The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-20
Bohemian Chiefs.

'"There," said Jack Ryder, formerly
Artemus Wards agent, last evening, as
he produced his scrap book and pointed
out cut Of an elderly man with short
pipe In his mouth-one Of these pecu-
liar, thlck-set pipes that are indigenous
to newspaper ofiices-'' there was the
king Of the Bohemians, Harry Clapp.
He died in New York, where he had
swung sharp quill for many years.
He handled the most saucy and fearless
pen Of any of the old school of Bohe-
mians that used to hang out at Pfaaff's,
on Broadway. Clapp made Pfaaff rich,
although he himself died poor. Harry
used to take his meals there, and one
day the coffee and victuals so impressed
the celebrated Bohemian's palate that
he wrote column about Pfaaff's cara
yansary. True, 1t was puff, but
Clapp- could make the rankest kind Of a
puff so witty and interesting that it
you'd De acceptable to any journal.
Clapp's dissertation on Pfaaff and coffee
and articles that the other Journalists
subsequently wrote on the same subject,
made Pfaaff famous, and to be famous
as a New Y ork tradesman is to be rich.
1t strikes me that it ought only to be
necessary for needy journalist to prove
that he was one of the fraternity to get
the best that Pfaaff's place affords. It
was a great gang that hung around
Pfaaff's In the days when Charlie Brown
was delivering his one hundred lectures
at Dodworth hall. One night long,
lank; hoosiery Josh Billings, then a
poor auctioneer, called on Brown. Bill
ings had written but little then. He
wasn't one of the Bohemians. lie was
too thrifty.
"a few days ago l met him in New
York for the second time. He has be-
come dignitied, almost courtly gentle
man with considerable polish, and all
the evidences Of prosperity. He has
grown rich, owns his own house in New
York and drives his own carriages.
The gentleman of them all, however, is
Bret Harte. He is a man of medium
height and build, with full beard and
moustache and general air Of elegance.
If he takes fancy to a person and gets
warmed up he is one Of the most schol-
arly and entertaining conversationallsts
that ever met. If Billings is rich
and, mind you, don't undertake to
belittle him, for there is a great deal of
him intellectually-Harte ought to be
rolling III wealth; but he is usually hard
up. Such are the freaks fortune plays
literary men. Strange that so MANY
humorists who amuse others have so
little themselves to enjoy of this world IS
goods! Bailey, the Danbury News
man, called here once to see me with
reference to Artemus Ward, who was
his god rs a humorist, and told me in
cidentally that he had friend here
among the journalists who was a hui
morist and man Of genius and who
had done considerable work for him.
The individual was Leonard. l had
never heard Of him, but believe he was
on the Leader, The poor fellow died
III the hospital, l think, and Bailey
bought his articles, as long as he was
able to write them. 1 don't remember
any other humorists besides Brown,
Griswold and this other man Leonard
then on the Cleveland papers. Yes,
Griswold was a humcrist-whe he was
drunk. He was absolutely the funniest
man when he was in liquor that I ever
saw. Artemus Ward was not always
an amusing man under tile same cir
cumstances, although he would load up
with ideas that would work out in great
shape wheh he was sober. Girls was
once advance agent for show, and
while he WAS at Nashville one night he
was seized with desire to 20 on a
drunk. He didn't know soul, but he
stepped up to the bar and began talking
to himself, as if he had met friend.
Girls, take a drink, said he to himself
in a changed tone Of voice. 'Oh, no;
I've sworn off,
'"rhe imaginary man urged Girls to
drink until the latter yielded. The bar
tender, who evidently took 'Gris' for a
lunatic, set out one glass, but the imag-
mary man grlflly ordered him to furnish
another glass. Girls took a glass in
each hand, clinked them together, AMI
with the Here's loOkin' at ye' of sGrio,
and Drink hearty of the imaginary
man, 'Gris' drained both glasses. Then
the Imaginary man urged 'Gris' to sing
a song, and after demurring for some
time Girls complied with the request.
'Gris' kept up this circus for more than
an hour. 1t was fashionable resort and
some of tho bloods of the city heard Of
it, gathered around and enjoyed the fun
awhile. Then they rushed forward, took
Girls in hand well It was one of the
tallest times that a gang over saw in
Nashville. Charles Brown was careless
OF money, but of course he aimed to get
all he could out Of his business. That's
1
was paying him ST. 900 year. He de-
mandcd an increase Of pay. Gray was
unable to grant it, and when Vanity
Fair of New York offered him 81 800 a
year he accepted the position. Vanity
Far died at the end of 18 months.
Ward used to say that he killed it, and
then Artemus brought out his lecture.
was formerly unable to appreciate
Nasty. His letters are not funny to
me, but he has Il little thing in Lotos
Leaves entitled John Upanddownjohn,
which is really iine."
| Oldor than He Looked.
Colonel George l.. Perkins, of Nor
wich, Conn.,, who celebrated his Goth
birthday Sunday, August 6, and is as
hale and hearty as most mon at so
years, was witness in the Tilton-
T}eecher trial in 1876. When his name
was called the crowd in tho Courtroom
saw a good-looking, dignifed gentle
1 .s1>