The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-09
GOSSIP OF GREATER GOTHAM
Robert !. Van Wyck as He Appears In
the City Hall.
his SPONSOR JOHN 7. CARROLL.
Little Known Now. Hut Worth watching.
Greater New York Larger than Some
kincdoms-TheM syor'sTemper.
VIII Tie speak Ups

become one OF the best known in all New
York through his candidacy for and tri-
umphaDt election AS first mayor OF the
Greater New York, Robert Van wyck
Is personally known 10 only few out
side. political and legal circles. He will
he known to great many who are Meth
ar politicians nor lawyers before his term
al ONCE expires. and. though nc has been
in his new place less than a week. II is
fvideni that ne IL going TO make a favor
able impression upon most OF those whom
lie meets.
To many who have received an idea Of
his personality from his pictures, pho
tographcd and printed. he is a surprise
when met face TO face. For instead OF
being man OF at least medium size
with full chest and "A rather imposing
front as expected. he IS short, neither
broad Of chest nor expansive OF person
not ~ all like "A man who could eat six
pounds OF steak AT a sitting. He dresses
almost but not quite well enough 10 JUS
tfy the use of the adjective "natty"
IN describing him. His clothes are made
OF the best materials obtainable, and the
extreme smoOthness OF their 10 leads the
observer at once 10 believe they we're
cut on Fifth avenue. which is the fact
VAN WICK IN PERSON.
His voice is rather peasant-"well
Jnodulsted' would describe il better than
any other term. perhaps. His face is
ngreeably colored, his nose is laid out
along manly liI Is and his hair and mus
tache are virile in their luXuriance.
His eyes are. perhaps. the most strik-
Eng feature Of his countenance, being
deep and piercing. They have been call
Cd black and they have been called brown
l am not sure they are not blue. but
whatever their color they always inn
press the beholder at first sight. as black
NOT dead black. contented eyes. but
swapping black-such eyes as men with
Quick tempcrs and intense passions look
out upon the world through. Anyone
who knows Van Wyck well will tell you
that these eyes do not belle the man
that he really has a perfect whrlwind
of temper. once 1t is aroused. and that
Ne has been known, on occasion. to dis
play II tearlessly and freely.
But the impression that he is a man
Of quick and impetuous temper is fully
offset by His Honors laugh. which is
clear and ringing and Of the quality that
indicates infallbly the sense of humor
well developed His manner. too is en-
yagag. though studied, and he shakes
hands with cordially.
VAN W II - IrMIf4h
Those who know most about his temper
say that Mayor VanWyck may one day
revolt against some of Crokers pieces Of
dictation. and that If he ever does the
liveliest kind Of a row will ensue. That
Croker will put up with much indepen-
nence on the part Of the mayor no one
imagines for moment That Van Wyck
viii recede from "A position antagonist!c
90 Croker once he takes IL. either in
,he deliberation of cold blood or in the
Feat Of passion, IS equally inconceivable.
And. Of course. tho friends OF both say
Mat a point of difference between them
viii surely never rise.
By some who have followed Van Wyck
mrecr pretty closely direct attention TO
he dramatic scene which occurred in
Meeting Of the Tammany Hal General
Committee in 1850 on the evening OF No
'ember 9Th. just after the Presidential
lection. when Hancock the Democratic
candidate was defeated. John Kelly was
ooss then as Richard Croker is now, and
there We're not wanting those who
charged that Hancock's failure 10 win
was due TO the trcachery of Tammany as
guided by the boss. This charge was
supported. so Tammany critics said. by
the fact that the local Democratic ticket
hercgin New York went through with
,olors flying. Van Wyck. then a young
and jnconspicuous member Of the Cen
cral Committee believed in the charge
When preamble and resolution were
proposed i'm which Tammany's grief over
the defeat Of Hancock was duly set ont
in words of decent mourning. this in
conspicuous member of the committee
sprang 20 his feet IN an instant.
Il move that the resolutions be amend
ed TO the effect that the defeat OF Cen
..srn Hfal Il. duo 80
the selhshness and acknowledgement Of
Democratic leaders in New York and
Brooklyn"
MADE THE TIGER ROAR.
This was a brief utterance only three
words longer indeed, than Van Wyck's
speech OF thirty-one words accepting his
nomination as mayor last fall, but it
made tho tiger roar as with the voice OF
many waters and the result was Van
Wycks retirement from Tammany Hall
One OF the great city papers then said
he was a strong and brave young man
who would one day be a great leader
Those who argue against the probable
fly OF his ever making another kick over
the traces point 10 the fact that while
ne has now reached the highest official
place IN the gift Of the municipality he
years and years ago and their lapse has
undoubtedly tended greatly TO the calm
ing of his old-time somewhat volatile
spirit; But II he should have an occas-
ioual tilt with the boss Of Tammany II
would surely add TO the liveliness OF the
next few years here in New York.
TO turn 10 Van Wycks personality for
q moment. II may he said without the
least stretching OF the fact. that half
dozen nations. and more perhaps. may
Re found whose population and wealth.
especially the latter, are far inferior 10
those Of the great city of which he Is
now the chief magistrate.
Toy countries like Andorre and san
Marine should be left out OF such COM
parisons as tbs present one. Of course
hut they are not needed. for all Swift
erland has less population by some thou
sands than the congeres of towns AT
the mouth OF the Hudson river and the
Prince Of Scrvla Ras almost a million
less subjects than the people Of the city
over which Van Wyck has been set Up
a. mayor. And as 20 wealth in money.
art and architecture. neither OF those
countries 10 use a bit OF slang could
hold a candle 10 the Greater New York.
IL will be seen from these two out of
many such possible comparisons that my
statement IS not overdrawn. One of the
New York papers ranged certain com
paratve facts most strikingly the other
day when II said that the entire army
OF Morocco Is not more numerous than
the street cleaners. policemen ana hremen
90 the Greater New York and that the
population OF Montenegro is less In num-
Der than the crowd which crosses the