Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-06
BERGII.
UnfayOFabIe Estimate by Gen.
CaSsius M. Clay.
Coarier-Journal, 8.

philanthropist and head and front o
| the Prevention Of Cruelty to Ami
mails" Society, believing him to be
sincere man. Subsequent events havl
led me TO believe that he has beer
masquerading in a lions skin for tn,
sake of notoriety. At least, if he hal
even q coeOanut full of the milk o,
human kindness in his nature, it has
been spurted and spilled on the lower
animals, and he cannot be stamped
as one who Loves his fellow.man.
His idiosyncracies would lead him tC
strain in saving a gnat, while he might
pass by on the other side from beg.
gar. once learned some Interesting
and inside history OF this man from
General Cassius NJ. Clay, our distin-
guished Kentuckian. Bergh was an
attache of Legation while General
Clay was Minister to the Court OF st.
Petersburg. The General has no love
for Henry, and said to me of him as
follows:
"Bergh is native of New York
City, suppose near sixty years Of age.
He is the son of ship carpenter, who
left him a comfortable estate. He
travelled much in Europe and thus
overcame somewhat the snobbishness
of New York society where the novi
hominev are themselves the most
proscriptive Of the sons of laboring
men. Bergh managed, however, to
gain some foothold in society, and
sought the Secretary of Legation to
st. Petersburg, when | returned there
in 1868. Upon the persuasion of his
friends | had him appointed; but he
proved a consummate bore. He was
very tall and very spare, with long,
unmeaning face. His wife was also
very tall and grave, which in st. Pc
tersburg made them very ridiculous.
He took up an idea that he acting in
Joint power with myself in that mis-
sion, whereas he was only a clerk.
unless in my absence, when he would
be charge d'affairs. Bergh was born
snob, and undertook to lecture me
upon having a mere physician, DR..
Evans, OF world wide fame, who
was a refined gentleman and
the associate of Kings, as a guest at
my house. [, Of course, treated him
with contempt. Contrary to the eti>
quette, he on one occasion followed
my address to some Russian gentle
man with his own in French. To
this | did not object, bat he lost cast
by that and similar breaches of pros
priety, especially by insisting on my
presenting his wife to Francis Gorts-
chakof, which / did, however. AS
Minister | was in Strengthened cir
cumstanees, and | took Bergh, who
was reported wealthy. supposing he
would assist in entertaining Ameri-
cans visiting Russia, but he never did
anything in that way. He went so far
as to ask me to absent myself that he
might get the rank for pro TEN SER
vices as charge.
AS ] had a house at the highest cost
| could afford, | told him could not
afford the expense Of travel, bat if be
would take my house while | was
away and pay my rent | would 60 up
into Finland and fish until he could
get the honor which learned he had
for long time, and in vain, sought in
America. He eliminated his ridicu-
lous career, however, by publishing
and attempting to introduce among
the Russians a highly educated
and refined people, a small volume of
poems, the theme of which was ridi>
Guile of some Irish family who, it
seemed, were about to rival him in
New York pretension. The whole
thing was the most execrable verse,
equaled by its bitter and snobbish
spirit only. OF course he was laughed
at. Lately he attempted, | saw by
the papers, to bring the same trash
before New York audience, but he
was received with more contempt
than even in Russia. He was the
most misanthropic man ever knew,
and be seemed most miserable because
some damned Irishmen" we're
allowed by our republic to weigh as
much as the great Bergh's vote at the
polls. Such a man had no place in a
refined society like st. Petersburg, as
he soon lett in utter disgust, and espe-
cially angry against me for all his
faux pas; when, in fact, | did more
than ordinary self respect would
allow any one in his behalf, giving
him and wife an expensive party,
where his blunders followed him in
making her and himself ridiculous.
He attempted to revenge himself
on me by publishing and circulating
an anonymous and calumnious psmph
let against me, which he circulated
from New York, was told, among all
the Legation at St. Petersburg. Of
course he hurts no one but himself, as
he was generally believed TO be the
author. Now Bergh's philanthropy,
or rather philodogery, is a curious
thing, and shows how this world is
imposed upon. Bergh had no chill
dren, and had centered his affections
upon a nasty little dog, about as large
as Norway rat. This filthy little dog
Wss ever in his company, night and
day, and he often told me dogs we're
more worthy Of friendship than men.
[ had it from himself that, having
engaged 10 steamer for Europe, he
took this dirty canine into the cabin
with him, but the orders being per-
emptory from the company, no dogs
were allowed in the ship, whereupon
Bergh left the ship, and took his dog
in another vessel. This then is, /
suppose, the beginning of Bergh's
philanthropio society. He wanted a
chance to protect his dog, and punish
all Che damned Irish Having seen
such a society in England, | was told,
he got an act from the New York
Legislature, and has worried the
whole city Of New York almost 30
madness, HIS last move being to try to
gat on oot 10 uhin Triob pila ,haataro