The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-07
.JOsIa Killings.

The Troy Neics has just been celebratn
its first Annual Festival. Among the prit
cipal speakers on the occasion was Josh Bi
lings. The Chairman on calling Josh on,
gave the following description of him:
''Some of You who have read the Tr6,
Netcs during the past year may like to know
something OF the personnel of the quaint
unique, droll, funny, yet sensible humoris
who, under the signature of "Josh Billings,
has acquired SO wide celebrity. He is ;
lchild of impulse-only forty y-six years, of agt
E7and silver mounted. lie tells me tha
what he does he must do quickly. Says pc
I-"lf | stop to think ! soon get lost--if
take a rest | couldt hit the broadsidc of II
circus tent. So you see that he is a gushiEg
child Of genlus-aul | say let him gush-the
! more the better. He was born in Berkshire
county, Mass beside the green pastures and
! still waters OF the Observation-Disclosures at
the age OF fifteen to the turbid waters OF
! Ohio and Mississippi--was educated amid
the strife of men-and is six feet three inches
in hight, as you will discover when he rises
to speak. he has dabbled in all kinds OF
business, from driving sheep to running a
stern-wheel steambOat-has a powerful recol-
lection, but no money--is neither rich nor
poor nor any desire TO be--belicve all work
Is honorable except dir,y work. He says he
believes in tae Christian religion, and had
rather be an idiOtic beast than an unbeliever.
This Is about all that know OF him or that
| lie knows of hi nSelf, as far as heard from.
i should add that he IS of a nervoGS nature.
and would rather he whipped than disputed
land IS more afraid OF a. mouse TIbbling m u
wanscot than OF an ole plrasia on raid
Joshs speech IN reply is one of his ceverest
efforts" The refor, Of itinthe Aers is as
follows:
"Ge,,4eaea o..d III. Chairman: | rize
.,ith crate LiiiidsEse for the tars time in mi
life, tew address an impromptew assombiag.
What kaa say l. i:.sia,nt, and | kaint al
ter It; / kan; sit doIu, or stand up. and stud
dy a thing ont, any more than can sit down
and think how TO lit ton. We have met
here just for fan aad beleai that aul things
including truth, hay a fun ret!kl.oUs side tew
them, and fully beleaf, that Will, Satan
with consumate skill, fills hiz ranks bi the
arts ov seducksIOn, virtue should resort tew
the same IncIus. | bel af in sugar coated
pills, aud bel, a. that virtue and wisdum
kan be smuggled into IBar' ) soul hi "a good
na Ured proverb, better AMI deeper than to le
mOrticcd ia 10 1t with wUginwOod malet
and chisel. We have met tew sslebra;e the
birth day Of q SUNDAY newspaper tie child
people doaJt the proprietg ot SUNDAY ncws>
papers. they seem trw think that the Sabbath
waz made only for the acts OF Sektnian wo--
ship, but beleat that religion was never
designed ~ a bzzaess, bat only tex re gulate
AM kOrrekt biZzuess with shoald aS soon
think OF tauueiiu- iloosilz N uniting be
prIygr-TLen ! people devote awl their time
to religion, superstition and hirs.ttv air
sure tew prcvale. Man IL the oily thing
krcated 70 laff; birds aud flowers kan nj
nIoste dew II, I'd dogs w0ui iihe .5-mules
smile with their heels Fun waz made for
the million. clhicks for the lev. and the man
who .aa invent generous and healthy sauce
tew eai.yea i dish - billed greens with. il
a chr.stian-:un may never iav furnished {;
spienliI dinner, but il has helped swaller
u.enEy Z poor one. "oiX days, shalt thou
laber in ilu, and e Sunday newspaper {uz
all is work o. Saturday. ! had rather End
one Wedding thsn = dvzen phunerals; 41f
at a birth even Il j. amt ciiny thing more
than the laicLiaGGt 4 ducks eg. IL alwus
another suck kccss. Lie IL short. and that IL
one great recon viii IT ought al'vas To be
cheerful. and fully brleat, that when Ga ,rel
bloze hiz HON. the first ones that rizc. will
wear a smlle OF their faces. Judas BETRAYED
with 4 laI, and kiss, hat the fun of the
thing wuz, lie went OF and hung himself.
He hat l,ans laiT IL to be pityed, and him
that won. laiT IL to be feared | am clear
thru-ihis IL nj maiden speech, and will
bet 10 dollars that | won't never run the risk
oY doing it again. Adew."
Josh Billings" IS understood to be- the
nam de plume OF Nr. Henry ". shawl Of
PUGghkeepsie.