He grinned from ear to ear:
“They little think my real name’s
V. Stuyvesant De Vere!”
Edward Waterman Townsend, varied the time-honored tradition of misspelling by introducing an example of Bowery slang. His Chimmie Fadden took a firm hold on the public notice and the vogue lasted for many years.
“Naw, I ain’t stringin’ ye. ‘Is Whiskers is de loidy’s fadder. Sure!
“’E comes ter me room wid der loidy, ’is Whiskers does, an’ he says, says ’e, ‘Is dis Chimmie Fadden?’ says ’e.
“‘Yer dead on,’ says I.
“‘Wot t’ell?’ ’e says, turning to ’is daughter. ‘Wot does de young man say?’ ’e says.
“Den de loidy she kinder smiled—say, ye otter seed ’er smile. Say, it’s outter sight. Dat’s right. Well, she says: ‘I t’ink I understan’ Chimmie’s langwudge,’ she says. ‘‘E means ’e’s de kid youse lookin’ fer. ’E’s de very mug.’