CONTENTS PAGE JAMES GORDON BENNETT’S EDITORIAL CAREER. 2 INCOMPARABLE MEANNESS. 5 SPECTRES AND HOBGOBLINS. 6 TO JAMES GORDON BENNETT AND FREDERIC HUDSON, HIS CUNNING SECRETARY. 6 THE WAY NEW YORK IS BAMBOOZLED. 7 STARTLING REVELATIONS. 8 LIFE OF STEPHEN H. BRANCH. 10 [Illustration: STEPHEN H. BRANCH’S ALLIGATOR.] Volume I.—No. 9.] SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1858. [Price 2 Cents. James Gordon Bennett’s Editorial Career. Bennett left his native hills of Scotland in 1819, and arrived in Boston in 1820. After enduring the tortures of poor Goldsmith (as teacher, traveler, editor, and author) for fifteen years, he takes the basement of the crumbling ruin at No. 20 Wall street, and advertises for a boy, when John Kelly (now a Member of Congress from the Fourth, Sixth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Wards) thus responds: _Enter John Kelly in rags and barefooted._ _John_—Mr. Bennett: Mother says you advertised for a boy, and sent me to ask you for the situation. _Bennett_—What’s your name? _John_—Johnny Kelly. _Bennett_—Where do you live? _John_—In the Fourteenth Ward. _Bennett_—How long have you been in this country? _John_—I have always been in this beautiful country. _Bennett_—Aint you an Irish boy? _John_—No, sir,—I am an American boy, and I’m very glad I am an American. _Bennett_—Why are you glad of that? _John_—Because George Washington was an American, and I dearly love his memory, because he always spoke the truth, and was good and brave, and loved and saved his country. _Bennett_—Who told you all this? _John_—My grandfather first told me of Washington’s greatness, and goodness, and bravery, and since he died, I have read the Life of Washington several times. _Bennett_—Where was your grandfather born? _John_—In Scotland. _Bennett_—Ah! then, you are of Scotch descent? _John_—Yes, sir. _Bennett_—Did you ever hear of Wallace? _John_—Yes, sir, and of William Tell, and his son Albert, of Switzerland. Grandfather told me all about their courageous deeds and great love of country. _Bennett_—Where were your parents born? _John_—In poor old Ireland. _Bennett_—Why did they leave their country? _John_—Because liberty was dead, and the people starving, and sorely oppressed by tyrants. _Bennett_—Who crushed the liberty of Ireland? _John_—England, Scotland, and Wales. _Bennett_—That will do, my boy, and I am pleased with your intelligence and love of liberty, though you should not denounce the glorious Scotland, because your grandfather came from its pretty vales and majestic mountains.