The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-11-05
Josh BHLLuNGs.


on intimate terms with Henry Clay,
and managed his political business in
New England Henry W.Cshaw was
born in Landsboro, Berkshire county,
mass, about 1915. He went to school
until he was IA, and at one time it
was intended to make him private sec
rotary to John Quincy Adams. His
disposition was that Of rover, and all
the plans which his anxious relatives
made to give him Il lift in the world
were knocked on the head by his start,
ing out to the West. He joined an
enterprising party animated with the
resolve to cross the plains to the Pa
cifc Ocean and colonize the Mexican
Government. The project failed, and
young Shaw, with varying luck, pur-
sued the avocation OF frontiersman,
turning his hand TO everything, but
making little more than bare living.
AS proprietor of country store, keep |
ing from needle to a bundle of hay, |
and as a cattle drover and. farmer he
had strange ups and downs. He also
, tried his hand as captain Of steam
boat on the Missouri, but the company
that owned the boat busted, or the
boat itself burst, it is not quite certain
/ which. He reached California in 1S49,
! but did not remain long.
At the age OF q he paid a visit to
i his father, and married Civilization
t had no charms for him, and accom-
/ panied by his young New England
o wife he soon started for the West.
e Very little is known Of his life out
J, there. He was not successful, though
n he possessed energy unbounded.
IL Finding himself at the age OF 40 with
|, three young and growing daughters,
l. with no facilities for their education,
II he came East and settled at Pough-
/" keepsie, on the Hudson, where he
l. took up the business Of auctioneer and
{, dealer in real astate. He made cap
n ital auctioneer, but the resources OF
1t the town were not very large, neither
o. was his income. Poughkeepsie had a
st small daily newspaper, and its editor
,e upon hearing the words OF wit and
10 wisdom that fell from Mr. Shaw's lips
,e while engaged in his calling invited
him to write for his journal. He con.
scented, and contributed about forty
articles, among which was his famous
y, essay on the mule. They were pub
4 lished and made no sensation at all
a They were spelled properly and with
n, due regard to all photography. Mr.
M Shaw felt that his journalistic aspira
tons were destined to be nipped il
a the bud. A bright idea, however
ne struck him. He read one OF the anus
10 ing sketches by Artemus Ward ant
y asked himself if it was not the pecu
od liar spelling that made that author
~ fame. He took down his essay on tn
mule, "slewed round the spelling" a
o;l he.expressed it, and mailed it wit
bo the signature HJosh Billings" to tn
n New York Era. 1t was published an
went the round OF the press. As 500
i. as he saw that the article had been n
printed he thought he ought to begi
bo to make money out of his writing
"a He sent off one Of his best short essay
to Boston paper. Its editor reptile
;vo that he could only afford to give hi
$3.50 for it. Josh Billings did not r
NJ. gard this as big pay, but he accepte
it, little dreaming at that time that h
n pen was to prove so valuable q sourC
OF riches to him. Y ct ttt'-
~ Frem2the day that he altered IL
u. spelling OF the mule essay his luck b
;no gan to change. An enterprising Ne
az York weekly gave him 800 wee
Nv for half column of his essays al
roo sayings. "Josh Billings became il
nj mensely popular. His matter" Q
= tanned good price, and Mr.. Shs
40 made hay while the sun shone. +
I, discovered that ne was a good lectu
/. :, er, and as such, commanded high Fl
80 ures, secured good audiences--al
IA what is more, amused them and Sc
them home delighted. In New E
.;ta gland was published "Thomas' @
Farmers Almanac" 1t had been
,rr sued for eighty years. It's pages
oh. fered splendid opportunity for b.
~, lesque, and Mr. Shaw determined
take it in hand. In 1871 he broug
~ out his burlesque, with the follow
title.
IA "Josh Billings Farmers Altman
hor for the year 1870: Being. tew YET
nm since leap year, and "a years since t
aho American people left Crate Britts
10, tew take care ov herself, and started
~ snug little business ov their ov
~, which | am instructed tew state
"a. payin we'll Containing all that
~ necessary for an allmanax, and a GO
- deal besides"
I'M. Of course, the full extent of the
II. NOR of the burlesque conld only