New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-08

49, HERE has just passed away at Fonda ~ "
remarkable and interesting personality
Of American journalism-the Rev. Wash
ington rockingham, journalist, author
and philantbropist, known to the public only as
'the Hermit Of New York" and more often called
by his profession the dean Of American jour
nslism
High on tho hills Of Fonda overlooking the Mo-
hawk Valley stands the colonial mansion Of his
tore associations which was built by Jellis Fonda
l25 year, ago, and which was the home Of Dr.
Rockingham for sixty years. For seventy years
he gave pleasure 70 thousands who knew him only
through his books and newspaper correspondence
END nothing Of mis- wonderful personality which
he successfully concealed by styling himself
hermit OF deeply religious and reticent nature
be studiously avoided publicity in any FORM espe-
cislly shrinking from newspaper notoriety and
consistently refusing 70 be interviewed on any
subject This accounts for the fact that so little
is known Of man whose literary output has been
enormous and whose journalistic career covered
nearly three generations.
THE aERNIT BREAKS THE LONG HABIT
OF SILENCE.
Through the courtesy Of his favorite niece,
personal friend Of the writer. he broke his long
silence and consented 70 be interviewed IN MS
ninetieth wear Since then il has been my priv
lege to visit him on several occasions. Inc ias'
time | saw him at patriotic celebration !"
Fonda mellow Indian summer day three year,
ago whs, the Daughters Of the Revolution ui-
yelled monument commemorative OF heVoiu
tionsry battle and upon which occasion he had
been the orator of the day.
After the meeting. together climbed the
agility Of man in his prime, although the way
vas grass grown and roughly paved. Later, seated
On the broac veranda of the mansion racing 'ne
quaint old-fashioned garden where the holtyhocks
md four-o clocks glowed against the dark paeA
sround Of lockwood hedges. DR. rockingham De
came reminiscent and talked of his friehdsn'ps
with William Cullen Bryant, Longfeilow' ~
Willis Washington Irving and other ceieprateu
men Of mast generations. Of Irving, who was ms
sreat-uncle, he said: "He was the most Deau'iiui
literary character have ever known. some OF '"'
appiest days Of my life were spent with MIN ~
Sgrnyside"
His contributions to "The Knckeroocker
New York;, published in the early part OF 'n'
last century; also "Harpers Weekly ana Mon''
y," The New York Tribune, 1.-THE Ne" loiS
Tines" "The Herald" and "The Evening fosI
sought him into close personal relations WIN
Cnanes A. Dana, Horace Greeley, Henry heui"o"o
and James Gordon Bennett, sr.
Speaking of men in public life and their in"u
ence upon their own and succeeding generations
his words. as recall them, were prophetic OF 'ho
present worldwide disaster and this nations a'ti
tude of neutrality toward all. "No public man can
be estimated until after he is gone During MS
lifetime we cannot measure him by the right per,
spective. remember when no man IN pohtica'
life was more abused than Lincoln Lincoln no"
exalted and deifed. l saw him at Albany once
when felt only the profOundest pity for him ~
was on the occasion Of his great speech before ,"e
Governor and the assembled authorities Ma