The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-02-09
Written for The Arkonsar Traveller.
A RECOLLECTION OF ARTEMUS
WARD.
BIT PROF. }. r. sTEI.LE.

A short article published in THE ARKANsAw
TRAVELLER of December 18th, detailing some of
Artemus Wards early experience rs a newspaper
reporter, has awakened in q recollection of the
great humorist that have never yet offered for
publication.
Away back in the ffties Qs57 or 81, when the
Baltimore 4 Ohio railroad had only just been
finished through to the Ohio river, the company
invited all the editors of the country to make
trip over the new line, sending them passes TO go
and return any train within limited time.
was then editor at Louisville, KY, and of course
it is unnecessary for me to inform persons familiar
with the "wsys and means feditOrs in those early
days that went.
was long, and well crowded with passengers. As
might be reasonably expected there were many
editors aboard. They were out on jaunt of sight
SEEING supposed, but 1t did not take long to
discover that they, Is usual In such cases,
not seeing much. The trip was to be written up
when they got home, but the particulars could
be gathered second hand from some other pubica-
ton, hence where the necessity of troubling
themselves about IL now? After the manner of the
average editor on an excursion, even the average
editor down in these modern times, they were Civ
ing themselves over TO such enjoyments inside the
train pleased them best, leaving the scenery of
the route and the incidents Of the journey to take
of themselves. Some were in groups talking
over the politics of the day, some were calling
attention to the merits of their own respective
papers, and reading aloud for general edifcation
certain choice passages in them some were saying
hard words of such rival contemporary publications
as were not represented on that particular train,
and some were Willing away the time playing
cards-tew, indeed, were they who appeared to be
giving any particular thought to where they were,
or why they were there.
Having nothing on my mind the unburdening
whereof / felt could interest any of my fellow
excursionists, and the ancient and honorable game
of cards being one that !, like Bill Nye's Chnaman,
"did not understand" forced to pass my time
in solitude and to get along with It the best could
looking from my window ct the rugged noun
tains, frowning cliffs, deep gulches and sparkling
waterfalls, past which we were constantly sweep
ing in the mountain regions also in taking notes
Eventually noticed that q small man occupying
a seat next to me, Immediately in front, was In
about the same lonely fix as myself He had red
dish whiskers, and was not very gaudily dressed );
indeed, there nothing particularly proposes
looked so lonesome in all this great solitude that
my heart went out to him In sympathy. 1t seemed
awful to be shut off from the society of ones
fellow creatures in this great, cold world, 30 /
thought and 1t appeared to from the little gen.
tleman's manner, that he was feeling somewhat In
the same way about 1t. He, like myself, was look
ing from window and taking notes. /, prompted
at the first favorable opportunity addressed to
him some commonplace remark He responded
unhesitatingly, and one word brought on another
until, ere long, we had arrived at understanding
and were the best of friends.
We discussed the scenery and one thing and
another, and found him very intelligent. AS Ii
usual In such cases we finally exchanged names.
name of Browne before-the world was full Of
Brownes-so / could associate nothing remarkable
with the name.
Beyond the mountains, going east, where the