Diaries, Vol. 12

Gunn describes an encounter with Walt Whitman regarding Briggs: "Downtown, to 'Courier' Office. Walt Whitman came in, made a row about Briggs' attaching his (Whitman's) name to an article purchased of him, denounced Briggs as a trickster, a 'son of a b___h,' and talked about licking both him and Smith, finally modified his language, indeed withdrew it with respect to the latter" (97-98).

Gunn describes the personality and writings of Briggs: "That old rogue, Briggs. Briggs, Gayler and Rosenberg! a delightful triumvirate! Just the old story. From Addey's account, I could see how the first-named old fox had blarneyed him. 'He was delighted with the title!' said Addey. Now I heard Briggs' real sentiments on the matter; altogether condemnatory. He is as vulturous after a stray dollar or two as if he specially needed it; has sent his articles to 'Vanity Fair' and had them rejected, too. I don't believe in him as a humorist; he is on the fence in politics; like most of his class when past the age of forty, he don't believe in any good motive where a bad one can be attributed – and where can it not be? He's a non-committal, dough-face Republican, so one can conceive how brave his articles political will be. He goes in for office and other indirect bribery, don't believe in honesty and pluck, in short. Besides one regular, inevitable series of
papers of this sort I hold to be a mistake; he'll shirt his work – do it 'Courier' fashion. How greedy the old wolf is, too – has just assumed the 'editorship' of the 'Irving,' inaugurating it with a mean article against Thackeray, apropos of his noble tribute, in the 'Corn-hill' to Washington Irving. This is what Briggs loves to do, underhand depreciation of better men than himself. The man is an old hack literateur [sic] nothing better, my first instincts about him were right enough. He plays fast and loose with everybody. He is, forsooth, to take an arm-chair at the banquet, while we pick up the crumbs" (163-164).

Clapp and O'Brien are mentioned in connection with a Vanity Fair contribution: "Drawing on wood till 11 at night, Morris and Cahill present. The former got $25 from 'Vanity Fair' today, for three contributions. His are really the best things that have appeared in the thing. I've not sent anything, inasmuch as I'm pretty sure that the young squirt, Frank Wood, would enjoy the opportunity of practically resenting my involuntary castigations of him in the 'Pic.', when I pitched into old Powell for his vilification of Dickens. Also I know that the O'Brien and Clapp clique would be sure to accord foul play; good and sufficient reasons both. Young Wood's shallowness has got him virtually superseded, though he nominally retains the position of editor. He must have been very amusing in that capacity, 'slinging around' his French phrases, as Cahill would say" (12).

Gunn reveals that Clapp has acquired yet another partner for the paper: "Talk about the 'Saturday Press'. Clapp has secured another partner, about the eleventh 'third' of the paper that has been sold, as the fellows say. They call him the 'Permanent Basis' and his name appears in conjunction with H. C. Junior. Long incomprehensibility by Walt Whitman in this last week's number, who after subsiding for three years' threatens to keep on the surface again" (13).

Gunn describes an argument between Clapp and Banks: "Clapp and Banks have had a row about the latter's inviting himself to Ada Clare's on New Years Eve and making his appearance drunk. He had been there before in the course of the day, when he was tolerated by 'the Queen of Bohemia', but at night, her sworn admirer Clapp undertook to remonstrate with Banks and did so sans ceremony. This produced a rumpus at Pfaff's and now Banks does not sit at the sacred round table, but scowls at his adversary from a side one. Banks is one of the most offensive of conceivable creatures when drunk, he bawls at the top of his voice, talks incessantly, is disputatious, contradictory or blatantly jovial. He used to regret that Clapp was under petticoat government to Ada, 'for the sake of the paper'. Clapp's aspirations towards her are a joke among the fellows" (13-14).

Mrs. B tells Gunn that Clapp tries to imitate William North: "O'Brien had recently called. Mrs. B spoke of the great change for the worse that has taken place in his manners, since his advent in this country. Says, too, that Clapp tries to imitate North, as a conversationist [sic]. Mrs. B admired North. Indeed he was much more likeable than O'Brien or Clapp. The latter's passion for 'Ada Clare' seems generally known and smiled at" (18).

