Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-27
QDRio ,Statessirl)n1arr,,.
Artemuus ward.

III WAY ONCT lCIl Years JlldJ hls OlOWuC
became the local editor Of this paper (be-
ing his first experience as a writer Tor the
public), and continued as such for some
years, when he assumed similar position
on the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and after
wards wrote for the Vanity Fair, since
which time he has been engaged exclusive
ly in travelling and lecturlng,, 1t is a fact
that MFR. Browne was at one time Jour
printer and probably a strapped one.
He was compositor on the Commercial be-
fore becoming its local editor, and it was
while thus employed that he began to de-
velope the peculiar talent as writer which
gave him a national, and hasynOw given
him a worldwide reputation."-ToIedo
It Is true that Mr.. BtSwne fist 'essayed
humorous writing on the Toledo Commercial,
but his talent in that line was developed,
and first attracted public attention, on the
Plain Dealer. While working as ''jour !"
on the Commercial, his sense of the ludicrous
was one day strongly excited by some fun
ny occurrence that he saw in the street, and
humorous account OF it was the result.
The sketch was left on the editors desk,
aud pleased him so much that Mr.. Browne
was taken from the printing office, and In
stalled in more cOngenial position in the
Sanctum. Although his first regular press
writing was done on the Toledo paper, he
had previously contributed some humorous
squibs to Mr.. Shellabar'S (Mrs. Partington)
CARPET Bag, upon which paper he worked
for time. 't'... 'H %. t''..
Mr.. Browne commenced writing for the
Plain Dealer in the summer of '58-Mr. j.
w. Gray being then proprietor. His
'limitless humOr confined itself to no special
subject, for number of months, but was
CON, family "cropping out" in all sorts Of
quaint sayings aud juicy paragraphs. He
finally concluded to give his writing more
individuality by adopting non de plume.
Hence the famous letters from ''Artemus
Ward Snowman. These letters. first mere
ly written for the purpose of "tilling up"
when copy" was scarce, sprang almost
Immediately into widespread notoriety.
The first one appeared in the fall OF '5S.
. 'TO the Editor of the Plain Dedler-SIR:
Pm moving along-slowly along-down
lords your place. / want you should write
me letter, sayin how's the show bizniss
in your place. My show at present, con-
sists of three moral Bears, Kangaroo, IA
amOozing little Raskal-'twould make you
larf to deth to see the little cuss jump up
and squeal,) wax figgers of G. Washington,
Gen. TAYLOR, John Bnnyan, DIR. Kidd and
DIR. Webster in the act of KILN DIR. Park
man, besides several mscellanyus moral
wax statoots of celebrated piruts and muir
derers, ETC., exalted by few, and exceled by
none. Now, Mr.. Editor, scratch off Q few
lines sayin how Is the show bizniss down to
your place. shall have my hand bills dun
at your ofliss. Depend upon it. want
you should git my hand bills up in flamin
style. Also git up tremenjus excite
IL, 1hnxuf n
leld show We must fetch the public
somehow. We must work on their teelins
come the moral on 'em strong. II it's
temperance community, tell 'eIn Isined the
pledge fifteen minits arter ise born. But
on the contrary, if your people take their
tods, say that Mister Ward is as genial
teller as we ever met-full of conwiviality,
and the life and sole of the soshul Bored.
Take, don't you? If you say anything
bout my show, say my snaiX is as harm
less as the new born babe. What inter-
testing study it is too see q zonological ami
NAL, like a snaix, under perfect supjectton.
My Kangaroo is the most iariable little cuss
[ ever saw-all for 10 cents. am anxyus
to skeWer your inflooence. repeet in re-
gard to them hand bills. that i shall get
'em struck off at your printin office. My
lperltical sentiments agree with yourn ex-
ackly. know they do, becauz never saw
a man whoos didn't. Respectfully yours,
Is yfhag"I lafl go ,JA9.lIf "A. A.gWARD. .
"PsS.--You scratch my back. and lie
scratch your back" r --,.. ri u,r-.li..o
Mr.. Browne worked on the Plain Dealer
tor over two years, at the end of which
time he enjoyed a national reputation; his
letters in this paper having been copied
with aviiity tar and wide-even In Europe,
In the winter of 1Se0, we believe, he ac-
cepted an offer from Vd,ity Fat, and went
to'New York to take leading position on
that paper. He was there but few months
when he commenced his career as a lee
turer, which has been attended by such uni
form and perfect success, and which Is so
familiar to our Ieaders.--PtdInDe Dealer" .-'