The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-23
CHEVALIER WIKOFF.
THE oFAN IDLER. By HENRY
WiKoFF. New York; Fords, Howard & Hubert.
For sale by +. Il. Mohun.

THERENIISIsCENCEso oFAN IDLER. ByIiENRY
WiKoFF. New York Fords, Howard * Hubert.
For sale by +. B. Mohun
The author of this volume is certainly one
of the most remarkable characters Of the time. From
the youthful appearance the portrait of the veteran
tourist, wit, ard man Of society, which aiOrns the
ironispiecc would Imagine that his narrative
begins more than sixty since with his college
life anl escapades, at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton.
He Is one of the few living ersonages who has been
home In the Courts and Sdious Of the two CONT
nents for halt q century, and who give MS fresh
and interesting Views Of Aaron Burr, the Countess
Guiccioli, Fanny Elsler, Lady Iuwer, Guizot, Lord
BrOugham, de Tocqueyile, President jackson, Count
D'Orsay, Louis Napoleon and others hardly less eel
ebrated. of Philadelphia half century ago the chew
alier gives some excellent "reminiscences:
The placid city Of Penn was then lighted with OIL
and Al the Of the streets stood round box nf
some seven feet In height, sufmounted by lamp and
with stoyepipe peeIiug out of the roof II Just
large enough 10 contain q man, small stove In win
ter aud twoor three torches. II was from these dark
recepacleS sailed forth the gnardians Of the night,
armed with blazing nambcau and wooden rattle, to
cry the hour and announce the state of the weather
Constalcs, few aud far between, had charge OF the
day. Wood WAS used for heating houses high and
low, and In the autumn negroes with their horSe and
saw on their backs drovea brisk business In all the
streets when the winters supply laid in. Mysie-
ri0us rumOrs were beginning To prevail that new
substance, called coal. emitted more heat than wood
and made more durable hre. one bold gentleman,
In 1874, had CRATE put mp In his house which was
the talk of the town, and visitors tiongcd 10 see the
novelty.
About the same period We have a picture Of the
Kemble fever;
The town went Kcmhle mad, aud the affecting
phrases of The idoli1ed Julia were repeated at every
corner As for myself It would be hard to depict The
wild intOKCatiOn that overlook me. forgot every
thing else, law included. did nothing but frequent
the theatre and abandon myself to the fascination nf
this hewilching actress, went about like one pos
scssed mutterlng the tayorite passages Of her pfinc
pal roles TN people thought me NJ companion for
lunatics. ! was not, however her only victim. The
infection seized on friend ni mine, which took The
practical shape of tender o marriage, that after .
time was accepted. Pierce Butler, man of good
family and fortune, became desperately cnainpfed of
the marvellous creature, Who Ia her snrccry ou the
stage, added charms of person. brilliant accom-
plishmens, aml high culture. lie carried oil the
splendid pii2c; AMI IN spite ol tho warning ui the
poet, that
The man who ciIyies must behold with pain
Anothor's Joys, aud scken At his gain,
vet Pierce Butler was enycd aud almost dctc,ed hy
swarm uf rivals for his victory over the last OF the
Kembles.
After leaving college Wikon visited Washington,
giving him An opportunity to sketch the society OF
Jacksou's administration. His INST visit to Europe
is narrated with freshness and yyaclty, aud hc gives
Impressions and anecdotes Of the great actresses,
Miles Mars and Georges, and uf lallcyraud, MaTsalf
suult aud lubau, Sir sidney Smith, 1hrrs, Louis
Philippe and Mile LenOrmaud. There Is In the
yolumo q striking sketch of the noted American
bells whom the author met In London AT a reception
of the American Embassy, when she had become the
Marchoness of Wellesley. At the house Of Nj. Mans
field, wealthy English gentleman aud iplomatbt,
in Upper Grosyenur street, he met Lord Melbourne,
the Premier;
Chatting gayly. as was his wont. lie was Cclo-
brdted for lis cynical wit aud Mas amused az one al
his salIles. An entusast was boring His l.oTdshiI
with a description OF dh oI'loilo he hh recently
heard.