The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-09-26
GEORGE D. PRENTICE AND ARrEmus WAND,

used to delight to call himself, was on his lee
turing tour through the Southwest, he came ia
LOUISVILLE. The unique streame-s on which
the name of Artemus Ward was borne had
each letter at different angle from ite prede.
cessor The ludicrOus announcement that he
would "speak piece" had captured the whole
city, and the tickets had sold fast enough to
crafty the most inordinate showmans desire
In due time Artemus himself came, and at the
earliest opportunity he called upon G. D. Prem
tice.
! The Journal Office was then on Green street,
near the post Office, and just ut the right at
the head OF the stairs was the private apart
ment of the great wit, poet and editor A
quick rap at the door was followed by the
prompt "come in" of the occupant, and Arte.
mus Ward stood in the presence of Mr.. Prem
tice.
A slight figure dressed in black, hat in hand,
stepped forward, and they shook hands earn
estly. Brownies sandy hair curled irregularly
around well shaped head, moderately high
forehead, keen blue eye. nose almost He
braic in outline, a light sandy mOustache, that
only half concealed the well-shaped mouth, a
pointed goatee-such he appeared Mr.. Prem
ticc. even less in stature than his visitor his
feet encased in old slippers, well-worn car
digan jacket over his shoulders. his spectacles
pushed back over his high forehead, his dark
eye. keen as hawk in its glance. and win
ming smile on his plasant face-such was his
host. 1t seemed as it, in that moment Of greet
ing. each took, or tried to take the measure
of the other.
With easy grace Mr.. Prentice waved his Wis
itor to seat. and the conversation commenced.
At first it was upon trivial subjects. upon trav-
4, A. I. a
the neighboring cities, and other unimportant
matters. Finally. like the keen fash of du-
elsts blade came one of Prentice's witt
cisms. A natural laugh, and in response came
the answering flash from Artemus. From
thence it was a rapid succession of puns,
jokes and quaint sayings.
With Mr. Prentice ii was corruscatiOn-
a perfect shower of bright gems, even as the
glowing steel upon the sounding anvil, gives
out sparks beneath the ringing hammer With
Artemus it was slower. The savings were
witty and quaint. but there was to be seen the
labor of production 1t took study-it was
the forging of thought-not the lightning flash
of genius.
Never during the years of our acquaintance
with Mr. Prentice have we seen him So happy,
So genial and So brilliant. He drew Artemus
ont he sounded the range OF his capabilities.
he weighed him. he measured the swords of
rcpartee with him: and yet by his gracious
bearing he treasured him. he made him feel that
tender sympathy that he ever manifested to.
ward Youthful talent. Could stenographer
have been present To pen-photograph the
words as they dropped from the lips of the
two men, what wonderful report it would
have been For two hours the playful sparring
of the intellectual giants continued. The rath-
er slow measured responses of Artemus gave
n quaint dryness to his expressions that was
delightful At last the interview came to a
clrSe.
With a hearty wish for his prosperity. Mr..
Prentice clasped his hand and followed him out
of the room The farewell's were spoken, and
Mr.. Prentice returned to the labors of the ed
toria, chair.-Mobile Graphic.