St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-01-31
JOSH BILLINGS.
The Alleged Humorist ON LecturlnS ald
ProVcrb-Making.

The Alleged Humorist on LecturlnS and
Provcrb-Making.
Josh Billings, the famous humorist,
is making 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 new humor-
Gus story. When approached by the
writer he entered into pleasant con-
versation, prefacing his remarks by sta
ting that he was out of sorts, and had
not been well for some time. Il believe
am breaking down." he said. Il have
been suffering for a long time with gas
trio trouble and catarrh. l thought
would give my annual series of lectures
as usual this year. that my health would
improve if moved around, but it's no
use. am afraid will have to give it
up"
what is the nature of the lecturer"
W. ~ llC SdlllC VIC OCII Oii thV
road with tor thirty-two years. the
Probabilities of Life Each year l
change the name of it, that's all. 1t is
so full Of points that the people who
hear it laugh, and before come around
again they have forgotten mos. OF what
told them. and don't know any better
when they hear the same funny things
again. make it point to give the
lecture so fast that it would be rather
difficult for my auditors to remember
all say. IeNpect to keep on delivering
it as long as l live, and expect this to
be the last thing l will do"
..You have been writing nearly al
your life. have you not?"
mo, I didn't do much until | was
forty wears 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, and 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. don't think l will 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," in
1870, the first publisher l 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, l cleared
$4,000 on it. Conclusive evidence OF
its worth, is it not? Yes, the aimanacs
take better than humorous book would
nowadays"
you were located in Pittsburgh fol-
short time number OF years ago,
were you not2"
..Yes, was well acquainted in Pitts
burgh thirty years ago. About that
time a company was organized in the
East to build boat at Pittsburgh that
was to transport coal. Twas sent from
the East to superintend the building oil
it. Afterward / acted as Captain, and
ran it one trip down the Conemaugi
River. The New York which
originated on Wall Street, Coz up the
scheme merely TO sell the stock and gel
out of the company after pocketing .
| nice sum. The idea was to run things
on high pressure. They were disap.
pointed, though. for the scheme VA
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
to your style of humor?"
'Well, it was based on opportunity
it required no little gumpt;on to SEE
where to fit in. About every line had
been filed by some body or another
The misspelling was success with
Artemus Wharf.-The probabilities were
it would not be with anybody aspiring
to succeed him. Quaint maxim ha:
been the lead of several proyerbia
philosophers. The people had beer
Photographed most thoroughly. ane
Phoenix, Twain and no end OF othel
people had dipped into other branches
In the absence of something entirely
original, You observe hit on a combi
nation-a new application of old devices
as il were. The quaint wit and wisdom
of the sayings" would take with thu
small proportion of mankind who hav,
the true appreciation of those Qualities
| while the peculiar photography woul,
take with the remainder. 1t was sor
of grand combination aggregation, Il
the circus advance agent would call it
1t was resorted to because it paid. ant
has been adhered to for the same rea
son. '-Pit.s5arJa Chronicle Telegraph