Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-12

Henry w. Shaw, "Josh Billings" Of popu-
lar literature and the rostrum, died at
Monterey, CAL, on October If, 1885. Ameri-
ca loses in him a wise as well AS q funny
man. Much sagacity lay underneath his
humorous sayings. "Josh" was not the first
philosopher to wear the cap and bells. His
readers and his audiences would have been
but few, had not "Josh" made the hard
good sense of his utterances palatable by
the devices of the prOfessed humorist.
Mr.. Shaw was Of good family. Both his
Congress, and the former acted as political
manager for Henry Clay in New England.
He was born in DanesbOrO, Berkshire coun-
ty, Mass, in the year 1920. From the time
of his birth until 1884 his life was spent at
his native place. In the year last named,
when he was only II years of age, he joined
party animated with the resolve to cross
the plains to the Pacific Ocean and colonize
under the Mexican Government. The pro-
ject failed, and Shaw thereupon pursued
| the avocation of frontiersman, turning his
hand to everything presenting him means
of livelihood. He reached California in
1913, but did not remain there long. Re-
turning East at the age Of q, he married.
Accompanied by his young New England
wife he soon after started for the West,
where he was again not successful. Find
| ing himself at the age of 40 with three
young and growing daughters, with no fa-
cilities for their education, he went East
and settled at Poughkeepsie, on the Hud-
son, where he took up the business OF an
auctioneer and dealer in real estate.
Poughkeepsie had small daily newspaper,
and its editor upon hearing the words of
wit and wisdom that fell from Mr.. ShaW's
| lips while engaged in his calling, invited
| I, fo 10 fnr l. ic To
and contributed about forty articles, among
which was an essay on the mule. They
were published and fell fiat. Why? was
the problem.
Reading a sketch by "Artemus Ward''
And comparing it with work Of his own,
Mr.. Shaw concluded that the secret of his
failure was in the correctness of his spelling.
He accordingly took down his essay on the
mule, "sleWed round the spelling," and
mailed it with the signature Josh Bill
lings," to the New York Era. 1t was pub
lished and went the round of the press.
! From that time forward the quaint, miss
spelled productions of "JOsh Billings" COM
manded great popularity, and were remu-
erative to both author and publishers. lie
was equally fortunate as public lecturer,
subsequent to brief period of comparative
failure. At the close of the war, after hav-
| ing delivered few lectures in country
towns, he spoke in Philadelphia at the in
vitation Of the Press Club, and made what
he called the first success of his life. Hence
forward his acceptability as speaker was,
at least, equal to his good fortune with his
pen. What estate "Josh" left is not yet
known, but there is no doubt that it is OF
considerable value. His services on the
platform commanded high rates, and his
literary productions were paid for exceed
ingly well. One weekly paper alone in
New York paid him 500 week for half
column Of matter. In 1873 he began the
publication Of his "Farmers' AlminaX," a
book which in its second year had Il sale OF
127, 900 copies, and in ten years had netted
the author and publisher $780, 900 each.
Mr.. Shaw looked like a very melancholy
person, but was Il happy man, devoted to
home and family. He wore grotesque
clothes and long gray hair. Especially in
his last years he had many warm friends,
who speak in the highest manner of his
qualities of heart and head. He was we'll
educated and possessed excellent literary
! taste.
Mr.. Shaw leaves widow, two daughters
and several grandchildren. One Of his
daughters was married to a millionaire of
South America, the other to wealthy
broker Of New York City.