The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-11-01
The Danbury News Man as Boy.

AtnouSn 1t may have depressing infu
ence upon the coming generation, the truth
must be told, that when young he was rath.
er wild, and could always be found with
them nasty boys" AT an early age he es
sayed peddling apples, but not getting rich
ne, at his mothers urging, went to school.
when ABOUT fifteen years of age James at
tempted the law, but linen coat thwarted
ms purpose and prevented his shining al
the bar. 1t seems the other office boy was
much smarter at throwing ink, and more
dextrous in avoiding it. The damaged
condition in which Jams hroaeht that coat
home one night to his sorrowing mother Sc
depressed her that she withdrew him from
the bar
He next turned his attention to the gro
Gerry business, but sweet tooth rivalng his
assiduity, he clerked "at it" only long
enough to tell the lump sugar barrel in the
dark. The grocer at parting kindly gave
his estimate of James's true value to him
but thought he would prove "lead" to
any one who would boil him up or down
He even went out of his way to inform
James's stepfather that this parting with
him was very much like parting with the
best part Of his stock.
| Turning from trade and barter" he
plunged into literary pursuits, and wrote a
novel! Another boy similarly inclined to
plunge, surreptitiously obtained type from
the Roman Citizen, and cheerfully con-
tracted to publish the work They reached
the second chapter, and, owing to the
thrilling nature of the story, were warming
up to their work, when that Roman Citizen
| in, |,
publishing house of Bailey & Co., and car
ried off the entire effects, including the
cherished manuscripts, in his pockethand-
kerchief. Thus again was the yearning OF
his aspiring soul diverted from its course
and his future made a bowling wilderness
| The novel was of domestic character
aboundng in everyday occurrences, such as
welEperformed assassinations and cleverly-
executed poisonings; all centering around
the most enduring love for that "wsest
noblest, and best of Gods gifts to man
woman" The novel was entitled 1.-The
| Avenger-r-rr," and was calculated to make
trouble in the literary world.
About 1859 young Bailey returned to
Albany, and lived with his grandparents.
He again tried his luck in the grocery busi-
|
pleasant chap than the Roman, and became
so attached that he took him along while
going through bankruptcy three months
later. Having struck in soft place, his
employer shortly after went into the grain
business, and engaged young Bailey as
clerk. Admonished by late experience,
his employer became fearfully economical,
and after purchasing boat-load of oats,
that had been under water, he violently ex-
ercised this new trait in setting James to
turning fan-mill in the top loft of four
story building. Having raised the wind
considerably, and cleaned out the oats, he
went home to die, but eventually recovered
and in the fall of 1860 removed to Dan
bury, Connecticut.
While in Albany, in August, 1860, young
Bailey first appeared in print. The Cos
sipers Club of the New York Mercurp
gave him this opportunity, and he continued
a contributor to the Club for year and q
half after going to Danbury. In this, and
indeed up to 1870, although writing with q
free will, there was little or no attempt al
humor. In Danbury he worked with his
stepfather at carpentering, and in the sum
mer of 1862, when work was scarce, he en-
gagged with farmer to bind oats at tn,
exasperationg rate of seventy FIVE ce Mt,
per day. One day sufficed to fill his Sou
with the freedom and independency of az
riculture; but the voluminous pain in thu
small of his back on the 'evening of tn,
first day." he said, would have made deaC
man dissatisfied. Here, 70 doubt, he CLEAN
ed that aggressive knowledge of agricultur,
L.. L