Year: 1870




veins Of our city life, but has stirred the Con-
tinent to its centre. From the night when
General Boum Bateman entered the lordly |
halls of the Manhattan Club, like young Loeb
invar, all alone and unarmed, amid committee |
men, cooks, walters and wash boys, ne felt, |
with the keen instinct of great manager, that
he had made a hit. True to the genius OF that
opera 6oats of which in this country he was
the creator and sustaining power, he seized
the opportunity to make triumphant trip to
Washington. His progress, we are informed
by no less IN unprejudiced authority than
himself, was o perfect ovation Crowds
gathered at every station to do him honor.
Women came with children in their arms to
show to Young America the representative OF
the wounded club honor Of their country,
and he strode through the bowels Of the
land like magnificent enema. AT the capital
he was met by the matrons of his household,
who, in the true spirit of their Spartan ances-
tresses, declared that they would have him
come as he did, conqueror, or else be borne
to them on his shield. Indeed, General Bate
man, we are informed, is descended from an old
Spartan family about the time Of Lycurgus, who
subsequently settled in Maryland. He has
the low forehead and fierce will of the Lace
demonian. On yesterday he returned to our
city, and, learning that his expulsion was
determined fact, with characteristic magnanmi-
ty and self-sacrilce sent in the manly letter
of resignation which will be found elswhere.
IT. 10 III Ian
the memorable night of his avengement, he vir-
tually exclaims, 81 will be my own policeman"
Indeed, Caesar could not have drawn his robe
around him more gracefully for a fall. To-day,
we understand, he is on the warpath for New
Orleans, to 1aunt his victorious plume in fresh
fields and pastures new. On his return he
intends to take benefit at the Academy of
Music. Boxes have been already secured by
the Hon. John Morrissey, Jem. Mace and many
leading admirers Of the manly art. IT is but


an act of historic justice to say that for the
discretion and moderation Mr.. Bateman has


displayed through this affray he is mainly


indebted to the wise and temperate counsels Of
| Mr. James Fisk, Jr. General Bateman has


always been one of the few of Prince Erie's


ma!o attachments, and an occasion like


this, which tests mems souls, will doubt
! less strengthen the mutual affection Of these


two accomplished men and admirable citizens.


On the other hand, but little has been heard of
General Bateman's antagonist, Captain Grams
the magnitude of the event with which his
name will hereafter be mingled, and with care
less ease to divert his attention is playing
! with chestnuts in the New York Central


| In surveying the field as we do, with the


eye of the historian, 1t is essential To right


understanding, as Macaulay says, to consider
the individual character of the combatants.


General Bateman, as is well known, is q man


Of modest stiffness and humility. His soft,


sleek hair, feebly parted in the centre, and


sleeping like sunlight upon bank, is ft en-


Diem Of the gentleness of his nature; his


voice Is sweet and low as a woman's; his


beak has nothing in it coarse or cadaverous


He has never been known to be in difficulty


Peace smiles around him. In fact, if slightly


smaller, he might sit for the infant John of
Mnrillo. Captain Cranstoa, on the other hand,
has all the action OF the tiger. On the smallest
provocation be springs On his hind paws his
angry name stands on end his roar fills the
desert, and when he has nothing else to do he
seems even eager to swallow up the ground.
| Can any one look upon these pictures and
| question as to whom the fault belongs?


Let us hope that out OF this difficulty the
Manhattan Club viii pluck some wisdom and
mend its ways. This is the second or third
member expelled within the year, and such
necessity implies something rotten in the sys-
tenn. The club has the misfortune of being
| governed by number of gentlemen sufi-
ciently distinguished in their way, but few
of whom ever frequent it or take any interest
in its action, and who are only brought to-
gether-and even then with dificulty-by such
disturbing occasions as this Bateman and
Cranston row. For any club to prosper under
such conditions would be miracle. Neither
is it wise that any member should exercise the
right of offering to unofending guests the
insult Of refusing to serve them dinner and
subjectng them to the humiliation of q re-
mOVaI III the presence OF OLnerS from public
room. Few men, unless steeled as Mr. Grams
ton has been by many years Of hard hotel
life, could so far forget their gentleness of
nature as to fulfil such duty. Here club life
is but in its infancy; but in England, where
age has brought more genial and philosophc
mind, no such slight would for moment be
permitted, but the real offender, the inviting
member, would next day receive warning
from the committee, and If the offence was
repeated would find the penalty enforced
This mode Of management is found far more
becoming and effective. Were the Cranston
fashion adopted committee men had better
dine in coat of mail.


Thus ends the play. The lights are all
extingnished Within week the actors will