Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-29
JOSH BILLINGS.
His Varied Career Before He Became
an Auther-A Famous Mule.

PnOncLlc Sp0lI6r anu popular uuuOr-
ist, died Wednesday at Montgomery,
Cal He was undoubtedly one of the
quaintest writer's of his time, aud, al
though his works are not likely TO be
immortal, taey have been and still
are widely read, and have afforded
innocent mirth for thousands. He
came of q very good family. His
grandfather and father were both
members of congress. His father was
on Intimate terms with Henry Clay,
and managed his political business in
New England. Henry w. Shaw was
born IN Lanesboro, Berkshire, Mass,
| about 1916. He went to school until
| he was Il, and at one time it was IN
tended to make him private secretary
to John Quincy Adams. His dispo-
| sition was that of rover, and all the
| plans that his anxious relatives made
| to give him a lift in the world were
knocked in the head by his starting
out te the west. He joined an enter
prising party animated with the re-
solve to cross the plains to the Pacific
ocean and coloRize under the Mexican
government. The project failed, and
young Shaw, with varying luck, pur-
sued the avocation of frontiersman,
turning his hard to everything, but
making little more than a bare living.
As proprietor of country store,
keeping everything from needle to
a bundle Of hay, and as cattle drover
and farmer he had strange ups and
downs. He also tried his hand as
captain of a steamboat on the Mis-
souri,, but the company that owned
the boat burst, or the boat itself burst,
1t is not quite certain which. He
reached California In 1949, but did not
remain long.
At the age of 27 he pail a visit to
his father, and married. Civilization
had no charm for him, and accompan.
led by his young New England wife
he soon started for the west. Very
little is known of his life out there.
He was not successful, though his en-
ergy was undaunted. Finding him.
self at the age of 40 with three young
and growing daughters, with no fscil-
ties for their education, he came east
and settled at Poughkeepsie, on the
Hudson, where he took up the busi>
ness of an auctioneer and dealer in
real estate. He made a capital auc-
tioneer, the resources of the town
were not very large, neither was his
income. Poughkeepsie had small
daily newspaper, and it's editor upon
hearing the words of wit and wisdom
that fell from Mr Shaw's lips while
engaged in his calling invited him to
write for his journal. He consented,
ard contributed about forty articles,
among which was his famous essay on
the mule. They were published and
made no sensation at all. They were
spelled properly and with due regard
to all photography. Mr.. Shaw felt
that his journalistic aspirations were
destined to be nipped in the bud. A
bright idea, however, struck him. He
read one of the amusing sketches by
Artemus Ward and asked himself If
it was not the peculiar spelling that
had made that authors fame. He
took down his essay on the mule,
''slewed round the spelling" as he ex-
pressed it. and mailed it with the sig.
nature Josh Billings" to The New
York Era. It was published and went
the rounds of the press. AS soon as
ne saw that the article had been re-
printed he thought he ought to make
money out of his writing. He sent
off one of his best short ESSAYS to a
Boston paper. It's editor replied that
he could give him only 81 so for it.
Josh Billings" did not regard this as
big pay, but he accepted it, little
dreaming at that time that his pen was
to prove so valuable source OF riches
to him.
From the day he altered the SPELL
ing of the mule essay his luck began
to change. An enterprising New
York weekly gave nina 500 week
for half column of his essays and
sayings. Josh Billings" became in
tensely popular. His matter" OBJ
tanned a good price, and Mr.. Shaw
made hay while the sun shone. He
discovered that he was a good lecturer
and as such commanded good prices,
secured good audiences-and, what is
more, amused them and sent them
home delighted. In New England was
published Thomas Old Farmers
Almanac" 1t had been issued for
eighty years. Its pages offered splen-
did opportunity for burlesque, and Mr..
Shaw determined to take it in hand
In 1871 he brought out his burlesque
with the following title:
Josh Billings Farmers Allminax
for the year 1870; being tew years
since leap year, and "a yearsIsince the
American people left Crate Britain
tew take care ov herself, and started
a snug little business of their own,
which | am instructed tew state is
payin' well. Containing all that is
necessary far an allminax and good
deal BESIDES"
OF course, the full extent of the
humor of the burlesque could only
be appreciated in circles where
Thomas Old Farmers Almanac"
had been read for generations. But
it sold we'll, and for ten years appear
ed regularly, and it has been estimated
that Mr.. Shaw made $25, 900 one way
and another out of his ''Allminax.
Mr.. Shaw looked like very mel