The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-03-23
0ROvILLE, SATURDAY, MARCH 23d


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Artemus Ward, or in other words, Charles F.
Brown, the humorst and the wit, has crossed over
the river and laid himself down to eternal sleep.
He died in Southampton, England on the 9th inst,
whittier he had gone professional tour, 70 sub
ject himself to the test of English criticism. He
was born in the State Of Maine, where he was ini-
tiated into the mysteries of the "Art Preservatve.
After attaining the years of majority he went to
Ceaveland Ohio, where he formed connection
with the Cleavelaud Plandeaer as local editor.
1t was while acting in this capacity that he com
menced bis humorous writings, which gave him
enviable notoriety. In the death of Mr.. Brown
society has sustained no tr1ing loss. He possessed
happy organization which disposed him to humor,
and to this requirement of the human family he
miustered successfully. In the varied walks CT
literature, some acquire immo rtality in one way
and some another-some by adding to the general
stock of knowledge, and others by cutivating
taste for the fine arts But Charles F. Brown has
his way TO distinction in a manner both hon
orable and useful. Humor and amusement, it must
be conceded are essential to the physical as well
mental health of man. There are but few persons
in the wide limits of the United States who have
not had their blood lose its sluggish mood and flow
pleasantly through their vess from his inimitable
drollery as a show man. And although the sod has
closed over his mortal remains, and his voice and
pen are stilled forever by virtue of the noble art
of which he was proud of being disciple. and
which endows man with species of Omnipotence,
Artemus Ward will not only speak to, and amuse
the present but generations yet unborn. But what
will hand his name down TO Immortality long
~ a.. L
bequcathed the whole of his ample fortune to his
aged mother. and after her death to he employed
in building Asylum in the United States for
superannuated Printers. This gives him a niche
in the temple of Fame. The incendiary who de-
stroyed the AleNandrian Library, won unenviabe
and imperishable notoriety, but Artemus Ward, by
this one act of his lie has won imperishab,e re-
nown. There is not printer in this OF any other
country that will not, henceforth, hold Artemus
Ward in grateful AID sacred remembrance. As
class of men th.y separate and distinct from all
CIR classes. In general intelligence they are ne-
rior to none They are the substratum (if we may
be allowed the eypression) upon which all the arts
and sciences are built without their peculiar
knowledge ard their labors mental darkness Cim-
merriam in character, would cnshroud the entire
land and universal barbarism again prevail. They
do more work gratuitously, and elevate more men
to position than is thought or dreamed of. There
is not a position of honor in our whole framework
of society and laws, but can boast greater less
number of printers. In olden times they were
permitted to wear swords as mark of distinction,
and in all public professions they given the
position of honor and distinction due to lntelli-
gence. lmprovident in their habits and guilty of
irregularities they may be, but, class they
are singularly exempt from grave offences. They
never become inmates of jails or peni,entiaries.
III crime they cannot be accused, and that is
rNGRArirUpE. Their exemption from this
the immortality of CHAs. F. BRowN. Honored be
his name, eternal be his memory.
1t will be recollected by many of our readers
that Artemus Ward paid Oroville visit in the
year 1868. He put up at the St. Nicholas, and oc-
cupied room adjoining one in which well known
citizen had his family. While adjusting his dress,
after supper, preparatory to going to meet his
audience he overheard the citizen ask his wife 10
go and hear the lecture. She objected, on the
ground that she disliked to patronize man who
could not write his language with propriety,"
and ended by pronouncng him steamboat.
The husband, however induced his wife to go and
hear him. Artemps assembled into the pulpit, faced
his audience, tcok his handkerchief and commenced
wiping his whiskers in manner so irresstibly
droll as to convuse the entire audience with laugh
ter. Fixing his eye upon the citizen he remarked
that he had that evening heard himself compared
to "stean,soct.n He affected ignorance of what
"a steamboat meant, but he hoped it was nothing
had. After his lecture, we made one of party
who. with ArenIus, called upon the citizen and
spent an hour in pleasan, converse which had the
effect to convince both citizen and wife that if
Ar,emus could not write, he could speak the En-
gliSh language with propriety. Reqaescat in pace,
Artemus Ward.