Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-09-25
ALL ABOUT HIM
The Life and Adventures of the "Danbury
News Mana Checkered Career.
fPron the Albany IN. VI Evening JOurnal.l

(From the Albany On. W Evening Journal.)
1t is an odd fact, and one which
we never saw claimed before, that
that the genuine humorists CT our
country, like the most distinguished
of our statesmen, sprung from the
people. Neither George ID. Prentice,
Charles F. Brown (poor Artemas),
John Suibob Phoenix, Mark Twain,
Billings nor Doesticks entered the
world fourishing a silver spoon.
But the latest and by far the most
striking illustration of the fact we
have noted Is presented in the early
career and present standing of the
Danbury Netcs Rom. Three years
ago he was unknown as humorist
outside Of quiet Danbury, and now
his clever and hilarious sketches con-
vulse readers in the furthermost
ends of our country, or, as the stump
speaker says, he is "known from the
rock-Dound shores of Maine to the
golden sands of the Pacific, from the
great lakes to the gulf stream" But
we find the rock bound shores nor
the gulf stream cannot hedge in his
expanding reputation.
In the clubs of London his name
chimes in with the clink of glasses,
and his squibs ascend with the
steaming incense of roast beef. In
the saloons of Paris, disguised in
grotesque French-tor he is one of
the few who bear translation-the
heartiness of the laugh betrays him.
In the gardens of Berlin his hits are
sandwiched between sips of Rhine
wine, and for moment neutralize
the self-asserting odor of sweitzer-
kase. His humor is original. 1t is
simple and is not overstrained nor
Observation-Disclosures oreaks with the
mechanism which would be humor.
lists fail to disguise. He uses plain
English nor calls to his aid bad or
biography. He never inflicts
double play on exchangeable words.
His wit the joyous soul of a new and
well-put screed, or ends sketch of
some remarkable caper in Danbury
with a "twang" that would cause
Waohtel to lay down the whip of
position IN dismay. A close scan>
ming of all the past and present hui
NOR which has shook old mother
earth in her orbit clears his skirts of
plagiarism or imitation. Although
peculiar and original, he is alarming
ly natural, aud you will often find
yourself bordering upon the sportive
mixture Of grave circumstances and
ludicrOus events in everyday life.
The posturing of his subjects, chief
ly confined TO hun an nature, and
homely things and situations, is al
ways within the pale of probability.
And he sustalns himself 80 we'll,
draws in such odd combinations of
dignified fact and droll probability,
ending all with such q surprise
though natural climax that you are
fairly started into roar, we'll on its
way long before you are ready.
James Montgomery Bailey, the
subject of our sketch, was born of
poor but respectable parents, in the
good old Dutch city of Albany on
the 25th of September, 184l. His
father, who was builder, fell with
others from building on the 4th of
March, 1914. 4 few years after his
mother married again, and the fami-
ly removed to Rome, N. Y. ALI
though it may have depressing in
fluence upon the coming generation
the truth must be told, that when
Young be was rather wild, and he
could always be found with "them
nasty boys" At an early age be es~
sayed peddIing apples, but not get
ting rich, he, at his mothers urging,
went to school. When about fifteen
years of age James attempted the
law, but a linen coat thwarted his
purpose and prevented his shining
at the bar. 1t seems the other Office
boy was much smarter at throwing
ink, and more dexterus in avoiding
it. The damaged condition in which
James brought that coat home one
night to his sorrowing mother, 50
depressed her that she withdrew him
from the bar.
He next turned his attention to
the grocery business, but sweet
tooth rivaled his assiduity, he clerk
ed "at it" only long enough to tell
the lump sugar barrel in the dark.
The grocer parting kindly gave his
estimate of James true value to him,
but thought he would prove dead"
to anyone who would boil him up or
down. He even went out ofhis way
to inform James stepfather that his
parting with him was very much
like parting with tie best part OF his
stock
Turning from trade and barter be
plunged into literary pursuits, and
a novel. Another boy, similarly in
clined to plunge, surreptitiously OBJ
tanned type from The Roman Citizens,
and cheerfully contracted TO do the
work. They reached the second
chapter, ana, owing to the thrilling
nature of the story, were warming
M TO their work, when the Roman
citizens in proprid persona, made
descent on the publishing house of
Bailey & Co, and carried off the en-
tire effects, including the cherished
MSS, in bis pocket handkerchief.
Thus again was the yearning OF bis
aspiring soul diverted from its course,
and his fortune made bowling will
derness. The novel was of a domes-
tic character, abounding in everyday
occurrences, such as well-performed
assasslnations, and clevcrly executed
poisoning; all centering around the
most enduring love for that "wisest,
noblest, and best of Gods gift to
man-woman." The novel was en-
titled "The Avenger-r-r," and was
well calculated to make trouble iH
the literary world.
JQsn Do,lox-