The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-03
THE LUCE OF LITERATURE.
An Interesting "Reminiscences of Ore II
Americas Humorists.

An Interesting "Reminiscences of Ore Of
Americas Humorists.
Whitaker in New York Graphic
The real story of Artemus Wards debut into
prominence is this: There was in 1860 comic
paper printed in this city by two brothers, Ste
phens called Vanity Fair, which blazed UP
brilliantly for while under literary and arts
tic genius, but finally flickered and was likely to
expire. The editorship was offered to me, but /
saw plainly that 1 could do nothing with it. I
said:
There are only two men in this country who
can do you any good One is John Ct. Sake Ard
the other is Artemus Ward. At that time be-
heved this to be his real name. SAKE, you
can't have, for he is about to run for Governor
of Vermont, so you'd better get hold OF Mr..
Ward as quickly as you can"
My advice was needed, and was asked if 1
would write to Artemus and learn his views
did so to Cleveland, o., and made him the dis
tinct offer of coming to New York on salary
of $50 per week, and an increase on the success
or the paper. He was prompt arriving
in New York almost as soon as his
letter l of acceptance. He afterwards told me
that he was getting but $40 per week on the
Plaindealer, and assumed the editorial chair OF
Vanity Fair; but salt could not save the paper,
Notwithstanding its genuine merit The Amer
lean public does not want refined wit, though
since that time they have been partially edu-
Gated to it; they want broad humor and personal
alluslon. Punch never did sell in this country,
and ii we want anything outside Of daily paper
1t must be cheap and great deal of it. Witness
our so-caled literary papers, eight large papers,
running six continued stories, for cents
When Vanity Fair was sure to go down, Arte-
mus was very Respondent. What should he dol
One day walking up Broadway said to him:
Charley, why don't you lecturer Lecturel
Why, the idea was absurd He could write, bat
he could not talk; he was not able to get up and
say ten lines on an emergency. l 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 should be his subjects
At that time the canard of the Twenty
seventh street ghost was in full blast,
and l suggested ghosts as a 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 Pfaffs, 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 APP
prevail, the main fun of which was that there
was not word in it about ghosts, and it was
settled On all sides that it must be
brought before the public But how2 There
was an actor and occasional manager, at that
time playing general utility at Wallack's the
alter, the elder Of the NAME on Broadway, near
Broome street whose name was De Walden.
went to De Walden, whom | knew, and talked
Artemus to him. He saw it, and an introduction
followed. De Walden worked assiduously, and
the entire press helped him. Everybody was the
friend of Artemus, for more genial, ioviaI
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 audi
ences laughed before or since as they laughed
that week The financial result to Artemus was
s., 280, and Artemus was jubilant. From that
hour his course uninterrupted success, and
lecture after lecture followed, each one greater
than the preceding and fortune flowed into the
pockets of Artemus.