The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-09
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.

EDITOR SUNDAY HERALD; Your correspondent,
wv NJ. W." takes exception to my statement that he
appeared TO confound Charles A. Davis with seba
smith, the original Jack Downing, and refers me to
Alllbone for proof that Mr.. Davlss "Major Jack
Downing Letters" on the Bank Question were re-
printed by the IIarpcrs In 1884, could moi md tho
name OF Charles A. Davis In Albone, but the name
OF seba smith is there, with n long record OF his
literary and scientific work, Including his "Ife and
letters OF Major Jack Downing through which
SDr X. w. Griswod there says) runs a very genuine
humor OF certain sort."( Boston, lsss, originally
published In the Portland Ddfy co,uferJ Although
| u would seem that Mr.. Charles A. Davis, able and
WHY as ne may have been, was not considered OF
snmcient note ns writer 10 cntltlo him TO recogn,
ton IN "Allibone," yet, contrary to my previous i'm
prcsslon II IL nevertheless true a." NV. NJ W." SAYS
that series ttwcnty-nInc In number) OF his "Major
| Downing Letters" was reprinted In 1884. ASH be.
came acquainted with Mt. Davis not until after 1870
al about which time still have the Impression he
was writing Major Downing Letters, felt safe in
saying ne did not appropriate that nom dc plume
until ten or fifteen years after Seba Smith first used
IT. The mistake, however, is not at all material II
now plain from the letters OF both writer's before
me that Seba Smith, as "Jack Downing" wrote hs
frs letter January is, $780, and Dir. Davis his first,
as ". Downing, Major" June rs, issa-nearly three
ana half years afterwards-a period quite as COM
pete Tor my purpose as though Il had been "teu
nfteen, or twenty years." What undertook to
show Ia, that Seba Smith was the original and only
true Yankee Major Jack Downing, all others "a.
suming that name being counterfeit. As such, his
letters had made him famous throughout the United
states. Says Duyckinks Cyciopedla Of American
Literature "Seba Smith, under the non, de plume
JACK Downing, obtained a national reputation, II
was this popularity, no doubt, that led Mr. Davis to
appropriate the name,to which he had no more ripht
than to that Of Seba Smith himself. This was not
ALL He not only usurped MIR. Smiths nom de
Inn up.n
(after fashion) Of associatInR and travelling 0n
imaeinaton) with Gen. jackson, In the summer Of
1885 as the dates OF their respective letters show
NOW, that this question Of original authorship may
possioes be forever set to rest, allow me to add
some testimony from other writer's, showing what,
IN the day, was the universally admitted fact that
the writing OF the genuine original Major Downing
presented the best and ruest exposition Of the pecu
liar Yankee dialect Of the Anglo-saxon language |
then extent"
Major Noah. at that time the distinguished editor os
the New York Evening star, referring to those |
writings said: "The letters which have obtained |
circulation and celebrity more extended, perhaps,
.nan any production that ever issued from the Amer
lean press are written with all the quaint simplicity
OF the style OF Fielding, and abound In passages of
lntne drollery and exquisite humor"
hooert Wa!sh the not leas distinguished editor of
the National Gazette, at Philadelphia referring to
"The Radicals, the swlfs, and the votalres said:
Mere oungIers attempted to persOnate them, and
confounded the ess discriminating or critical part OF
the reading public Major Jack Downing has maid in
ike manner the penalty Of genius and popularity"
Said the New York Miror: "These are the most
graphic and really the best Yankee papers we have
ever seen or ever expect to see, let who will write
them." The New York Courier and Enguirer said
"rhere Ia no doubt that the author Ia the hes,
painter OF Yankee peculartles that ever wrote, lie
ls true to nature and never carcatures but without
carlcaturing IS most amusing. lie Is, in point OF
lac' tho only writer who has been entirely sue
cessiul In the genuine dialect of Yankeeland."
Now, our esteemed friend, NV. NJ. W." has per-
rect right to his opinion that Charles A. Davis "may
DO regarded as prince OF American humorists,"
but submit that In promulgatlng such opinion the
truth OF history requires he should accompany 1t
with the not less essential fact that Mr. Davis re-
ceived his title OF nobility largely through usurpng
lhe richly. nom de plume Of "the oaly writer
who has ever been entirely successful In the genuine
dialect Of Yankee!and."
seba smith was born In Turner, Maine, September
IA, 1892, and graduated at BowdOin College in 1873
knew him more or less intimately from my boyhood
until his death, July IS, 1868. In stature, he was
little below medium height, of solid build quick
movement, and genial manners. have never known
4 more agreeable gentleman or truer friend, do
not believe he had an enemy In the world.
WASHINGTON, April 80, 1856