The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-15

Mems Doubles-Strlking hesemblances TO
Noted Persons Mean and Stingy Men
Liberal Men-El Capitado, etc,
New YORK, June IA, 1876
The recent Curtis and Cortereal duel at
Havana is the first tragedy of the kind
among what may be called New York peo-
pie for more than forty years. Duels have
occurred, but without fatal termination.
James Watson Webb tried to fight some
body thirty years ago, but was stopped by
legal process. Challenges have been sent
occasionally, the last being that offered by
N. 2. Willis to John Van Buren,, when the
latter was defending Forrest against the
formers action for assault and battery.
The last death by duel of New York ORR
gin, previous to the Curtis affair, was when
young and brilliant editor of the Courier
and Enquirer fell. He had publicly in
suited man by blow, and in the duel
which followed he lost his life. The shock
occasioned by the late affair is increased
by the responsibility of Mrs Cortereal, who
is daughter of a very eminent man
Charles King. He was brother to the
and was at one time editor of the Courier
and Enquirer, and subsequently president
of Columbia college. We are led by this
tragedy to recall the time when duels were
a fixed feature in our social Institutions.
When New York was one twentieth its
present size every politician was ready to
give or accept challenge. Brockholst
Livngton, a noted lawyer, killed his man,
and afterwards became judge and an elder
in the Presbyterian church. He always
expressed deep contrition for the death of
his opponent. Hamiltons oldest and most
gifted son was brought home one Sunday
afternoon mortally wounded In similar
afiar-a fate which he had brought upon
himself By insulting a gentleman. In con
sequence of the reply which he received
he sent challenge. Mrs. Hamilton saw
her son expire, and then within three years
her husband was brought home to die by
Burr's pistol shot. Two such deaths were
trial enough for mother and wife, but she
survived the horror fifty years, and then
found grave beside her murdered son and
husband. might recall a series of such
tragedies, which would fill volume, and
which mark the prevalence of this claw
of honor"
JOBsON's MISFORTUNE.
Wemyss JODS0n, OHe OF Inc Oluest Do
hemians in this city, has been pronounced
insane. He is worn-out hack writer, who
has seen trouble enough to craze any man.
The principal point in Jobson's history is
his action against James Gordon Bennett,
sr., for his salary as writer on the Herald
in which he was beaten. Bennett generally
succeeded in litigation, and with such sim
guar triumphs as suggested power be-
hind the scenes, which some called satanic.
IT Jobson be insane, he is no worse than
many outside of the asylum. There is a
curious idea advanced on this subject by
Edgar A. Poe in his powerful sketch called
"Eenora;" "Men have called me mad {;
but the question is not settled whether mad
ness is or is not the Hottest intelligence
whether much that is glorious-whether all
that is profound-does not spring from dis
ease of thought" Poe evidently was par
TALLY insane no doubt, and Jobson is en-
tirely in that condition, but there are few
vagaries more absurd to be found among
the so-called lunatics than are exhibited
by many who are accepted as of sound
mind.
AN INSTANCE.
A young man in Brooklyn has gathered
all manner of firearms to his apartment
even to pair of small cannon, and even.
tually dies by the chance shot Of an old
pistol. This, if it were quoted of some
confirmed mailman, would be proof of a
very strong nature. Here, however. it is
only eccentricity, though its results are as
fatal as any act Of madness. Many in
stances of this insane eccentricity may be
found here, even among business men.
knew a man whose passion for purchasing
real estate was considered freak of lu-
macy, and his heirs took legal measures to
stop him in what was considered a runous
course; but these purchases turned out
prodigiously profitable, and after the poor
mans death these very heirs admitted their
mistake. Few men, it is to be observed,
keep their wits in better condition than the
Bohemians Of this city. Jobson is one OF
the rare exceptions. The fact is they have
such hard task to get living. that they
have no time to indulge in the vagaries OF
lunacy.
BALcH AND BYRON.
notice the death Gin distant town o.
Rev. L. w. P. Balch, formerly rector of
st Bartholomew church in this city. The
pupcIS III heutlOuIuS tuio SNCnI olult tWO
points of personal interest. One is the
fact that he bore very wonderful resem-
blance to Lord Byron, whose death is not
so remote as to prevent such comparison.
This resemblance was generally noticed,
and is wildly stamped upon my memory,
for though never saw Byron, / could see
the likeness in his portraits. need hardly
add that MIR. Balch was very handsome
man, and indeed was then one of the most
noticeable of the New York clergy. The
other point is that his congregation iuclud-
ed the richest man in America, William b.
Aston. ST. Bartholomew was in Lafayette
Place near Astor's former residence, and
this made it convenient resort for the
great capitalist. He was one of the plain.
est looking of that congregation, and fol
some years had seat in the gallery.
have never heard that his attendance had
any marked effect on the collections made
in that church indeed, no one would judge
from reference to the beneficence Of st
Bartholomew that it contained the riches
citizen in America. But all this is chang
ed. William b. Aston has moved far W
town, and is now a resident of the Fifth
avenue, while Mr.. Balch, after filling ably
number of important engagements, ha
ceased from his labors.
A PARALLEL CASE.
Speaking of wealthy parishioners, ma,
mention that the next richest man in thi
city at the time referred to attended tn,
ministry of the late James W. Alexander
l refer to Stephen Whitney, formerly tn,
Front street merchant, who left an estate
worth ten millions. Whitney was yer,
small and slight built man. while Astor i
of large size. In other points however.
similarity might be noticed. 1t neve
could have been imagined from glance a
the collections in pastor Alexanders so
ciety that it contained ten millionaire
Whitney was very sharp listener, that is
he bore that appearance, but it required
stronger preaching than he usually hear'
to operate on his pocket. At one time al
effort was made in the church to do some