The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-16

But during such time nothing could ar
rest his attention, not even the cry OF fire,
in nv opinion, till he had his conception
down just to suit him then he would
spring up, and woe to chairs, tables, or
anything else that came in his way. lie
would twirl on his heel, and ten to one but
he would haul Inc over backward, If not
on my guard. Till the tensions of his
mind was relaxed he made lively work. In
this case, if there was elemental lowering
outside, there was mental sunshine within.
"Well, Charley, what is !? Have you
struck lie ?''
81 am going" said he, "to' ridicule the
independence Of any press that has job
office connected with it, for newspaper
'puffs' are based more on money than
merit, if not altogether ON money, or its
equivalent in some way. l am gong to
get up letter as from wandering illite-
rate GUS Snowman, whose whole estab-
lishment would cost about 1892, all told.
| have seen just such a chap, named Ward,
ND in Lucas county, so that my letter will
come nearer being founded on facts,' as
fictitious writers say, than an average.
I'll make him call on us to puff his shows
high,' and give as reason that he is going
to get all his showbills printed at our office.
His spelling shall be the comment on his
merits, and his reason for being pulled shall
show the independence of the press"
When he wrote, his thumb and fingers
were curled up till they formed the letter
"O,D hattened somewhat on the under
side, and between the ends of them, tight
ly grasped, he held his pen nearly in a per-
pendicular position, and wrote very wig
glev hand. When he arrived at the bot
tom of the page on the left-hand side, he
was far from down on the right-hand side.
He was very tenacious of having his mat
ter lust as he wanted it, and would often
set his own articles, and no one else was
ever permitted to read his proof for him.
This is the said letter. ! give it in full,
that his lost point may at last be discover
ed and appreciated:
To the edttor---
SIR-pm movin along-slowly along down
| lords your place. want you should rite me a
letter sayin how is the show bizniss in youi
| Bares, a kangaroo Ia amoozin little Raskal-
| 'twould make you larf yerself 10 deth to see tht
little jump up and saue" nbn wfS gger' CAM q
Kidd and DR.. Webster in the act Of KILN Dr.
| Parkman besides several miscellanyus mora
| wax statoots of celebrated piruts murderer
&c exalted by few & exceld by none. Now Mr.
ed itor scratch OFF few lines sayin how Is the
show bizniss down to your place. l shall nave
my handbls dun at your oilss DsPen a upon n
fanin stile also git up tremenjus excitemen
in VI paper bowt my onparaleld show. W.
must fetch the public someho ". we mus
strong If its a temperance community tell en-
sined theSpledge fifteen minits arter Ise born
but on the contery Of your peple take their tods
say Mr. Ward is as jenal Teller as we eve
met full of conyiviality, and the life and sole o
| the soshul Bored. Take don't you? II you ca.
anything about my show say my snaix is a
harmless as the new born Babe. What inter
| estin study it is to see neurological aninll Tx
snaik under pcrfeck subiecshun My Hangs
roo is the most larfable little cuss ever saw
All for Is cents. 1 am ANXIOUS to skeWer you
inhoounce. / repeat in regard to them handful
that shall git eIn struck OFF up TO your print
offs My perlitercal sentiments agree wit
yourn exactly. know they do, becaws neve
| saw man whose didn't.
p. S.-You scratch my back and lie scratc
9 your back.
Thus accidentally he found his "fort,
as he was wont to say of others, and fror
this rapidly rose his fame as humorist
till not only this people, among whom h
lived, but our English ancestors, thong
| studiedly slow to give credit to the Wes'
became enthusiastic in their plaudits, an
SO ambitious were they individually of h
, personal acquaintance, and of spending
/ conviyial hour with him, that they incol
! ssidcrately deprived him of the quiet an
f rest, after an exhaustive effort before tt
/ public, without which he could not eve
: lire, and thus absolutely interviewed hi
into the early grave in which he rests.
$ The following pleasant tribute to his men
4 DRY, which appeared few days after b
i death, / have copied from the London Spect
3 tor, and send it as appropriate to follow tn
/ article. Respectfully,
a N. A. GRAY.