The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-01
LETTER FROM PIFCAFILLY.
That Good-Natured Celebrity Replies Ora
ciously to Correspondent.


To THE EDITOR OF THE sUN-Sir: Prompted
by consuming desire to know something
about Mr.. Pisistratus Pifcafilly OF South Bos
ton. upon whom you have set the seal of i'm
mortality. communicated to that gentleman
the knowledge that had heard his name be-
fore you gave 1t to the world. as / bestowed 1t
upon pet at my homo two years ago. and that
] had traced the history OF his name back many
hp9fed year. VII be At nny t%e
Ike 81 Ss ss@a y sy
for oddly and remarkableness eclipses any
story have ever read. But right here want
to quote ms th he
too good-natured fellow to live in Boston
MY DEAR srR: humbly crave your fullest pardon
for my delay in responding to your recent letter
and have only to say as an excuse that have re-
ceived several hundreds almost similar to 1t. You
have very characteristic way Of felicitating me
upon my sudden acquisition Of apparently endless
fame through the Offices OF THE Bun. and, believe
me. II did not believe your Fluctuations on
behalf of that paper, the tone OF this reply would
be entirely different.
! am thankful to you for the information concern
ing my namesake. your billy goat Peculiar my
name is 1t has put me in jail. has It
caused me to do anything for the sake of general
cussedness. trust 1t will work quito as we'll with
Billy. thankful to you also for the int resting
matter on the history OF the name of Pfcahlly.
How proud your bilygoat might feel were he
blessed with the faculty OF human Understandings
For you have thoroughly convinced me that blood
Is bound to tell
However. l will not stop to discuss this point
further. My progentors rigidly observed q reso-
luton that began with the beginning OF the Pifca-
hly family. i. e.. that PtcRhlly should seek
fame: that Pifcanles were born TO fame and honor.
and that such would fall tn cir lot without solicit
tation. Several Pfcahllies have been famous since
the days Of Sparta. as you pave discovered. and
am not little surprised that New York editors APP
parently are not aware OF this.
But all the fame my noble ancestors clustered
about them. daresay. is Incompatible with what
have suddenly and surprisedly received. Ny father
taught me to believe that by hard work, assiduity
and integrity might become President of the United
States. This was beautiful to me in my youth. but
was dissipated when reached the age OF discretion,
partly for other reasons and partly because of tho
| apparent partially shown by the American peo-
pie for brief euphonious names for the occupant
of tho White House. Then it that began to
appreciate the value OF short name. and then 1t
was that eliminated from my full given name its
second joint believing was doing mankind and
myself q good deed. Before this elimination my
name was Pisstratus Ignatus Pifcahlly. Since tho
vision OF Presidential honors left me have lived
with rigid determination to seek fame. and I'M
til tel days ago was plain Pisstratus Ptcanlly.
Think oft! am now receiving letters with tho
brevet Hon"
will not answer your inquiry regarding my ago.
size. height. appearance. &c. have marital or
political aspirations, nor would accept the nomi.
nation for Mayor OF New York were It rendered to
me. This is because I am modest man.
This is all write you upon the subject Of my
self, and pray you to be content with it. will be
happy to hear from Won in future other matters
incidentally please accept the Enclosed pamphlet
which prepared several years ago. have entitled
1t " Peace and Quiet with Singular Name" because
believe my life would not have been peaceful and
quiet with any other Only this morning heard a
rumor that Jones and Smith are arguing in various
parts Of the country. remain.
Yours. faithfully. PsisTRATus PFCAFILLY
Mr.. Picaflly has evidently not become pes
simist although endowed with name that has
not its equal In the annals OF history
NEW YORK, June 20 ORESTES WEN