The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-07-28
A FELLOW OF INFINITE WIT.
Stories Told OF Charley Backus,
the Dead Comedian
FROM the New York suo-

Backu1 was . born cOnoeolen- II
was lust ~ natural for him to do low
comedy as for a baby to cry. 1t was
ia bis feet, it was in bis arms, and
above all, in his face. His wink
would makes man laugh, and his
grin would convulse . packed house:
He mol than held up bis end OF
the row of San Francisco Ministries.
Probably bis most remarkable do
ings, a. be sat At the right las to the
of the ebony arc, in the
first part of the performance, were
accomplished with lis mouth. This
extraordinary feature was . rare gift
to oBe in bis profession. By its IN
aided manipulation, he could at any
brisg dows the house. 1t
his especial delight to find a
eroup of children in the box at bis
left elbow. He could turn his head,
and throw them into paroxysms of
by simply allowing his
to run in a way, catercor-
nered way across his face. 1t was a
large mouth by nature, and he added
to lis vast appearance BY stopping the
burnt cork an inch or 80 short
Of its confines. and filling
in the interval with a beautiful YER
million. He could descrioe with b is
mouth . circle, a crescent, q triangle.
a parallelegram, OF a streak Of light
ming at pleas re. Every thing that
he did with bis mouth was full
grown, not to say inordinate. When
be spoke Italian, after Salvini, or
French, after Bernhardt. the sounds
Of those languages were like thunder
rolled through a bordering Of st.
Vitus. When he moved his mouth
merely the children screamed with
merriment; when he spoke through
it, they nearly died OF terror. He
dubbed with fun, and his vivacity
on the stage did not exceed his
humor off it. To a reporter who
called to inquire about his heath
some years ago he said:
"Tve a painful, but, mind you, an
aristocratic disease, govt. Birch bad
it a year ago, and I've been jealous
OF him ever since"
In speaking # bis early life, he
said:
II was not born like the genera .ity
of people who have become known
of DOR but honest parents. was
born of wealthy parents. who were
not only honest to begin with, but
80. Consequently l am
not related to any Presidents, heads
OF insurance companies, check rails
ers or defaulting Cashiers"
When AID Weaver stopped him on
the street, fiourished his fists in his
face, and threateninely demanded if
he had made an Objectionable COM
ment about him, Backus looked
around, and seeing that his field Of
escape was open, said YES" and
then ran off. "This," he was wont
to say, twas \ good demonstration of
the superiority OF brain owe mere
brute strength"
A discOnsolate father chilled upon
him one day and said: II have no
control over my son; he wants to be-
come a minstrel singer. l have in
vain tried to Undue. him to embrace
the law, medicine or ministry. He
II going to destruction. How can l
him."
"Perhaps YOU don't 90 the right
way to work with the ro0r boy" said
Nj. Backus. "Pernaps you don't
give him enough amusement. Boys
will he boys. BE gentle with him.
Dress him. Take him around to see
the sights. Take him tn Boston and
lead him to that cradle Of liberty,
Fanueil Hall. Then take him to the
top of Bunker Hill Monument-and
him over"
Mr.. Backus heard that a gentle
man, insulted at something lie had
said, was searching for him, to shoot
him. He sent him this message:
Kill Birch. He has no children
md / have"
On n Of his periodical visits to
Mr.. BackUs was invited
~ visit a very fine, tall and large
business building newly erected
"a Main street. He was told that a
beautiful view Of the city end a
glimpse of lake Ontario could be OBJ
from the roof. The building
no elevators, and the min
strel, = very heavy and short winded
man, climbed and climbed, travers-
Ing flight after flight of stairs be-
tween the ground floor and the roof.
On the top floor he stopped and
opposite q door and raped
until TIE janit0r's daughter respond
ed.
I"Ixcuse me-" said Backus, putting
and painting and mopping his face
with his handkerchief, 'but il st.
Peter in?"