The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-11-05
New York Worldly
The Late ss Josh 0llIlngs.s.

Henry w. Shaw, better known as Josh Bill
llngs" whose death in California was reported
in yesterdays World. occupied conspicuous po-
sition among American humorists II was not
until he sought to initiate Artemus Ward In
phonetic spelling that he rose TO any great prom
inence Masquerading with this mantle be
gained great popularity. He was born in Lanes
borough, Mass, in 1918, and was q grandson OF
DR.. Samuel Shaw, member of Congress from
Vermont during the war of 1919. AT the age of
fifteen he went to Utica, where he intended TO
enter college, but fell in with two Adventures
and went West with them For twenty i've
years he knocked about" the West, as he
termed it. He was farmer, steamboat captain
and siore-keeper by turns, but did not succeed
in either. He tried teaching, but tired of it,
Cattle driving was accepted as a makeshift, but
he was also failure in that. He essayed the
role of a banker, but with neither money nor
credit was not able TO continue long in that bus
mess.
While on visit TO his old home in 1845 he
was married but returned TO the West shortly
afterward and remained there until 1858, when
he came East 10 educate his three daughters
He settled in Poughkeepsie as . real estate
dealer and auctionecr He gained such q repu-
tation as a story-teller that he was importuned
by young friend who had started q weekly
PAPER to become contributor. " Josh laughed
at the idea but finally tried bis hand and sue
ceeded so well that his first contribution was ex-
tensively copied. He soon became convinced that
"Artemus Wards " success was attributable TO
the grOtesqueness Of his spelling and in acting
on it he made his first advance One of his ar
ticles, sent to the New York Era, an Essy on
the Muel." travelled tar and wide, and another
was sent to Boston publisher, who paid him
fOP I ohra1lH iko
he afterwards told friend, "and I opened an
account and made my first entry with this item,
Essay in Boston, $780,"
But his reputation was established, the name
of" Josh Billings" became widely known, and
he was paid proportionately high prices for his
articles. All OF them were written after he was
forty years old.
In 1865, when he had become famoas, he was
engaged BY the Neo York Weekly at 500 week
to write half q column essay or sayings" 1t
is said that when " Josh" published his !" farm
er's Alminax" in 1871 he went to the proprie-
tors of The New York Weekly and asked if they
did not desire to have it dedicated to them, and
they agreed 10 his terms of two cents a copy.
1t was anticipated that the edition would be
about 5000, but one day I" Josh brought in
bill for 1000, the editions having reached 20O,-
600 copies.
For many years he was a resident of this city
and latterly made his home at the Windsor Ho-
tel His acquaintance was very extensive and
he had q characteristic saying for every one he
talked with. His figure was striking. he being
six feet two inches in height, round -shouldered,
from his work on q farm, and wearing long hair
that came down on his shoulders for the purpose
of concealing an ugly wen on his neck
Devotedly attached to his family, he spent
most of his time in their company. Early in the
summer he would start out with them on q car
riage drive through the country. They would
first visit Sarato"a, where his son-in-law, Banker
DuR, Of this CT ', has q country place. Then
they would visit the White Mountains, where
he enjoyed the trout-6shing. He was also fond
of cards and was an excellent whist player His
memory is spoken OF as something remarkable
His education was rather from observation than
books