Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-26
8beelin9 Register
THE LUCK OF LITERATURE.
An Interesting "Reminiscences OF Oae OF
Americas Hamorists.
Ksas york GsnanAS.

an Interesting "Reminiscences OF One Of
Americas numorists.
Nee Tors Graphic.
Speaking Of 0'Brien puts me in mind Of
Artemus Ward. We were oil intimate
friends, but there has been so much inven.
ton and nonsense written about the latter,
that almost tremble to say word lest /
may be put down among the fabuists. Es-
pecially an Englishmao By the name of
Kingston, trusting to his imagination for
his facts, and having been travelling agent
OF Artemus for while. got out book in
which the main parts Of the great humorist' 8
hte were omitted while other parts were
purely imaginary to fIl in. The real story
OF ArtemuS debut into prominence is this:
There was in 1860 comic paper printed 10
this city by two brothers, Stephens, called
Vanity Fair, which blazed up brilliantly for
3 while under literary and artistic genius,
but finally aickeFed and was likely to ex.
pire. The editorship was offered to me-.
but | saw plainly could do nothing with
it. I said:
There arr only two men in this count '
who can do you any good. One is john G.
Sake and the other Artemus Ward" Al
that time | believed this to be his real
name. SAKE you can't have for he il
about to run for Governor of Vermont SC
you'd better get hold Of Mr.. Ward q:
quickly as you can"
My advice was needed, and was asked il
l would write to Artemus and learn bis
views, / did so to Cleveland, o aud made
him the distinct offer of coming to New Y ork
on salHry of $50 per week, aud an In
crease on the success OF the paper He
was prompt, arriving in New York almos.
as soon as his letter of acceptance. He af
forwards told me that be was getting bu.
$40 per week on the Plain Dealer, and as.
sumed the editorial chair of Vanity Fair;
but salt could not save the paper, notxith-
standing its genuine merit. The American
public does not want refined wit, though
since that time they have been partially
educated up to it; they want broad humor
and personal sllusion. Punch never did
sell in this country, and five want anything
ootsids Of daily paper it must be cheap
and q great deal OF it. Witness our so
called literary papers, eight large pages
running six continued stories, for FIVE cents,
When Vanity Fair was sure to go down
Ertemus Was very Respondent. What
should he DO? Ore day walking up Broad
way said TO him, Charley, why don't you
Lecturer Lecture! Why the idea was
absurd. He could write, but he could not
talk; he was not able to get up and say ten
lines on an emergency. soon talked him
out of that by telling him that he could
read his lecture or commit it to memory.
That point settled, now what sho&ld be his
subject2 At that time the canard Of the
Twentyseventh street ghost was in full
blast, and suggested ghosts as subject
knowing that whatever he wrote he would
make it funny, and before we parted it was
agreed that he should write what he could
on this subject, and on the next evening
come down to PiafF S, the noted Bohemian
resort on Broadway above Blocker street.
and read it to the party that assembled
there every night.
This programme was carried out, and
Artemus duly appeared with what he called
"a Lecture About Ghosts" and read it
amid uproarious approval, the main fun of
which was that there was not word In 1t
about ghosts, and it was settled on all sides
that it must be brought before the public.
DQL now lHEIc was dtlOE au1 w
casional manager at that time playing
general utility at Wallacks theatre, the
elder Of the name, on Broadway, near
Broome street, whose name was De Walden.
went to De Walden, whome | knew, and
talked Artemus to him. He saw it and an
introduction followed. De Walden worked
assiduously and the entire press helped
him. Every body was the friend Of Arte,
mus, for a more genial, jovial, liberal man
did not live. Alas for himself, De Walden
took Niblo's saloon, now the dining room Of
the Metropolitan, for one night, with the
privilege Of six. They ran the six nights
crammed to the doors, and | doubt if ever
audiences laughed before or since as they
laughed that week The financial result to
Artemus was 81 $50 and Artemus was ju
bilant. From taat hour his course was one
uninterrupted of success, and lecture after
lecture followed, each one greater than the
preceding, and fortune flowed into tn:
DOckefS of Artemus