New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-18
STORIES or A ONCE POPULAR MAN
"REMINISCENCES OF GOWANS, THE OLD
BOOKSELLER.

"REMINISCENCES OF GOWANS, THE OLD
BOOKSELLER.
HIS OPINION OF BURR AND FANNY KEMBLE-soME
or HIS ACQCAINTANCES.
Gowans, "Old Gowans as he was more in-
Anately known, and Gowans's bookstore at No 1l5
Nss.au-st., though OF the past. familiar names
many New-Yorkers who are still young When he
dod In 1870 his collection OF more than 800 900 volumes
disposed OF by his heirs . series OF sales
"He was typical bookman," observed a dealers
recently in speaking of Gowans. with q
Boswellian tenacity of memory for historic
traits lie always reminded OF that picture
OF the old bookworm VITO had climbed the ladder the
upper shelves OF his library, with candle in one hand
book Ia the other and big volume under each arm
when he discovers another prize that he has overlooked
used said that II Gowahs could got hold OF
book It OF look else where. Macaulay
sent to him through tho British Minister In his
cOuntry-I think 1t was Bulwer-to get copy OF the
arst edition OF the Book OF Mornon The Minister
much disappointed when he learned that
Gowans did not have It, though
believe he aterward obtained It. Gowans peculiar
at times. though bookmeu knew how to take him. WAS
witness OF his eecDntriCity. II had secured,
ater long search raro book foe customer who de-
sired It very much. When the purchaser into hi
store ono day. Gowans said:
"'rve got your book Tue both surprised
aud pleased As no examined tho book aud asked tho
cost Five dollars was the price, and the man face
liOusly asked:
80 lsnt tuat too muoht'
"'L,t have the book replied Gowans 'Youn
and 1t higher before you got IT, and he deliberately
tossed 1t into the stove The gentleman exclaimed in
dsmay. ! w0uid have g1vsI $50 for IT.
GOwGns WAS well up In the classics; there were few
titles that he could read. but he largely seod
ucsted. lie made traDslations OF Plato and other
authors that ne published. He orr gtnay intended
fnrf he mia mi his who nal "A
emigrAted from Scotland when Gowans youth O
eighteen years and settled 10 Indiana Gowaus made
several trips 10 New-Orleans natboat ABOUT the
mo that Abraham Lincoln In that line of business
lie hnay drIfted to this city In 1926 ard made living
IN tho Od Bowery Theatre and nnAlly startcd =
boOKstand tho sidewalk ia front OF No. l2l
'hathau-st uldiug which no subsequsntly occu-
pod In 1880 he occupied tie Arcade. between Johu-s
and haLsa-Iane, now forgotten.
"Bul Oowals is kno VA In Nassau-st. where the
most OF NGg-lOr bOOkmsu have sold published 1t
realized moro than 500 900 from the sale Of his looks
tie especially Interested Ia American books and IN
contemporary American characters In his Catalogues
hs had fancy Tor making hitle comments, signing
them Western Memorabilh,' that
he often received orders FOR COPIES Of tho
Memorabilia from those who supposed the of
somo book He knew personally nauy prominent iter-
airy mon. and Of his works dr,catr,! 10 MS
friend Washington lryIng. when he first N,S-
gsrdIng hI with kind Of arising from his sCDries
thai be had heard during Ills Mississippi lie
"NH'"itNN
BurTs appearance. aud doScribos HIM ~ 1uiIii thn.
htde moro than hVs I, ct IN heisnt and having
used tn say. was wrinklcd and melancholy. lie
his hat deep ms head ami had ~
for.otten. neglected aud aside conscious OF his
own merit. Except on one occasion, hs was always
front OF where tus Aston House atSorw!rd quilt
taking with "a pretty young woman WHOM he hold 10y
fcreut from what mad seen II when lie WAS walking
i" Gowanus sdnirer OF Fanny KEN
bio When enc INST came u this country ho
her a. the PARK Theatre aud pronounced her
the most lovely woman he ha seen. loLrs after he
noutd hnr read Ia tho New-l ORR 1Abetnaclo. Broad
way and wOrth-st lie admitted his observation-disclosures
Her reading made no Impression on MIN Instead OF the
young grl aerial and fascinating sho had assumed be
said. the proportions OF fat. oyersrown Irish cook,
with fu round hgi-colorci face. large bust aud arms
believe IN her ater yeaE Fanny kSmbs resaned some
OF her youthful sIuudorness. Ito aferward reached
ruouornanias. 50 ao' ustoIncd To the stage
paui- Ia I've unit for domestic lifo and he dochcd
accordingly that butter fully deserving his
pity Gowaus very fond Of the and he had
supe Oh the B0wcry stagv, before. he used say,
William Leggctt. the theatrical critic OF The Eve,a9
had copy, too. OF the only literary effort. believe,
Forrest indulged ia. IL Fourth OF July
years ago, This was delivered IN kew-YOrk
on the siS,ysccond anniversary OF Anieriesn
luds eudenco and WAS attSrward published. Al the
d. ne II was thought a model specimen OF its khtL
"sow that We are xoinS TO Increase me oty water
what had neVor heard before respecting tho Croton
works lnoy were planned II" sc 1na si" ny a. otes
assistant engineer. Tie visited tho country three
years rough Just AS tue work was contemplated aud
secured hls position. lie returned when his
lough expired and Hftorward Published an |
account OF the CrotOn Works The elder Kenrett |
OF The Herald intimate acquaintance OF GOwsHs
and n.t paper inhabited to Gowans largely for rs
present existence. Beunou had ouy just started |
his paper, aud WAS Ia hard way, |
when DR.. Braudrsth. tho pill man. who |
consultod Gowans about Introducing his pills.
ferrod 10 The HerG4d by GoSans as good medium fer
presenting his goods To the public. lilo made Contract
by wnicn ho paid Bennett considerable sam every
the OF his columns, and Bennett afterward
sad IL was just what wanted, aud II had sot
IT, should have had To collapse
Audubon was also personal acquaintance Of |
birds, Audubon said to Gowans Il did sell nuro
than forty copies Of NY work In Great Britain aud
France. Of which ton copies wore taken by Louis |
Philippe then King of France. George w., tho |
Duchess or Clarence the Marquis OF Londonderry and
the Princess OF HesseOnburg each subscribed for two
RoLhsohild paid for his copy. but only |
after much trouble Audubon said that |
he sold seyentynvs copies In America twUuty-six OF
la New DIRK and twenty four Ia Boston. Tho work
him a27 900, and ho lost $4,000 by IT, Louis Phi-
lippe offered TO take 100 copies published In
Paris but Audubon said thai II would take forty years
huish IL things then In the French capital
Perhaps the man who knows most or Old uowans To-
day Ia Edward w. Nash OF NassausL who was In Dusi-
with him for many years before GOwans's death
papers The old roa character and devoted TO
books from genuine love for them. Many of the ahoc-
books and of their wfitors were on
tiroy his experience. never heard or saw Ihem
Else where and could they have boon gathered la tho
,tyc of his Memorabilia thoy would road Ike another
PepYs"
ROgTOV pRONUNUIITiOy Or "PLlTFAfR"