Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-04-19

The accounts Of Artemus War a.
Charles F. Browne) which those
Who knew him intimately giss, now
that he is dead, are not cslculated 70
inspire much respect for hi> character.
He seems to have been . shiftless,
aimless, dssipated sort Of . fellow.
With rare genius for coarse humor,
but feeling no responsibility for his
powers, and exercising them for no
high purpose, not even making wisc
or worthy use Of the good fortune
that they brought him. He did not
study he did not read; he wrote
hard, and painfully; he had bat lit
tie intellectual ambition or force.
His so-callcd lectures. or illustrated,
disjointed but richly humorous COM
ments on life. we're what he did best
and enjoyed most. His was the stuff
that clowns thrive on in the circus, or
that makes successful itinerant soap
peddler or Snowman and his place
vas first in this field. and by no means
amosg our intellectual, philosophical
humorists and wits, like Holmes and
Lowell Drinking and carossing BY
day and night early induced eonsump-
ton, and he carried to England .
worn-out system which vas no match
for the hard heads and sturdy diges-
ton of the jolly good fellows that took
to him there. A letter from London
concerning his death says: aLatc
nights at the sLangham,' with bolster
ous guests who startled the echoes in
the corridors Of that vast hosiery
with limitations OF the Indian var
whoop at half past two in the moen-
ing, were bad preparations for work
in the mosning; and . couple Of
hours talk in 3 crowded room under
strong gas-light did not mend mat
ters." His success in England was
very remarkable one, certainJj. No
Americao but young Bennett was ever
more praised and courted by the
British than Mr.. Browne. But il vas
more drollery than anything else that
ven his trumphs. This jumbls il .
fair specimen of his favorite way Of
talking: A wise father knovs his
own son, aud virtue is folly to be vise
. rolling stone gathers no beggars on
horseback. ne plus unrm pluribus
ultra!" And one Of his American
fricods Of the press tells these illustra-
tive anecdotes Of his habits
His impadence-to eAll it by no
lesser name-was extraordinary, aad
his practical jokes we're moro numsf-
GUS than his written ones. He was
in the habit Of stopping staid looking
gentlemen on the streets Of Nev Yrok
to say:-
why, Mr. Brooks. how is your
family 2"
II fear" exclaims the alleged Mr..
Brooks, that you have mistaken
me!s
Not . Bit" says Ward; "you
sold pins and jewshsrps at P,ugh-
keepsie. know you like an old jack
knife"
"Sir!" says Brooks.
"Oh don't fare up. I don't mean
to mention that little affair With me.
I'm not hard up. You have govern
ment contract, Brooks, / believe.
Well: well! you'll eucher 'em. Good
day"
The stranger, swelling With rage
and pale with bewildsrment would
see Brownies dainty cane and gar
ments disappear, 10 doubs that il vas
a detective or an idiot who had
spoken to him.
One night he took an organ grind
cr's music and monkey and went
down Fourth avenue collecting pence.
followed BY cheering crowd. The
monkey 1t last grew frightened and
attacked the Snowman. A policeman
carried or both. Ward managed 70
inveigle the officer into hotel. turned
his head with good cheer, and the
delinquent patrol was summoned be-
fore the police board. Artemus ap-
peared and defended him, raid both
fines and got him days recreation,
which he improved 10 look into the
shsiows Of the metropolis.