Gunn and Cahill encounter Clapp at the Tribune Office: "There till 1 1/2. Downtown after dinner, I meeting Cahill (who dines and lunches off jokes, selling 'em to 'Vanity Fair' at 50 cents each) walked to 'Courier' Office with him; went to Liberty street, rejoined Cahill at the 'Tribune' Office, where we encountered Wilbour and anon Clapp (the latter looking sinister in a felt hat and a red shawl neckerchief), then, together up-town. To Dixon's for 'Scalpel's in the evening" (22).

Gunn passes Clapp entering Pfaff's: "First to Pfaff's, in search of Barry (met Clapp descending, as we ascended the steps) then to the Athenæum club in the Fifth Avenue" (62).

Gunn describes two of Clapp's contributors: "Shepherd has been equally green towards Clapp, lending him $10. O'Brien 'tried it on,' too, with Shepherd, but unsuccessfully. Generous-souled fellow, O'Brien! he never bears malice, not he! he'll ask a man for money in the morning whom he has insulted overnight! Clapp has swindled the man Pearsall, – a weak, well-to-do Fifth-Avenoodle, they say, – to the amount of $4,000, though the 'Saturday Press.' This Pearsall is to marry Ada Clare, who, consequently, doesn't show so much among the Pfaff clique. He originated dreary, innocentish, gushing bosh entitled 'Leaves from Nature' in the S.P., getting men to e-write 'em as he couldn't do English himself; he had his name printed in conjunction with Clapp's, as 'editor and proprietor'. Last week he fired off piddling satire at the Pfaff clique in the 'Courier', which Briggs, getting it for nothing, printed" (139-140).

Clapp is mentioned in conversation Gunn overheard at Pfaff's: "down to Pfaffs for lager. Banks there with a German. Banks cracked and talk–i–n–g at his usual dreary, endless, inconclusive, erratic, idiotic manner. His mind must be resembles a room full of sand, cobwebs and feathers, with a wind blowing into it. Here are fragments of his discourse.The tambourine girl (who came round begging and being complimented by fools) was the handsomest woman on New York – Dora Shaw (an elderly actress drinking in the cellar with such members of the clique as were present) was the handsomest woman in New York – he, Banks, had determined to devote himself to literature again – he'd give himself twelve months to obtain a footing – he had the entrée to Harper's – anything he took there would be accepted (this in consequence of the insertion of one forlorn, half-cracked, half- column article!) – it served Pearsall right that Clapp had swindled him – what right had an aristocrat to come among literary (!) men? – with more blatherskite than this book would hold. I lit my pipe, put my legs up, and let him talk. O'Brien's false, strident laugh proceeding from the cellar, and I saw Clapp's hideous face on its way to it" (144-145).

Gunn feels E. C. Stedman described the Pfaff crowd too favorably, especially Clapp: "Stedman has just been writing a description of the Pfaff crowd in a letter to a Chicago paper which they assume much indignation at. He mentioned them only too favorably, to my thinking, conceding power of repartee and conversation to Clapp who is only more dogmatic than he is shallow" (156).

Gunn encounters Clapp: "Sol Eytinge came in, stood talking awhile with Bellew – nose and chin much more prominent than of old, looks more Jewish. Clapp came in, talked a bit, looked sinister and old-clothesmanish. Uptown, Clapp and Bellew walking together, Cahill and I following. Cahill was a little intoxicated, had been loafing and drinking, sans dinner, all day. When we got home, I took a bath, then aroused Cahill by wet towel applications, to his supper, which he needed" (169).

Gunn records Sol Eytinge's comparing of Clapp to a spider: "A not-bad thing of Sol Eytinge's saying, at the expense of Clapp. Seated at Pfaff's one night, Sol compared him to a spider, adding that he shouldn't be surprised if Clapp projected something sticky out of his stomach, affixed it, and ran up to the ceiling!! Clapp was savage about it" (192).

