Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-12-13
JOSH BILLINGS.
The Alleged Humorist on Lecturing and
Proyerb-M Making.

rbe Alleged Humorist on Lecturing and
Proverb- Making.
Josh Billings, the famous bumorist,
arrived in the city last evening at nine
o'clock on the limited express from New
York. and registered at the Monongahela
House. He is making lecturing tour
throughout the country, and this moIp-
ing departed for California, Pa, where
he will deliver his humorous lecture to-
night. A reporter caught glimpse OF
him this morning seated on a bench at
the Union Station, musingly watching
the people going to and fro, evidently on
ON the ebert for suggestion for new
humorous story. When approached bv
the writer he entered into a pleasant
conversation, prefacing his remarks by
stating that he was out of sorts, and had
not been well for some time. 81 believe
am breaking down." he said, 81 have
been suffering for long time with gas
tric trouble and catarrh. l thought l
would give my annual series of lectures
as usual this year, that my health would
improve if / moved around, but it's no
use. am afraid l will have to give it
up" .,
"Wbat is the nature of the lecturer"
"Oh, it's the same have been on the
road with for thirty two years, the Pro
liabilities of Life Each year l change
the name of it, that's all. 1t is so full OF
points that the people who hear it laugh,
and before l come around again they
have forgotten most of what I have told
them. and don't know any better when
they hear the same funny things again.
make it a point to give the lecture so
fast that it would be rather difficult for
nv auditors to remember all / say. l
expect to keep on delivering it as long
as l live, and expect this to be the last
thing will do"
"You have been writing nearly all your
life, have you not?" ...
"No. I didn't do much Until l was 40
years of age. am now 6S years old, so
I have been writing constantly for over
twenty five years. | have been writing
for the New York Weekly Tor eighteen
wears. and have never missed week
since | sent them my first half column:
Humorous writing is now almost played
out. People have had so much Oft that
they are tired of it.. l don't think 1 Will
do mucb more special work. The funny
hook business has been overdone. There
is more money in an almanac. ana, py
the wav when wrote my Josh Billings
Farmers' Almanac" in 1860, the first
n,,blisher / offered it to, thought it was
no GOOD. and would not give me even
$3.50 for it. He made a mistake though
for during the ten years it was published
mn until 1880, cleared $4,000 on it
Conclusive evidence of its worth, is il
not9 Yes. the almanacs take better thar
a humorous book would nowadays"
"You were located in Pittsburg for ;
short time number of wears ago, wer'
you mott" . n.
eyes, was well acquainted in Pitts
burg thirty wears age. About that tint
a company was organized in the East t
build a boat at Pittsburg that was Il
transport coal. L was sent from the Eas
to superintend the building of it. After
wards acted as captain, and ran 1t on
trip down the Conemaugh River. Th'
New York company, which originated
ON Wall street, got up the scheme nerel.
to sell the stock anu get out OF the com
pany after pocketing nice sum. Tn
idea was to run things on high pressure
They were disappointed, though, for In
scheme was unsuccessful and they wer
badly left. / knew nothing OF thel
scheme when they employed me, an
soon after left the boat"
"What is your opinion of the result
the late Presidential, electiOn?"
81 have given it very little attention
All / know is that the only thing thu
will NIX well with politics is whisk
Politics are running the country. har'
" know whether l am Democrat {
Republican. / did not vote either tick
this year. guess, though am more
Republican than Democrat. "
can't tell anything about what the fort
nate party will do when it comes
power
to your style of humor?"
"Well, it was based on opportunity;
required no little gump'ion to see whe
to lit in. About every line had been d
ed by somebody or another. The m
spelling was a success with Atem
Ward-the probabilities were it v on
not be with anybody aspiring to succe
him. Quaint maxim has been the lie
of several proverbial philosophers. I
people had been Photographed most tb'
oughly, and Phoenix, Twain and no e
of other people had dipped into 9th
branches. In the absence of somethi
entirely original you observe hit OIL
combination new application of {
devices. as it were. The quaint VT a
wisdom OF the sayings" would take wi
the small proportion OF mankind W
have the true appreciation of those gu
tiles. while the peculiar orthograp
would take with the remainder. 1t '
sort of grand combination aggregate
as the circus advance agent would call
1t was resorted to because it paid, a
has been adhered to for the same reaso
Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph.
When Sugar was Invented.
The exact date of invention of SUI
= A. ~..nt af fohla HON x