect." Whatever mys-
tery there may be in entering a Broadway store,
probably with the view of buying something,
the stranger is welcome to, for that is what he
did; but his appearance was so remarkable that
the other outside passengers who had observed
him could not resist looking after him In Won
der and admiration.
ssTbat's a rum old cuss, )" said the driver, Civ
ing q jerk with his thumb in the direction of
the vanished figure. ''That's the only man in
all New York as can ride free in these ere
stages, exceptin' the piece"
'Indeed! Who is he ?" inquired the pas
serger.
sDunnow what his name is. We call him
Walter. There's not a stage-driveri in New York
as dunnow him. He often spends an evenin' at
nv house. Dunnow his name no more'n l know
yourn. We call him Walter"
o yesl The author of The Leaves OF
Grass ] presume"
t'Blest if / know what he does for q living.
When he's in New York he spends all his time
ridin' up and down in stages, and none of 'em
charges him q cent. There's not many men as
can do that, now, is there1 He amt much on
the gab-iest twists his head about and keeps
bis mouth shet. But he's mighty good on a
think, / should say. Jerusalem! how that
MAJ must a thunk! Lord what O good
driver he'd make if he'd only turn his attention
to the perfession. / allow as he wouldn't miss
a party as wanted to get in, man, woman, or
child, all the way down Broadway, you bet! He
looks around him that spry! Yes, he's q queer
old cuss, is Walter"
If an orator like Miss Dickinson may gather
inspiration from lying hatless and gloveless on
the rocks at Swampscott, is not a poet like
Walt whitman without blame if he chooses to
view life from the top of a stage-coach? If
there is Ary exaggeration in this little anecdote
AI.N
To the best of my ability 1 have related the Incl
dent as it was related to me, although l should
not have mentioned it at all had 1 thought that by
SO doing 1 was casting aslur upon a name which
at least one foreign review of great equation
recognizes as belonging to the only original,
0out-and- out" American poet that ever existed.
Opera BouIe-PolylinguaI Critics.
During the recent few weeks l have several
times mentioned that Mr.. Fisk had engaged an
opera-bouffe company for the fall and winter
season. That company will arrive here early in
September and give its first performance about
the middle of the month. 1t was believed that
Irma would be one of its members, but her
name was not mentioned among those with
whom / am told contracts have been signed. II
is claimed that the new opera bouffe company,
none of which have ever appeared here, will
number eighty, and that three-fourths of them
will constitute the chorus. This proportion in
the chorus accounts for sixty members. Ter
moro l am able to name; they consist of the
principal singers. The remaining ten, if they
be not due to managerial Imagination, must be
looked for among those mysterious people who
behind the scenes, silently do SO much
OF the miscellaneous work that is necessary tc
successful theatrical representations. The names
of the ten principal members of the company
are as follows:-Madlle Silly, who is said to bt
the rival of Mime Schneider; Mad'le Montalant
and Madlle Jousse, from La Folie Dramatique
Madlle THAI, from the Athenee; NM. CaussiI
and Hermierer, tenors, and NJ. Hettemans, buffo
from Les Varieties; and NM. Varlet, baritone
and Anthony, basso, from the Chatelet. TIL,
stage director is NJ. Esteve, and is said to hav,
had experience among the principal Partisan
theatres. The opera that will be first presented
is lie Petit Faust. When that has ceased to b.
attractive, it will be supplanted by Les Bri
gGnds, asd that, in turn, by La PrincesSe d
Irebizonde.
In view of the four languages in whicI
theatrical representations in this city will b
given during the coming fall and winter, l ma
perhaps be permitted to make a remark or tw
respecting the lingual accomplishments @
operate and dramatic critics. l do not belieV
there is one critic In New York who is equal
we'll acquainted with English, French, German
and Italian. / know that there are very fe1
who have even a moderate acquaintance wit
more than one of those languages; and it doe
not REQUIRE o very great familiarity with th
style in which New York musical and dramati
criticisms are written to prove that of the Who'll
number of writers only one or two know how {
use English with accuracy, elegance, and fore,
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