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Regarding the uproar by Fanny Fern and John Bonner about Gunn's article in Scalpel, which criticized the New York Ledger. Transcription: visiting the hat-dancing performances [Dexter's Dancing Hats]. Of course he [ Banks] discovered a prodigious mares nest, shifting the wonder from the man Dexter to a person among the spectators whom he declared a most remarkable individual, probably a Russian (!) capable of speaking six languages &c &c. Then Banks mounted the Slavanic hobby, asserted that in ten or twenty years there would be but two nations, Russia and the existing in the world. Th
Regarding the uproar by Fanny Fern and John Bonner about Gunn's article in Scalpel, which criticized the New York Ledger. Transcription: visiting the hat-dancing performances [Dexter's Dancing Hats]. Of course he [ Banks] discovered a prodigious mares nest, shifting the wonder from the man Dexter to a person among the spectators whom he declared a most remarkable individual, probably a Russian (!) capable of speaking six languages &c &c. Then Banks mounted the Slavanic hobby, asserted that in ten or twenty years there would be but two nations, Russia and the existing in the world. Then he talked 'Free Love' rather coarsely. (I suppose he got this Phallic itch from [Henry] Clapp.) [William] Leslie's face, listening to Banks, was funny to contemplate. He disputed loudly, dictatorially, dissented logmatically, but Banks out-talked him. Came away and had some oysters at another place with Leslie. 10. Sunday. There ?s been a jolly row about my Scalpel review of the Ledger at Fanny [Fern]'s. Got all the particulars from [Jesse] Haney. [Robert] Bonner was up at the house last night, and he and Fanny are exasperated to the last degree ? she because there's not a word of mention of her in it, he on general grounds. Almost a battle royal occurred, Haney venturing all that was prudent in championship of my article. They couldn't understand that it was not based on some personal motives and Bonner attributed my testimony as to his liberality and enterprize to intent to curry favor with him! I was to be smashed, mined &c &c ? 'if it were worth Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 10, page 172, April 9-10, 1859 . 9 April 1859. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1826-1903
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