The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
IN A NICKEEB0CKER AGE.
MEN IN OFFICE IN NEW FORK IN THE
PART OF THE CENTURf'

commissioners ~ FaNA 80
the ti,-Ner.eroie Pudding In tire ShS
unII-The Original SIN stockinE-A s'Soe"
Mayor H~arper-sone slips OF 'ho 'o"SD0'
Tho first quarter Of this century was III 'uo
government Of the city a vcritable hnicAei'
hacker ago. The mere names oil the Mayors
prove the assertion. A Narlck ocgah 'no e'n
fury, and was succeeded by q LiNlhEsVo"' "
clinton. n Willctt, u Radcliff, q Golden, an
Alien. n paulding, and a Hone. Mayors bd-
vnrd Livingston, Dc witt Clinton, ana e"u"ai'
lader ID. Golden wcro entitled TO rank as sta.cs'
men. Tho most popular Mayor OF that pcrlou'
hoycvcr. was stephen Allen. who US a master
,ai,mnker. came from tho masses. Ito was
an assistant Alderman OF the Tenth ward IN
,a,- ,hcn for two years was its Alderman,
and a decade after quitting the Mayoralty nc
.coin took the otiico OF assistant Alderman.
Tn ,sSl ho was one OF the victims OF the BURN
inc oH Workers Of the Hudson River day boat
Henry Clay.
Among other Knickerbocker magnstes OF
public life in the city have been eight basarus,
four Beckmans, and three Brevoorts. ohe VI
the last, John Hendricks Brevoort, was an assis-
tant Alderman in the last century, and mis- iarln
on what is now lower Fifth avenue was hoteo
I'm the old Fly Market, near Liberty street ana
broadway, for its early vegetables ana trult.
Not a few families yet preserve tradition Oh inc
Brevoort pipp!<s.
There have been Mayors who served two
term. hut De Witt Clinton was eleven yearssin
tho City Hall, quitting it to promote the Erie
Canal and die OF heart disease in the Guber-
Material chair. His widow long survived as q
social hostess in Bond street, and to her. when
last in this city, Gen. Lafayette paid bis only
social call.
II Is perhaps not generally known that the
father Of one OF tho rebel commissioners VINO
figured In the Trent affair and came near
causing n war with Great Britain figured early
In this century in the public life OF this city as
an Alderman. Like the son, the father was
John Slidell, and it was from the father, once
a Sachem in the Tammany Society, that the son
learned those political tricks which IN leiA
turned the State of Louisiana-whither John
the second had em~igratcd-against Its IDOL.
Henry Clay.
Fifty-seyen oficeholders Of prominence had
the Knickerbocker prefix of Van to their
names. The most distinguished was Myndert
Van Schaick. who was in the Common Council
during the ~forties, but was best known as one
Of the first Croton Water Commissioners.
Lately the widow Of Alonzo A. Alvord died.
leaving q large fortune, Her death revived
memories Of her husband, who was an insur-
ance President and an Alderman in the early
fortiee. He had for colleague from the Thir-
teenth ward a very original east slider named
Bernard J. Merserole. a member Of an ancient
Knickerbocker family. Merserole was always
called Barney, and was never. when away from
home, without his hat in his custody. for on the
night OF his election, when visited by ho con.
stituents, his new hat had disappeared, and
ever afterward his headgear was doubly precious
the Aldermen met in one Of the City Hall rooms
for dinner. There was generally served q pud-
ding-best known on menus as cabinet pudding
With which. Merserole started the repast, while
his colleagues began with. either oysters or
soup; His eccentricity in this respect did not
touch pie or fruit, only the pudding rich with
why begin with pudding. BarneyI" asked
cause i'll don't I never get enough of It. De-
cause you fellows eat it all away from me- was
For years afterward and until reformers abol.
ished City Hall dinners at public expense. that
PUDDING was known in the kitchen department
judging the Aldermanic feasts it must be re-
inp:abered that then Aldermen served for the
diem en- when seated as side, Judges 10 The Re
corder in the Courts of Sessions. Nor were any
first came before the Common Council. 4 news
paper man named Stephen. II. Branch, who
which he named the Alligator, was the means
OF abolishing the Aldermanic dinners and the
The table turnitTre, ilnac!udihns a goodly supply
Of silver spoons and forks belonging to the city
and used in the City. HAN, was SOLO AT auction;
and bringing fair prices as souvenirs increased
the revenues OF the sinking fund by about $500.
New York has had only one dandy Chief Magis-
trate: He was Aaron Clark, elected in 1896 as
a Wing. His white neckties were ever OF the
Immaculate Beau Brummel order. and he
gilt buttons of his coat. cut in evening style;
His shirt front unlike his temper, was ruffied
and An his patent tent t Leather ia her 6 os3eia, Te cs,s as Ginning s ans
peared at a ball in Constitution Hall then in
broadway between Blocker and B~ond-wear-
- ~. liza I'LL Id From that niR.
fUfsiaa po 5ae c 1i@0f him "6 P3T' six fni's Stocking CT ins
SS Began TO c shp ci Hy S0e #Rig party aTHi' the Six stock,
ing party. But every Mayor has been noted for
dignity in his dress. Among the Aldermen Of
man was Abraham Lent. but then he was one
OF the fashionable tailors of the period and in:
terested in fine appearances. Fernando Wood
and James Harper were the only semi-ascetic
Mayors. The first equity Mayor was Ambrose
In the htn posseeslo @n Of teTStsTd to sno present nA'0f
Mayor Philip Hone was a noted dinner
giyer, as was Mayor 0pdyke. who was a prime
his political foes used to narrate that he break,
tasted at sunrise, summer, and winter. mainly
slur upon him, but that really served to inten'
sity Irish admiration for him. A laugh9ble an
who was a prominent member OF the Total Alb.
stincnce Society. His publishing firm. cary
in his Mayorslty, got out q book Of Mexican
founder and editor Of the New Orleans &c
{ yune and q wag and wit. Being in the city
correcting proofs Of his volumes, he called on
his Mayor publisher.
1 His Honor y with a m Of Rechabite
ashanti open the door but just give him shor,
message" was the reply. and. not disclosing his
identity, Kendall called through the partly
opened passage: MIR. Mayor. don't wait long
Our party Is awaiting your coming at the AS
tor House. where we have a bowl OF the brandy
punch ready which you so much love, :" and thei
he quietly closed the door and retreited.
The Rechabite temperance ladies, glared a
Mayor Harper and arose TO go at this apparent
disclosure, But the Mayor had not been half
century, in the publishing business to be easil!
disconfiled and he said:
'Oh, ladies, ! recognize the voice of my jocu
lar friend Kendall OF the New Orleans Picnvune
and that punch message is only one Of his prac
tical Jokes"
The ladies looked only the moro suspiciousl,
y grieved. and one whispered: THAT shocking
irreverent newspaperl' Mayor Harper, VIII
told tho story, always added laughingly:
MY Rechabite constituents afterward wer
wont to suspect my temperance principles"
When Mayor Gunther was inaugurated on
New Years Day he prepared generous suppl
etituents. whose political idol he WAS. hui M