The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-19
COCKERILL'S LETTER
An intellectual Cult in the
Metropolis.
NEW YORK BLANKET SHEETS
Getting Old-A Sample Of Self Restraint
Byrnes and His American JACK
the Ripper.

ByIQes anu tlb AnlerlCdu JACK
the Ripper.
Especial correspondence OF TIE HERALD
NEW YORK, July Is, 1S91.-There never
was a time in the history Of New York
journalism when competition was so keen
as at this writing. The big newspapers are
spending money with a lavish hand, and
what is known as ''circus journalism"
seems to be more in vogue than ever.
About a year ago the Herald, which had
been moving along in a conservative way,
shook out reef or two and began printing
pictures. The Sun, once a model of con-
densation, took to ten and twelve page edi-
tons, and even the conservative old Euen
ing Post caught the padding fever and
swelled itself to stupid proportions. Last
December the proprietor of the World for
mally abdicated, gave up all control Of his
newspaper and returned to his European
home. Recently the competition became so
keen that he returned to New York and
increased his newspaper expenditures
and salaries something like $350000 a
year. The blanket sheet business now
goes on more actively than ever, and the
public is fairly groaning under its load of
stuffing in the way of reading matter and
cheap advertising. All of this is good for
the printers and the newsmongers- / know
of reporters who were plodding along on
SIS week less than six months ago, who
are now commanding $50 and even $40.
Reporters swing like pendulums from one
newspaper 20 another in search of gilt
edged honorariums, and the men who have
''ideas" to sell-that is, something bizarre
in the way Of pictures, voting schemes,
colored cartoons, hideous headlines, or
catch-penny guessing matches-are looked
upon as the apostles of the profession. A
large contingent Of writers has been called
in from the country, and the probabilities
are that before many months there will be
an Intellectual glut in the metropolis.
There are signs that the public Is growing
weary of the ponderous newspaper, and
reaction may be looked for. l am stalking
something upon this theory, and il is just
possible that am a biased prophet.
One of the most interesting sights of New
York is William Z. Howe, the massive ad-
vocate, in fraternal conference with his
diminutive partner and loyal champion,
Little Abe' Hummel. Surprisingly little
is known about the personality of these
Two lnltItSlluR ClIlZtuS VI lut
metropolis. The chronicles of the Old
Bailey and the Newgate Calendar are
reckoned among the classic English htera-
ture by vast majority of readers who are
better judges of crime than of composition.
When the CHRONICLES of the Tombs'' and
the ''Sing Sing Calendar come to be
written, Howe or Rummel, or both, will
assuredly have to be consulted. If not re-
tanned to do the bulk of the work.
LAWYER HOWE.
MIR. Howe is getting to be an old man
now. His enormous frame and bull dog
tenacity OF purpose and energy Of execu-|
ton, not to prevent his energy in prevent
ing executions, still serve 10 keep him
young before the juries. He has commo-
dious and tasteful mansion in that newer
New York which lies to the northeast and
above the Harlem where, in the midst of an
extensive and well-selected library, he
passes the evenings of his mellowing years
in quiet. He is devoted 10 loud diamond
decked jewelry, to his home and family and
IN spite of his very large acquaintance with
nearly all those semi-mysterious members
OF the community known as linen about
town." he is not Of them nor is he seen
with them. To see him one must seek him
in some important trial, or in the inner
sanctum of his office down in Centre street
near the Tombs. Howe has been described
as human bull dog; his remarkable sue
cess in capital cases is due not only to his
tremendous energy, but il is saio, to his
solid substratum OF legal learning,
which he laid more than genera
ton ago in Boston. Not long |
after he concluded to move to the |
q slender and very small boy of
very vivacious and strongly marked physI- |
ognomy, biacked-eyed and black-haired,
and as spry as a chipmunk, same into MS
Peonla say that iftla na;;
Hummel began as Office boy and front-door !
polisher. He was not long in making his |
value felt, however, and small as he is
and boyish as he remains in /
spite of his experience be is now ''as big
man as old Howe,p to whose brawny |
shoulders his silk hat barely approximates |
Criminal associations can by no means be |
declared to have eliminating influences on
the lives of these men. Hummel goes out |
as much as Howe stays at home. The |
lively little bruno may be seen at all the /
first nights, in the fashionable promenades, |
driving in the park, telling stories in mp
town cafes, and in the evening at any one |
of half dozen clubs of which he is a mem i
Der. He lives on Seventeenth street, and |
''does the social" while his herculean 1
partner ''does the family act.''
ALPHABET GRAIN.
In one of those tortuous vehicles Of SER
pentine inactivity, called Broadway street
cars, i met yesterday young New Yorker,
who, even in this age of young men, has
as politician and orator alike,
! success, which. taken into connection
with his youthful face, gray hairs and big
office, make him a marked man ever in
New York. HE'S I. c. T. Grain, sometimes
;aIled Alphabet" Grain, the City Chamber
ain. Mr.. Grain Is only thirty-one years of
age, and has held this very responsible and
position by the grace Of Tam
many Hall ever since Richard Croker re-
signed and went to Europe. It is said the
Of the place, including every
hing. may be from So, 900 to SIS, 600. Some
people say Croker shares them with Grain
low. The incumbent comes from the little
own Of Cullen, up in Northern New
York, near Rjchfeld Springs. where
lis father was sturdy, substantial
armer until the remarkable success
# the son in city life brought the old gen.
leman down to be a member of his sons
amily and q locker on in Gotham. Young
Mr.. Grain is a bachelor. He was the pri-
rate secretary of the bachelor mayor.
Hugh J. Grant, when appointed by hin to
lis present desirable berth. He has almost
Iince his majority been practicing lawyer
hink on dis feet, handle his points rs they
rise and impress himself on his audiences.
lie loves to make speeches. Many think
hat he is an orator. The men with whom
e comes in contact at the bar, in politics.
q Office, 1T Tammany hall, and at his clubs
nay be, and generally are, bent AZ to the