The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-07
gAFtemuS Ward.

A writer in the -WeekE9 RepietD tells
some, e,amusing and characteristic anec-
dotes ofthe late Artemus Ward, which
have never before, we believe, appeared
in prints When Mr.. Browne first came
to New York, whittier he had been In
vited to take charge OF Vanfty Fair, his
quaintpess of! appearance and merry
manners won at once upon the regard
OF young Journalists into whose society
he naturally drifted. Atthat time cer-
tain young writer's, among whom were
George Arnold, G. P. D. Wilkins, Fftz
others now deceased, called themselves
'Bohemians,"+ ,"+and acknowledged the
designation from the public. They
met at a dinner at one of the Broadway
restaurants, where table was especial
ly' reserved Tor them Il; and here one
evening came Charles f. Browne-a
stranger to most of the persons assem-
bled-and brought with him an ac-
quaintance. Addressing his companion
as they sat down he said, with cordial
Hospitality: tDon't You be afraid.
You're in good company. These are
Bohemians here. Don't you know
NAuN a4Ok ID
an educated horse-t thief!i'- And so he
ratified on with good humor
that nothing could .dampen, and
that made him welcome to every
body.,f,On more than one occasion,
Browne has been known to go
up to a respectable stranger he might
chance to meet upon the street, shake
his hand fervently, remind him of his
early days in some far:off country
town, speak, of the "old folks" aud
describe the sorrow Of. poor Aunt
Hannah" at her boys coming to the
wild and whirling'' metropolis, and
advise the astounded stranger to return
at once to home and virtue. 'tAll will
be forgiven, john" he would exclaim,
land all forgotten. Take my advice,
and 90 back" The writer in the Re-
UielD says he went with Browne to his
hotel, late one night, NOT long before
his departure to England. A waiter
was summoned, with-a view to con-
vivial refreshment. "James," the hui
morist said, taking of his overcoat,
has Mr." (naming the proprietor
ofthe hotel) "has Mr. gone to bed?"
just go to him and wake him up, and
tel him, with my sincere regards, that
the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
Remember that message, James, and
don't watt" And the waiter retired in
a convulsiOn of suppressed merr;ment.
Such trifiing incidents show the habit
of his mind. He was always straYIng
into ludicrous words ard actions. One
of his most intimate and dear friends
was, the comedian ,Setchell, himself ga
fellow of infinite jest, }" aud himself also
gone hence, beyond the river Of death.
These two made a trip together,
through one of the New England
States, one summer month, riding In a
CARRIAGE, and sporting with the rural
residents whenever encountered. The
record of that month can never be
known, but such stories as have been
told of it'show that it was one of the
merriest of all iovial times. On another
occasion these two humorists, assuming
to be storekeepers from sup the river,6
went to Barnum's Museum, and con-,
suited a phreuologist who was then at
that place, and who-ignorant of their
Identity, but bounteodsly responsive
to their questions-told Artemus Ward
that he might possibly understand a
joke but could never make one, and
told Setch0ll to ''stick to the store,' and
give up all idea of going upon the
stage. Q One cam fancy these Jwags,
strolling thus along the highway of
life and turning everything into Inirth.
The skies were blue overhead and the
roses bloomed about their footsteps,
and they went out of life with the echoes
OF happy laughter ringing in their ears.