Gunn reveals Stedman's distaste for the Clapp clique: "[Stedman] dislikes the Clapp clique, talks curt condemnation of Doestickism and has pitched into Fanny Fern in print, being provoked to it by a bit of her literary smut" (215).

Banks talks to Gunn about Clapp: "Up Broadway, passed Sally and, I think Matty; met Banks. Banks told me 'two of the best jokes he had ever made', and deplored his having sunk $60 in the 'Saturday Press', characterizing Clapp as a 'financial sleuth-hound'(!) Clapp had written him 'a sympathizing letter', in response to Banks' application for the money, but devil a dollar was in it" (225).

Gunn describes a confrontation between Eytinge and Will Waud regarding Allie Vernon: "He went to Sol. Eytinge also, at the office of the "Illustrated News," when Sol refused his hand, saying he couldn't take it without "a few words" preliminary. He "understood" W. W. had written about his wife in a manner &c &c. Waud declares his only comment, in a letter to John Wood, about the elopement with Allie was, an expression of doubt as to whether Sol or Haney would be the miserable little quasi-husband, Cahill's successor. This letter Sol. saw. I suppose Wood, who is a good deal of a magpie, cackled a little in addition. Anyway Sol swaggered and talked of kicking of ____ and so Waud and he parted. Life Brown, Sol's old employer came up during the interview, having just returned fro China, Japan &c., and Waud went off to dine with him at noon, I going down-town" (83).

Gunn mentions that Alf Waud has been spending a lot of time with Eytinge since his arrival: "Alf is not popular, his general habit of obnoxious speaking at the expense of others notwithstanding. He has been a good deal with Sol Eytinge since his arrival; Sol's guest on Sunday and before. He speaks of Sol as "improved, &c.," says that Allie looks very old and haggard, that she can't see anything without spectacles. Sol's sister visited the house during Alf's presence" (121).

Gunn describes an evening at Serrell's: "Sol Eytinge came in, stood talking awhile with Bellew – nose and chin much more prominent than of old, looks more Jewish. Clapp came in, talked a bit, looked sinister and old-clothesmanish" (169).

Eytinge compares Clapp to a spider: "A not-bad thing of Sol Eytinge's saying, at the expense of Clapp. Seated at Pfaff's one night, Sol compared him to a spider, adding that he shouldn't be surprised if Clapp projected something sticky out of his stomach, affixed it, and ran up to the ceiling!!" (192).

Gunn describes Gayler's appearance: "Down-town to 'Courier' Office. Gayler looking burly, sulky and seedy" (12).

Gunn describes Gayler's failed attempt to organize a party: "A projected spree to Clover Hill, at the back of Brooklyn, organized by Gayler, who puffs the place in the 'Courier', didn't take place, in consequence of lack of money on the part of the Bohemians, to Gayler's growling dissatisfaction. Nobody came to eat the expensive dinner ordered. O'Brien is in a bad way, drunk four days together, subject to delirium tremens. He got turned out or had to leave the Hone House, where He asked, gravely, at first, for a pint (!) at the bar! he occupied a room and is now 'on town' in every sense. He looked deplorably shaky and wandered in talk, on visiting Haney, to-day. The Clover Hill party was to have consisted of Gayler, its getter-up, George Arnold, O'Brien, Nordhoff, one of the young Harpers and Frank Wood. Shepherd received an invitation, but declined, anticipating that the expense would fall on one or two, and that the party would terminate in drunkenness. Young Wood, formerly a mild-spoken six-feet of vapidity, has become a good deal of a drunkard and more of an habitual swearer, his mildest exclamation being the utterance of the name of the second person in the Trinity" (157-58).

