Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-18
THE SAVAGE CLUB IN LONDON.
"Reminiscences OF Artemus ward

"Reminiscences OF Artemus ward
A London letter TO the Cincinnati
Commercial says; .. t..
The Savage Club was started more
than twenty years ago as social center
for artists, men of letters, particularly
playwrights and actors No man can
belong to it who has not produced some
successful work in art or literature. or
gained some success on the stage, and
the number Of these is limited to hun.
dred. Membership of the Savage Club
has been vainly sought by Lords who
had done nothing The members dine
together every Saturday at table
d 'hote, the hour being fixed at FIVE, 80
that the actors and others may repair to
the theaters. The Savages have free
admission to the best theaters, and vari
Gus other privileges. One great utility
Of the Club is the opportunity it affords
Of greeting and introducing writer's and
artists from other countries. Not long
ago the Club gave famous banquet to
the actors OF the Comedie Franchise,
who had just terminated an engagement
in London, The reception of Aneri-
cans connected with the theatrical or
other arts is more frequent. The CLUB
is, indeed, especially related 10 America.
and members of the Lotus Club in New
York have all, by a bylaw, been made
honorary members OF the Savage. The
Club is the most social in London, and
it also has its benevolent uses Ere
quenly, when a poor author or actor
has died, leaving his family in straitened
circumstances, the Savages have got up
theatrical benefit for them and twice
it has put forth volumes of Savage
Club Papers" whose proceeds have been
for their advantage.
There is good reason why the Savage
Club-its name is mere accident, and
not meant to be either pun or a descrip-r
tion--sbould feel identified with Ameri-
cans. Its greatness dates mainly from
the visit here of Artemus Ward. he
was the soul of it. From the hour that
he made it his headquarters, neglectful
members rallied, candidates for election
besieged the doors, and if they could not
get in, no doubt stood outside, listening
with euvy to the roars of laughter which
came from those who gathered around
the man whom Charles Reade was wont
to call " "Artemus the delicious In
remembering those bright months-un-
dimmed in recollection by the interven-
ing years. sometimes think that Amer
lea hardly appreciated the exquisite hu-
morist she lost 10 him 1t was the un-
happy destiny Of Artemus to fall upon
an era of sad and dismal conflict, so far
as his own country was concerned, The |
nation was hardly in the humsr for
laughing, and it was under the necessity |
Of compelling all its young literary men
to take sides on the great question WHICH |
was dividing the country, unhappily, |
Artemus, brought up amid hard pro-
slavery environment, had no aptness for
politics, and forced to 60 on one
side or the other, went on the
wrong side. The few things he ever
said about the negro question Jared
against the spirit of the more thoughtful
and earnest part Of the country, andthey
who could best appreciate his ability in
other respects turned their backs. He
was given oyer 70 the eopperheads as
their prize. But they had little wit and
less culture on that side, and poor Arte-
mus, after oscillating between California
and New York without making friends
with the best heads of East or West,
came over to England, where the terrible
Question Yas not fognd parting the sleep
and goats. Here he was happy here
his exuberant genius lowered in its full
ness; and, fae as were his writings and
his piece" Sith the memorable pano-
rama which he bequeathed to the Prince
Of Wales, his private talk, his Savage
Ollh fun, gere even More iETesisIible.
And meyer more irr6sishble than when
death's hand was strong on him, and
each side.spitting "goak was pointed
with cough which made the tears that
came of laughter linger as the tribute Of
sorrow.
He faded away before our eyes A
circle Of frienqs % cordial bs any pan
eyer had surrounded him, tWined their
arms around HIM but all that remains
% them is the delicate intellectual face
hat art has preserved, and which sder.s !
he chief place on the walls of the club
-oom at Covent Garden.
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