The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
BILL VAN DAMN II FRESH CORRESPONDENT
WRITES HIMSELF AN ASS.
THE sLCMs OF NEW FORK HoU CLAIM
THEIR oFFAL.

lhE l. lS VI Ne" 1Ohh ShogLD SlLAlh
THEIR oFFAL.
Mr.. Bill Van Damn IA dago name. isn't 1t n.
correspondent for n Kansas City newspaper was
sent TO this city to write up" the Lady Min
strel' entertainment for his paper. The paper
has many readers in this city and it was eN-
pectcd that nj least fair treatment would be
awarded any event OF sufficient Importance TO
secure special notice in that sheet. The presence
OF this man, Bill Van Damn. was not solicited.
not even desired; but when he came as the rep
resentativc of a reputable paper he was
resolved as = Gent'cn3n; treated as such.
cicty of tho best people OF our city. Every
courtesy was extended him. and he was granted
an equality that subsequent events prove he was
far from mcritinE. and which he has grossly out
ragged. Aside from personal considerations. our
from this paper through its reporter. Criticism.
ever 80 severe. would have been accepted in
silence; though criticism was needless. as it
WAS but an amateur entertainment, hastily pre-
parcd. ant. with no special claim TO artistic cN-
ccl!ence. But the laborcd effort OF this would
he wit 10 be funny succeeds only in revealing
the ignoblc trend OF his thoughts and the dc.
PRAYED mentality from which he draws inspira-
ton.
The suggestions are coarse, the inuendoes low.
grossly insulting, and boar the impress OF u
lance and bcfouled by association and communion
with the lowest drcgs OF society. The good ladies
OF Junctropolis should not feel in the least an
noycd by the illc vaporings Of this bescentcd
hireling who, masqueradlng as u gentleman. has
betrayed their confidence. insultcd their hos
pitnlity, and proved his utter uniltness for the
position he occupies. AT tho same time they
have been the recipients OF n lesson by which
they should profit. There are reporters and re-
portcrs. The mere fact that a person Is employed
rs II penny .a-lincr upon a metropolitan sheet
IL not n stamp of royalty--is not even an
uncrring certificate OF good character. A man
may no an entertaining and ready writer, and
still, DO a knavc; he may have the outward
scmblancc OF n gentleman and yet be low, de-
based. md possessed OF tho instincts OF tho
beast. Tho slums OF New York furnish many
such examples and this recent importation to
Kansas City sccms TO possess all tho character.
istics needed to constitute him n light OF the Five
Points and Bowcry society OF New York.
The reporter was bowildcrcd. His Western
newspaper friends laughed and said:
This Is m experience You must have to
catch on out here. Mover say you are from New
York. because II makes them frantic"
They warned him against attempting n sortio
into Junctropolis and licking anybody, because
he would DO arrested and yet about twenty
years In the Kansas state pcnitentiary.
What shall i do r. asked the New Yorker.
Find some way 10 call him u niggerl" advised
a man from Now Orleans.
The New Yorker recalled that he had been
introduced to n woman who told him she was a
society editor, anu he wrote 10 her asking who
the author of tho libel MAS: A prompt reply
came, giving the name and this note:-
He is n Christian gentleman and scholar,
noted in our section Of the great republic for his
great literary and journalistic successes and
honors, and for his answering and fearlcs:
loyalty to tho truth"
Now" said the man from Now Orleans
" write back and say: Esteemed Madam: Per
NIT mo to express my sincere thanks for your
reply. / had supposed the person was q nigger.
know these Jayhawks." continued the mar
from New Orleans; "ho cant reply 10 that ant
he will suffer a thousand deaths and bust"