rt, and out of the profits
of the story for which he had paid such an unusually large price, Mr.
Bonner purchased a handsome city residence.

He did not content himself with Fanny Fern, though she became a regular
contributor to his paper. He secured the services of Edward Everett,
offering him ten thousand dollars for a series of papers, the money to be
devoted to the purchase of Mount Vernon, an object very dear to the heart
of the great orator. Mr. Bonner not only secured a valuable contributor,
but won a warm personal friend in Mr. Everett. The latter continued his
connection with the _Ledger_ until the close of his life. Mr. Bonner
also secured as regular contributors to his paper George Bancroft, the
historian, James Parton (Fanny Fern's husband), Henry Ward Beecher, and
many of the leading men of the country, and a number of brilliant and
popular female writers.

The _Ledger_ is steadily growing in the public favor. From the profits
of his paper, Mr. Bonner has erected a splendid marble publishing house,
at the corner of William and Spruce streets, in New York, from which the
_Ledger_ is now issued. It is one of the most complete establishments in
the country, and is fitted up with every convenience necessary to the
performance of the work upon the paper in the most complete and
expeditious manner.

Mr. Bonner is married, and has a family. He owns a country seat in
Westchester county, to which he repairs in the summer. His city
residence is on the south side of Fifty-sixth street, a few doors west of
the Fifth avenue. It is a handsome brown stone mansion. In the rear of
it, on Fifty-fifth street, is his stable, a large and tasteful edifice of
brick. It is the most perfect establishment of its kind in the country.
Everything is at hand that is necessary for the comfort and care of the
horses, and the men in charge of the place are thoroughly skilled in
their business. Mr. Bonner owns seven of the finest horses in the world.
First on the list is "Dexter," the fastest horse "on the planet." He has
made his mile in 2.17.25 in harness, and 2.18 under the saddle.
"Lantern," a splendid bay, 15.5 hands high, has made his mile in 2.20.
"Pocahontas" has made her mile in 2.23, and "Peerless," a fine gray mare,
has followed close on to her in 2.23.25. The former is said to be the
most perfectly formed horse in the world. "Lady Palmer" has made 2
miles, with a 350 pound wagon and driver, in 4.59, while her co