Evening journal., 1888-06-12
Especial Correspondence

u
Era in Newspaper Correspondence.
Especial Correspondence.l
NEW YoRR, June l2-The wheel Of fate
in its revolutions makes some unexpected dis
positions Of the people OF tho pen as well as
In every other department. Of human affairs
For instance there is Col. Donn Piatt Dur
ing the past six or seven years he has been
living like lord, in inglorious ease, at his
magnificent country place In the Mac-O-cheek
valley, o., where he has "cattle on q thou
sand hills,n fine horses, handsome gardens,
and no end OF rural joys. Now he has been
lured from his retreat, and is In New York in
charge Of Belford's Magazine whose first
number, just out, has had dnttering recep-
tion. 1t issues from the rich and reputable
house OF Belford, Clarke S5 Co.
Col. Piatts ability to make highly inter
esting reading out OF anything TO which he
applies his pen goes without question AS
the new magazine intends to be political as
well MS literary, 10 express the opinion Of its
editor and others on political personages,
situations and events, it is not only arousing
general interest, but inspiring terror ia the
breasts Of some OF the active figures in the
'sdirty pool OF politics. who fear that they
may be impaled on the pungent Piatt pen
just what moved this war horse Of journal
ism 70 give up his beloved leisure and once
more take the public in hand, nobody knows.
Presumably it was the love of expressing
himself, which writers never entirely lose,
rather than any financial consideration, since
he has the means to live without pen drying
II he chooses to do so. He has been known
to say that he considered the pen mightier
than the sword, but it must be pig pen.
Perhaps no literary figure Of the present
time Is moro original, more gifted. more mis-
understood and misrepresented than Donn
Piatt The public never adores any one who
has told it the plain truth about itself, and
he hns had this felicity many and many a
time
Two years ago, when writing something
about him, said to aim: II will try and do
you justice" "Now, perhaps it isn't justice
want" he answered, in his usual humorous
drawl. Then he went on TO tell that. having
received through life more kicks than cop.
pers, or as he laughingly said, "To put il
elegantly, moro cusses than compliments.n
any suggestion of writing about him,
in other than a savage spirit stirred in
him a strange sensation. He assured me
that one hack would hold all the mourners
at his funeral, and as that described him
when dead, it would not take much to sat
isfy public curiosity in regard to him when
living.
Aside from this drollery, he is probably
aware that he is exactly the kind Of person
in whom both friends and foes take an ex-
ceedingly warm interest, because he is indi-
vidual and original--a man not at all after
the usual pattern Besides, he has claims on
public interest other than those Of journal
T. lee Il.
military record, and has held responsible
governmental commissions.
He frankly says that the first half Of his
life was an active pursuit Of excitement and
the pleasure found in excitement. He dab
bled in literature, in a lazy kind Of way, aud
read cart loads Of books. Ho studied law,
and shortly after his admission to tiic Sar IN
tlnelnnal Yves appointed to a vacancy on
the bench. At this time he was so young
that, being in Washington, friend who III
troduced him to Nathaniel Hawthorne as
Judge Piatt, added, 1--WE have habit out
west, Mr Hawthorne, of putting our young
psSs,;s on the bcrch to ssudy law.n
This, though intended as mere pleasantly,
embarrassed the youthful judge to a degree
that excited the compassion Of the dstin-
guished novelist, whose supersensiHve and
suffering that he knew how to sympathize
With another on an occasion like this Taking
Piatt aside, he devoted himself funreinittingly
TO him for a couple of hours, in order to miti-
gate his distress and put him entirely at his
ease. This was the beginning OF strong
friendship between the two, which lasted to
the end Of Hawthornes life.
! From tho bench Dom Piatt passed to the
/ place Of secretary Of legation, under Hon.
John I. Mason, United States minister at
| Paris The minister was stricken down
with apoplexy and Piatt became charge
d'aiTaires and held that position for
nearly year. He is a descendant
Of the Huguenots. ard his radical
blood asserted itself at tho French capital
He made tho legation headquarters for tho
| Fed Republicans As matter Of course, he
| became popular with that class and very
unpopular among the retired American soap
boilers resident at Paris Pierre Soule, Louis
| Blanc and many more Of that order were his
| fast friends.
Heresigned and came home. When the
war broke ont he thought 70 set a good ex-
ample by volunteering as private. He was
elected captain, and at night studied over the
drill which he gave next day.
/ Nren. EehencK OuerHu nm chO1Ce OF posi-
tions on his staff, and he served under that
gallant soldier and gentleman until near the
close OF the war. He was In the first and
second battles Of Bull Run, at Cross Keys
and McDowells. Secretary Stanton put him
on the court THAT investigated the loss Of
| Harperas Ferry, and he wrote the finding Of
tho court. He was then made Judge advo-
cate of tie commission that investigated
Gen. Buell. As chief OF staff under Cen
Schenck, he freed the slaves in Maryland,
much 70 the disgust Of Maryland and tho
wrath of President Lincoln. This brought
his military career to an abrupt conclusion,
and he returned to the law.
Piatt was only - years old when he mar
ried the elder daughter Of Timothy Kirby, a
millionaire banker Of Cincinnati He did
not in the least mind having it known that
this event occurred in direct opposition TO the
wishes Of the young ladyas parents. Hs
himself tells Of an occasion when Mr.. Kirby
said to some one in his CpiGtt'sl presence:
"See what smart son-in-lGw / have! j
didn't want him; but Two got him.
Miss Kirby was a woman Of genius who
died few years after her marriage, leaving
a volume OF letters entitled "Belle Smith
Abroad which ran through four editions
After her death Mr. Piatt married her sister
who has been a sad invalid throughout their
married life, and to whom the brilliant col
onel is said 70 be romsntically devoted. Il
was while they were in New York years ago
to put her under medical treatment. that b,
was forced to turn to his pen for support.