Evening journal., 1888-06-12

DOM PIATT AND HIS HOME AT MAc-o-cHEEK.
Leaving The Commercial, he started The
Washington CapltR3, and, is superfuous to
say, edited ii on ths same principle. Its sue
cess was unprecedented. 1t is said that he
realized 10000 in TIVE years from it. And
what journal it wSsi Spirited, saucy and
madly interesting. Excellent literature
graced its columns, and its editorial COM
ment was joy te read to all whose names
were not therein held up to ridieule, as was
that OF many luekless wight of high degree
Everybody wondered why Dom Piatt left
The Capital when it was so famous and pros
porous. While engaged upon it he was writ
ing literally for dear life, in other words. for
livelihood. BY the death Of his wifeis
father he came into possession Of an indepen-
dence and retired TO Mae-o-cheek. o. where
he was born, and where he has built a $4,000
house, as elegant as baronial castle and far
more comfortable, and in which he enjoys a
luxurious leisure such as seldom blesses the
slaves Of the pen.
Sometimes from his retreat he has sent
forth few thunderbolts, blazing with the
old time fire, or occasionally a charming
story or exquisite poem but for the most
part lie has cut the newspaper world entirely
About year ago be published book entitled
Men Who Saved the Union,n which was as
interesting as a novel, and called forth no end
OF blame and admiration from the critics, as
anything he writes is sure to do His pub
fishers, Eelford, Clarke & Co, consider him
one OF their best selling authors and are now
getting ont volume Of his short stories
which bee-s the natne Of the longest story,
THE Lone Grave OF the Sheuandoah. . a
touching and beautiful story Of the war
Col. Piatt Is q versatile genius. He is q
forceful and finished editorialist, delight
full correspondent, one of the most charming
af CT ~.
graphical and other sketches, and a poet
whose songs, though not many, are passing
sweet. One of them whose first verse Isl
"The bloom was on the elder and the tassel
on the corn, has been endlessly copied, ad-
mired and initiated. 1t deserves a place in
the classic poetry Of America, if we may be
said TO have such thing.
Some Of the people who know Dom Piatt
only through his journalistic work wherein
he has catered to the Tastes Of the many as
journalists are obliged to do, IMAGINE that
he Is q cynical creature, full OF bitterness and
ugiincss. All that is really foreign to his
nature. Instead Of being a hard crusted
cynie, with his hand against every man, he
is at least one of the most sensitive of men,
loyal as the sun TO his friends. in short, real
good fellow, much more ready to do a kind
ness than intlict an injury.
AS is the way OF writers peculiarly strong
in the critical faculty and ability to ridicule,
Dom Piatt has doubtlessly laid it on thick
without boing entirely aware of the weight
Of his own words. AS a critic OF literature
he is among the first None is quicker to see
the strong and weak points Of a work or
better instructed in the rules which govern
literary art His own writing distinctiyely
possesses the quality we call style
In conversation he is always entertaining
without seeming to realize that he is. He
speaks in deliberate drawl, keeping his
auditors In roar, while he maintains per-
tectly calm cOuntenance. For instance, he
told in tho most matter-of-fact way that
when last in Washington he saw ''a woman
with n head like pumpkin, and then calmly
added, which is no uncommon thing about
Washington, except on a woman He has
been known to charm his enemies by means
OF his conversational gift in a single inter-
view and make them his frAnds for life.
IN manner Don Piett is essentially hirh
bred. His attitude towards ladies savors of
southern gaIiantry. without the affectation
which sometimes accompanies that adorable
quality. lt has In 1t a shade OF homage and
Difference which wins the good opinion OF the
fair and down tFodden sex, peculiarly re-
| freshing 10 them after they have suffered
| from the brutal manners OF men in public
places, as have the ladies Of New York. So
unused are they TO kindly and courteous
| treatment that bit OF true politaness from
one Of the alleged chivalrous sex almost
moves them to tears Col. Piatt is not the
man to sit in q horse car while woman
stands, or 10 elbow her Off the platform, at
the risk Of her life, in order to get aboard
ahead of her. For male human beings OF that
brand he has invented an appropriate name
! He calls them car hogs.n
Neither is be in any sense coward. The
| white feather never adorns his hat in either
war or peace. He says and does what he
/ pleases without fear or favor.
BY way of a joke some of his friends had
| him appointed postmaster, on a munihcent
/ salary Of S4s year Ho rather enjoyed the
| joke, os it enabled him to get his mail
! promptly. He is almost the only person who
/ gets letters through the office, though many
send mail through it.
"Come for letters to the oflces Indeed they
/ don't, he says. my dogs are too savage
GERTRUDE GARRISON.