The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-12-27
JOSH BILLINGS.
The Alleged Humorist ON Lectaring and
Proverb-Makfng.


Josh Billings, the famous humorist,
is making lecturine tour throughout
the country, and recently departed
for California. Pa, where he will de-
liver his humorous lecture. A reporter
caught glimpse of him this morning
seated on one Of the benches at the
Union Station, musingly watching the
people going to and fro, evidently on the
alert for suggestion for new humor-
oas story. When approached by the
writer be entered into pleasant con-
versation, prefacing his remarks by sta
ting that he was out OF sorts. and had
not been well for some time. II believe
l am breaking down." he said. II have
been suffering for long time with gas
trio trouble and catarrh. l thought l
would give my annual series of lectures
as usual this year, that my health would
improve if l moved around, but it's no
use. l am afraid will have to give it
up"
what is the nature of the lecturer"
20, it's the same I've been on the
road with tor thirty-two years, the
Probabilities of Life Each year /
change the name of it, that's all. 1t is
so full of points that the people who
hear it laugh, and before come around
again they have forgotten most of what
/ 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 my auditors to remember
all say. Iexpect to keep on delivering
it as long as live, and expect this te
be the last thing 1 win do"
"You have been writing nearly al
your life. have you notp"
mo, didn't do much until wa
forty years of age. ] am now sixty-eighi
years old, SO have been writing con
stantly for over twenty-five years. J
have been writing for the New York
Weekly for eighteen years, and have
never missed week since ] sent them
my first half column. Humorous
writing is now almost played out.
People have had so much of it that they
are tired of it. / don't think / will do
much more special work. The funny
book business has been overdone.
There's more money In an almanac.
4
Josh Billings Farmers Almonic," in
1870, the first publisher l 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, up until 1880, / cleared
$50, 900 on it. Conclusive evidence OF
| its worth, is it notp Yes, the almanacs
take better than humorous book would
nowadays"
You were located in Pittsburgh for
short time number of years ago,
were you notp''
Yes, was well acquainted in Pitts
burgh thirty years ago. About that
| time a company was organized in the
East to build boat at Pittsburgh that
was to transport coal. was sent from
the East to superintend the building OF
| it. Afterward / acted as Captain, and
ran it one trip down the Conemaugh
| River The New York company, which
originated on Wall Street, got up the
scheme merely to sell the stock and gel
out of the company after pocketing Q
nice sum. The idea was to run things
on high pressure. They were disap-
pointed, though. for the scheme was
unsuccessful and they were badly left.
l knew nothing Of their scheme wher
they employed me, and soon after left
the boat"
ITO come back to our original matter
to your style of humor?"
swell, it was based on opportunity
it required no little gumption To SCI
where to fit in. About every line hat
been filed by some body, or another
The misspelling was a success will
Artemus Ward-the probabilities were
IL would not be with anybody aspiring
to succeed him. Quaint maxim hal
been the lead of several proverbia
philosophers. The people had beer
Photographed most thoroughly, ant
Phoenix, Twain and no end of othel
people had dipped into other branches
In the absence of something entirel,
original, you observe hit on comb
nation-a new application Of old devices
as it were. The quaint wit and wisdom
of the sayings" would take with thu
small proportion Of mankind who have
the true appreciation of those qualities
while the peculiar photography would
take with the remainder. 1t was sor
of grand combination aggregation, a
the circus advance agent would call it
1t was resorted to because it paid, AM
has been adhered to for the same rea
son. ''-Pitts6urgh Chronicle Telegraph