Gunn describes Gayler entering the Courier office while Gunn and Smith, Cahil, and Haney are talking about the Clover Hill spree: "To 'Courier' Office: Smith, Cahill and Haney there, the latter telling us of a Clover Hill excursion in company with Bellew, O'Brien, George Arnold, Frank Wood, Sears and Gayler; a party of the latter's organizing. They played football, cricket, &c. dined, drank and sang and were charged $6 each for their dinner; partly in consequence of O'Brien's stipulating for 'green seal' champagne, partly for the dinner that was got but not eaten t'other day. Gayler came into office, red-faced and burly, as usual" (162).

Gunn mocks Gayler's editorial past: "For Gayler; he 'edited' 'Yankee Notions' for three or four years, which pretty well settles his claims, besides he never acknowledges merit on others' writings. 'He proposed it' said Addey, about his engagement – as if I didn't know that. I went in for fair play and no cliqueism and here's the result. If I had, instead of telling Addey all I conscientiously believed about his enterprise, had soaped and beslavered him, I might have secured the control myslf [sic], as 'tis the wolves are on him. Well, the honest dogs must hunt other game, I suppose" (164).

Gunn explains that Addey wants him to edit for Momus, because Addey wishes to fire Rosenberg, Gaylor, and Briggs: "Addey wants me to edit 'Momus'. A message to me from Addey, through Cahill, requesting me to see him tomorrow night, about assuming the editorship. He wants to clear out Rosenberg, Gaylor and Briggs by this week. Also a request that I should write a political article, in place of Briggs, to go in for Wednesday – anything I did should go in. Shall see Addey, but not write the article, till something definite is done. One thing about Lotty, I haven't put down. She told me of it as we sat on the stoop, in the sunny morning. That privation and misery, while in New York, had made her sick, producing ulcers, which still adhered to her. I asked her where, with 'Lotty, you can tell me anything, you know?' The answer came, 'On my womb'. What strange confidences have I had with this girl! Never, I think, were such, without sexual relations of which I am innocent. May 1. Tuesday. Out for a short distance, to Blakeman's. Newman the artist up in my room, in a great state of funk and I tell him my Sentiments. excitement about 'Momus', down on Rosenberg and pronouncing Addey a weathercock; entreating me to come up tonight and settle matters. Boweryem, Cahill and Bowman present. Writing. In the evening to Addey's new abode, a boarding-house in 11th street. He talked awhile of indifferent matters, said he was going to clear out Rosenberg and Gayler at the end of the week and to edit it himself. He wanted some articles from me 'by Friday'. Whereupon I told him my sentiments about the business and said that I should neither write nor draw, unless engaged at a stipulated sum, as men, my inferiors, had been; that I declined utterly to have anything to do with Rosenberg as editor. Then he proposed $10 weekly, for writing, from two to three columns, at my option, which I agreed to. Newman entered and presently Bellew and Boweryem. Talk till 10 1/2, then out" (189-190).

Gunn describes finding Gayler, Briggs, and Addey at the office: "Writing 'Momus' copy till 4, then to Office with it, finding Gayler, Briggs and Addey there, the first defending the originality of a desperately old joke, the second foxyish and with red blotches coming out over his face – facetious as usual" (200).

Gunn says he and Haney went to Laura Keene's theatre: "He [Haney] showed very kind, would have me out to the theatre – Laura Keene's – where we saw Bourcicault's 'Colleen Bawn' and went to the 'Optimus' afterwards" (167).

Gunn describes his talk with one of Laura Keene's actors: "Talk over ale with two actors, one of them Burnett, stout man, now of Laura Keene's – he played in the 'Colleen Bawn'" (224).

Gunn writes about Nast: "To Edwards' in the evening. Found the three girls and Nast, the latter playing draughts – with Sally. Got an account of the Sunday nights tea-fight, the girls intimating and ridiculing Fan. Nast wasn't invited; he's somehow in disgrace in that quarter" (21).

Gunn says Nast was sent to Lawrence, Massachusetts: "To Edwards', Haney, Nast and Knudsen present, beside the family. (I'd seen the second at Church, standing at the entrance of the pew, which was already full.) He, Nast, was sent on to Lawrence, Mass, to sketch the scene of the Pemberton Mills calamity, and met Will Waud there, on a like errand, for Frank Leslie" (23).

