On Chicago: Writing

I wholeheartedly concur with today's "On Chicago" quotation. May I never reach the end...

"When one lacks a theme 'upon which to write, he can always fall back on Chicago. Other subjects have a depth which is fathomable; Chicago, like its mud, is bottomless. One can always write about Chicago without wearying himself or his readers. He may write of it as a whole,—a mud-hole,—if he chooses, and never exhaust it. He may deal with it in particulars, and never reach their end."

Franc Bangs Wilkie (1832-1892)
Walks about Chicago, 1871-1881: And Army and Miscellaneous Sketches (1882)

WILKIE, Franc Bangs, journalist, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., July 2, 1830; took a partial course at Union College, after which he edited papers at Schenectady, N. Y., Elgin, 111., and Davenport and Dubuque, Iowa; also serving, during a part of the Civil War, as the western war correspondent of "The New York Times." In 1863 he became an editorial writer on "The Chicago Times," remaining with that paper, with the exception of a brief interval, until 1888 —a part of the time as its European correspondent. He was the author of a series of sketches over the nom de plume of "Poliuto," and of a volume of reminiscences under the title, "Thirty-five Years of Journalism," published shortly before his death, which took place, April 12, 1892.

From: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois
By Newton Bateman, Paul Selby, Franices M. Shonkwiler, Henry L Fowkes, David McCulloch (1917)

Photo Credit: The Bohemian Brigade (If you are unfamiliar with the Brigade, do visit the site. I was and have only recenly met Mr. Wilkie.)

(Note: I'm looking for more information Franc Wilkie. Look for him in future posts and at the CHOLibrary soon.)