Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-05

great national bubbles that have been
pricked by their sharp pens, and the num-
beress frauds that have been shown up to
the light or never allowed to exercise their
influence through the fear of such noto-
rety-all these amply attest the grave and
fearful Importance of the Bohemian press of
Washington city. A look at some of the
more noted of these gentlemen may not be
uninteresting.
SKETCHES OF CORRESPONDENTS.
lie who may justly be considered as first
and foremost in the ranks of his profession
is Maj Ben Perley Poore-the Perley" of
the Boston Journal. No man cert ainly is
entitled to more consideration from the
reading public of New England than he, and
probably no writer is so well known over a
nom de plume in that particular section of
our country as Perley." In Washing
ton he is as well known as any man in pub
lie life, for he has been here, we might say,
an age. His very figure is such as to i'm
press the beholder so strongly that he would
readily recognize it at all times and under any
circumstances. Weighing but few pounds
less than three hundred avoirdupois, he is
hardly the maj to report fire or chase after
detective on the keen run for a desperate.
Happily the Major has not to hunt for items,
as is usual and necessary to his contempora-
ries. On the contrary, the news seems to hunt
for him, and luckily for the readers of the
Journal it always finds him. Wherever he
shows himself in the lobbies of the Cap
itol on the floor of the House or Senate,
or in the corridors of the hotels, crowd
surrounds him to hear the latest bon mot of
the day or crack a good-humored joke. In
his dress the Major looks like trooper just
arrived from an all-night siege. His wide
brimmed slouch hat is bent and turned down
over his face at different angles, and his
huge capecloak hangs about his burly form
in the same negligent style. As he waddles
across the hall from the room of the Senate
Committee on Printing, of which he is clerk,
to the chamber of the Senate, he is always
the cynosure of all eyes, attracting as much
attention as if he was the noblest Roman
of them ALL" His experience here in Wash
ington, if written by his own pen, would be
more interesting to the next generation than
is Benton's "Thirty years in Congress or
Forney's Anecdotes of Public Men" 1t
would be treasure of noteworthy reminis-
cence such as has rarely if ever been pub
lished. In no better way could he add to
his already enviable reputation as a writer
than by giving to the public the benefit
Of tithe, at least, of his experiences in
Washington.
One of the most reliable and painstakine
correspondents here is Mr.. Justin f. Col
burn, of the New York Times. He is Yer
nonter by birth and education, coming from
Albany, in Orleans county, There is moth
ing of the sensational type about him, eithe
rs a man or as a correspondent. His writ
ings show a ready pen and due regard t.
truth and the facts Quiet and unassum
ing in manners, gentlemanly in address an'
frank in speech, he is everywhere regarded a
a credit to the profession which he does s.
much to elevate and purify in its working
here in Washington. Mr.. u. L. White, o
the New York Tribune, is one of the bes
known writers here, particularly in politics
lie is youthful in appearance, and yer
modest in his bearing. Mr.. 7. g. Craw
ford, of the Chicago Times, is one of th
r brightest as well as one of the younges
members of the order here. His wife is tn
daughter of Congressman Joyce, of We
mont. Mr.. Il. H. Luther is known as on
of the most promising of the correspondent
who have come to Washington recently. II
. represents the Philadelphia Times and I'll
: Boston Post, aud received his training upo
the Springfield Republican,. lie represente
The latter paper at the soldiers reunion
Rutland in '73. Mr.. l.. A. Gobright, the ageI
of the Associated Press, is the acknowledge
father of the boys being the Oldest of a.
and respected accordingly. General IL.
Boynton, of the Cincinnati Gazette, is one
that sort of correspondents who are alwa,
making a stir. lie created quite sensatiC
last year in his sharp criticisms upon Ge
eral Sherman's history Of his own campaig
4 1l in which he called Sherman TO account f
G. many words of injustice written concerniI
his brother officers. General Boynton
ie just now engaged in showing up a certa
e ex-special agent of the treasury nam'
Moore, who has become somewhat noto