Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-16
"Artemus Ward"
[springaeld (O.) Sunday News.l


Charleston, Ohio, and sought work
as a journcyman printer OH the STAN
dard, at that time the only journal in
the place. lie had none of the evid-
cnce of prosperity. On the contrary,
his clothes and general appearance
indicated that he was in the same
condition with many Of his brethern
-"busted," broken and deplorably
hard up. lie secured work OH the
paper at a salary of five dollars per
week, and settled down to dream of
contcntment IN life. This was Char
les Il. Browne, better known rs Gar
temus Ward" who subsequently
gained recognition as the first of
American humorists, and whose tour
through England, made under bitter
disadvantages, gained himself and
his nation u reputation for wit even
among the sluggish intollects Of that
people.
In his biography, it is told that h."
grew discOntented with his home in
New England, and came westward
with the tide Of emigration. Hear
ing rumOrs that he had oncc~lived in
South Charleston, a News reporter
took OCCASION to visit that village and
learn the facts connected with the
case. lie was directed to Mr.. Rus
sell Reedcr, a retired grocer, as the
person most likely to be informed up
on the subject, Mr.. ieeder is a gen.
tlemen well advanced IN years, but
wearing his age well. After few
unavoidable pleasantrieI touching
the weather and crops, the reporter
proceeded TO question him with reg
ard to his knowledge of the great hu-
morist.
"Wcrc you acquainted with Arte-
mus Ward, or rather, with Mr..
Browne?'
"Yes; 1 was his closest friend. lie
stuck type just above my grocery, and
in that way We became acquainted.
lie was with me more than any one
else here"
ado you remember and can you
give description of his physiquc?"
"Let me think minute. lie was
tall, nearly six feet, believe; he had
bright eyes, Roman nose, very gen.
erouS mouth, and was of light COM
plexion. lie was not u handsome
man, and he wasn't ugly, but he had
a gentlemanly bearing.
"You say he came here rather pow
erty stricken?'
eyes; and he left that way, too. !
don't think he had anything when he
came here, and | know he went away
worse off yet. He got $4 to S. tor set
ting type on the Standard, but that
did not pay his expenses. lie was in
debt all the time, and he left owing
$50 to the lady whom he lived with
remember that he wanted to &C
away, but hadn't a cent and couldn't
get any, so we raised a sum in my
store, and enabled him to leave
Charleston. Ifit hadn't been for oul
generosity, he would probably have
stayed there until he received hell
from other quarters"
$50 he left a debt of sixty dollars
here?"
"Yes; but about the close of the
war he returned and delivered hui
morous lecture in Chareston. The
next day he came round, visited u'
all, and paid what he owed. / sup
pose he was getting a hundred dol
lars night then-quite a jump from
four dollars week."
"Did you observe his great powers
of humor while he was here ?"
81 never met him in my life but hi
had some joke to get off. He was al
ways laughing, and his genial man
ners made him a favorite. l can
remember any of his jests now, as i
is twenty years since saw or talked
with him."
"Can you give me any further rem
iniscences ?"
"While he was here" continued
Mr.. Reeder, che had partner o
companion, whose name l can't nov
remember. They did the work o
the Standard, as the proprietor wa
generally drunk. Getting tired O
this, they watched for chance to &C
even with the old man. Perhaps h
overworked them too much, or II
fused them their wages; anywa
they determined to revenge then
selves on him for something. On
evening the owner and editor of til
, Standard got on u glorious drunl
, lie became loud in his general jo.
: and as usual, left everything
Browne and his partner. After Il
days work, the future Artemus Wan
t sat down and composed some horr
| BILE Jokes on the absent proprieto
ridiculing him for his empty hea
4 and presenting ludicrous pictures
. his drunken antics. 1t was publisht
a in the form Of hand-bill, and sea
q tered broadcast over the streets
q South Charleston. 1t was cure Fl
4 the proprietor. The Standard 500
changed hands, and not long aftt
4 Browne left"
, Uparhone ha loft In nhadiencn