Nast is mentioned in a newspaper clipping that Gunn includes outing Joseph Scoville as the New York correspondent "Harmony" for the Mobile Register (25).

Gunn discusses Nast's leaving: "Haney, Nast, Wells and Honeywell there, a hop in progress. Sally had been sick abed yesternight, kept it up bravely this one. Morris came. Dubious about Nast's leaving New York; Sally hints that it'll be a good thing for him if he goes (?)" (37).

Gunn writes about a conversation with Sally Edwards about Thomas Nast: "Haney came to supper. Joined him at Edwards in an hour or two. The girls and Jack present, anon Nast. (Mr. and Mrs E. at the theatre.) Talk, chaff and fun. Got into a long confidential talk with Sally about Nast, to his intense misery and, I judge, jealousy" (53-56).

Gunn documents a conversation with Sally Edwards regarding Nast: "Talking with the girls, first with Matty and Eliza; very jolly, presently with Sally. She almost immediately resumed the subject of our last conversation, hinted that Nast had been forbidden to write, said that he had been very savage in consequence of her neglecting him, when so near his departure, opined that I didn't do him justice &c. She admits she don't love him, but "there's no knowing whether she mayn't in time – it would be something to make anybody happy – she don't think she would ever love anybody much – she had had her little fancies, but they never lasted – well! she admitted if his superior presented himself she might &c., but would it happen? she should come to a decision soon." She appeared to more advantage, I thought, than on the former tête à tête" (68).

Gunn wonders what Matty thinks of Sally and Nast: "She is very honest and good, and likes fair play. I think she revolts at Sally's fast and loose behavior with Nast. Pretty Matty!" (80).

Gunn speaks of Nast's sketch job: "Little Nast has gone to England, to sketch the fight for the championship between Heenan and Sayers, for the 'Illustrated News'. It was kept secret awhile, as a stroke of policy over F. Leslie. Nast knows 'the Berucia Boy' from having accompanied Mort. Thomson to Canada last summer, when the fight between Heenan and Morrissey came off. Mort reported it for 'the Tribune', Nast sketched for Leslie" (83-84).

Gunn describes a talk he had with Sally Edwards: "Sally, of course, knew Nast's destination. We got to talking of him, &c. She hints that she likes him more than I give her credit for – she's 'not demonstrative, you know'; says, again, 'I don't do him justice', that he is bashful, conscious of ignorance, yet willing to cover it with a show of assurance. She talked about Haney, too, and characterized his abatement in liking for her as "fizzling out" – distrusted its reality, said "it was better as it was" – that it had ended. Evidently Mrs T. Nast in future" (86).

Gunn writes about a published letter that is said to be written by Nast: "Little Nast will hardly return to the U.S. for twelve months, so I heard Eliza say, talking to Morris (who dropped in at 10, after an unsuccessful call at Fanny Fern's) – there's a letter from 'Thomas' in the 'Illustrated News', accompanying his sketches. Said letter must have been considerably cooked and improved, if not wholly re-written, for Nast couldn't spell, much less write a decent English" (135-36).

Gunn talks about Nast when discussing an evening at the Edwards: "Seeing Welles, they got talking about little Nast and Wells mentioned two funny anecdotes of Tommy. Mrs. Thomson, when talking of the Edwards' girls, gave the intellectual precedence to Sally, when little Nast, got up, made her a bow and thanked her! Being goodnaturedly asked why he hadn't visited his friends recently, he said conceitedly he found friends 'didn't pay' – he was going to be independent &c. &c. If he do get presented at court, as they are trying to effect (!) what an edifying spectacle he'll be on his return to New York!" (161).

Gunn includes a newspaper clipping regarding a story about the competition between The New York Illustrated News and Frank Leslie's Illustrated News (187).

Gunn describes Nast's nickname: "Little Nast became quite popular among the pugilists in England, was known as 'the little dragsman'" (192).

