The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-07
Josh BILLINGS.
Che Alleged Humorist on Lectur;ng and
Proverb-Making.

The Alleged Humorist on Lcctur:nS ana
Proverb-Making.
Josh Billings, the famous humorist,
is making a lecturing 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 a new humOr-
Gus story. When approached by the
writer he entered into pleasant con-
versation, prefacing his remarks by sta
ting that he wasA out of sorts, and had
not been well for some time. II believe
4 am breaking down. he said. Il have
been suffering for long time with gas
trio trouble and catarrh. thought I
| would give my annual series of lecture 5
as usual this year, that my health would
improve if moved around, but it's no
use. am afraidI 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 leone around
again they have forgotten most of what
| | told them, and don't know any better
when they hear the same funny things
again. l make it point to give the
| I..f foe hat hx, y.ofl ,oy<
difficult for my auditors to remember
all i say. Iexpect to keep on delivering
it as long as live, and expect this to
be the last thing viii do
"You have been writing nearly al
your life. have you not?"
mo, didn't do much until was
forty years of age. / am now sixty-eight
years old, SO have been writing con-
| stantly for over twenty-five years.
have been writing for the New York
Weekly for eighteen years.. aud 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. 1 don't think Twill do
much more special work. The funny
book business has been overdone.
There's more money in an almanac.
| And, by the way, when wrote my
Josh Billings Farmers Almonic,n in
1870, the first publisher 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
$4,000 on it. Conclusive evidence oil
its worth, is it not? Yes, the almanacs
take better than humorous book would
nowadays"
.'You were located in Pittsburgh fol
a short time a number of years ago,
were you not?"
Eyes, was well acquainted in Pitts
burgh thirty years ago. About that
time 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 l 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 GET
out of the company after pocketing a
| 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 when
they employed me, and soon after left
| the boat
ITO come back to our original matter
Ito your style of humorp"
''Well, it was based on opportunity
it required no little gumption to sec
where to fit in. About every line had
been filed By some body or another.
| The misspelling was success with
Artemus Ward-the probabilities were
it would not be with anybody aspiring
to succeed him. Quaint maxim has
been the lead of several proverbial
philosophers. The people had been
Photographed most thoroughly, and
| Phoenix, Twain and no end Of other
people had dipped into other branches.
In the absence of something entirely
original, you observe hit on combi-
national new application OF old devices,
as it were. The quaint wit and wisdom
of the sayings" would take with the
small proportion of mankind who have
the true appreciation of those qualities,
while the peculiar photography would
take with the remainder. 1t was a sort
of grand combination aggregation, as
the circus advance agent would call it.
1t was resorted to because it paid, and
has been adhered to for the same rea-
son. ''-Pittsburyb Chronicle Telegraph.
AN ENCHANTING HOME.