Gunn writes about the editors of Nick Nax: "Cahill proves a more friendly editor to me, thus, than was Haney; who was right enough, Heaven knows, in preferring Bellew's cuts, when he could get 'em; but who used to give no end of work also to little Nast, when the little, fat beggar hardly wanted it, and putting a few dollars in my pocket would have been a good-natured thing" (223).

Mrs. O'Brien has informed Gunn of O'Brien's decline in manners: "O'Brien had recently called. Mrs. B spoke of the great change for the worse that has taken place in his manners, since his advent in this country. Says, too, that Clapp tries to imitate North, as a conversationist. Mrs. B admired North. Indeed he was much more likeable than O'Brien or Clapp" (18).

Gunn notes O'Brien's drunken behavior: "Boweryem and Morris in my room. O'Brien, being drunk and pugilistic, half-tried to force latter at the expense of Arnold, to the afternoon" (85).

Gunn describes seeing O'Brien at the bar of Crook and Duffs: "Found Bellew talking to Frank Leslie at Crook and Duffs, Wilbour joined us. Cahill around. Plenty of familiar faces there. Briggs promised to join us in half-an-hour, during which time Bellew and I lunched. O'Brien and a knot of others at the bar, his black eye very unsightly, his countenance generally about-towny and vicious; every way deteriorated. He wore his Mambrino-helmet hat and land check, peg-top trousers" (89).

Gunn describes O'Brien's continuing grudge of Cahill: "At Pfaff's they encountered Wood (poor-young-man Wood) O'Brien and Arnold, the latter very drunk. O'Brien was tacitly insolent and offensive on Cahill's appearance. (He wants to fasten a quarrel on him, supposing him his physical inferior, consequently an easy victory. Indeed he has always entertained a Celtic grudge against Cahill since the spar- ring-match at Hoboken, on the day of our picnic, when Cahill had rather the better of it, to the openly expressed satisfaction of everybody.) But nothing came of it, last night, beyond a little chaff at O'B's expense. After he and Wood had drank at Ledger's cost, they assumed the supercilious and the former wanted to know in a side whisper, who that was? As Ledger is quite capable of thrashing both of 'em, perhaps it's as well he didn't hear the inquiry" (137).

Gunn jokes about O'Brien's money-borrowing habits: "During his 'Ornithorynchus' days Cahill lent O'Brien some $17, more or less, of course never getting repaid. Shepherd has been equally green towards Clapp, lending him $10. O'Brien 'tried it on', too, with Shepherd, but unsuccessfully. Generous-souled fellow, O'Brien! he never bears malice, not he! he'll ask a man for money in the morning whom he has insulted overnight!" (139).

Gunn describes O'Brien's drinking problem: "O'Brien is in a bad way, drunk four days together, subject to delirium tremens. He got turned out or had to leave the Hone House, where he occupied a room and is now "on town" in every sense. He looked deplorably shaky and wandered in talk, on visiting Haney, today" (157-58).

Gunn describes O'Brien's habits and background: "If O'Brien continue his present career, he'll die miserably enough; nor do I suppose he'll ever re-cross the Atlantic. The talk about his patrician kinsfolk is all Blatherskite and Erin go Brag; money has never been sent to him during his sorest need. His father is said to be a Cork lawyer, one in struggling circumstances, one Bryan, for the 'Fitz' as well as the 'O'' is assumed by his son, who first, as I recollect, called himself James Fitzjames O'Brien, subsequently sinking the first James. It was then that he pretended to cousinship with Smith the 'patriot' which pretence Meagher threw cold water on. It was then he lied about having written for 'Household Words' pointing out certain stories, which subsequently appeared in book-form, in with the real author's name on the title-page" (158-59).

Dora is mentioned in Banks' discourse, "The tambourine girl (who came round begging and being complimented by fools) was the handsomest woman on New York – Dora Shaw (an elderly actress drinking in the cellar with such members of the clique as were present) was the handsomest woman in New York."

"Mort covered fight between Heenan and Morrissey for the Tribune" (84).