The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-10
HOW JUNGLE REMUsD STARTED.
His Unique Early Training in the Office Of
The COuntryman.
Especial Correspondence.I

Especial Correspondence
ATLANTA, March 31.-Joel Chandler Har-
ris-"Uncle Remusn-was born about forty
years ago near the town of Eatonton, in the
county of Putnam, Ga. He received up to his
twelfth year but few educational advantages,
and 1t was when he was nearly thirteen that
he began his life work. On leaving school he
entered the Office of a somewhat widely cir
culated publication called The Countryman
The Countryman was then-and prob
ably ever since has been-without a rival in
its peculiar manner of publication. 1t was
the fancy Of a ricn planter at W hose house
young Harris lived while learning the
eases" 1t was published on the plantation,
miles away from any town, was set up, edited
and printed in that lonely country house, and
thence distributed through Putnam and ad-
jacent counties. The paper was handsome
sheet in its mechanical make up. was well
edited beside, and had its due share of in
tuence in shaping public opinion.
The war came on, and the Countryman
prospered more than ever. Two years young
Harris served in silence, putting the thoughts
of others into type and diligently pursuing
his mechanical duties. And then the chrysa-
lis brole-the grub became the butterfly; the
quiet little apprentice could no longer con
troll the burning in his breast, and one
autumn day he wrote an article and slipped
1t IN anonymously. 1t attracted sufficient at
tention to awaken inquiry as to the author.
1t was published, and young Harris not only
put in type the first child of his brain, but
had the intense satisfaction of hearing the
proof reader and editor warmly commend il.
Thus encouraged he wrote again, and stiU
again, until grown incautious with SUCCESS
his secret was discovered, and so pleased was
his patron, the rich planter and proprietor Of
The Countryman, that he showered many
substantial benefits upon the modest little ap-
prentice author, and, what was better than
all, gave him the range of his library. Here
was treat which young Harris enjoved "a
tde utmost. Here was an opportunity OF
which he avaiIed himself TO the last degree.
That library rendered him an ineStlmable
service.
1t contained few modern books. It wes
composed manly Of toe classics Of English /
literature, and upon these models be formed
his present pure, fluent style Pope and Dry I
den. and Aariowe and that rare partnership /
Of Beaumont and Fletcher; Addison was
there and 50 was the Rambler, while Con. I
Ereve and Churchiu, Swift and Copper free /
Is gave up their treasures Of pure English to /
bis eager search. Shakespeare be studied 4
With the arao- with which a thirsty hound /
laps up the clear waters Of the brook. and {
again and again he pondsred and wondered .
over Paradise Lost" Il was just such a
training as hIs mind needed a. that juncture
and lie hos often had occasion to look back
on those days and thank the lucky star which .
guided aim 70 such an ocean Of English unde-
flei.
But dark and bitter days were in store for
tEe south. ana 10 one, young or Old, vas %
BE- exempt from the common fate-gels-al
distress
Sherman came through Georgia TIE
Country man vas suspended; Us proprietor
vanished, leaving young Harris az the house,
and T.-- a u.ce little pony as q parting gift
soon rhs soldiers came and Harris. hiding
bis pony IN the swamp, returnsd 70 the house,
21.y % be pressed into ss-vics Is cook FOR a
company uf rl5ooas priva5es Via great
als-ress se saw t,le printing osice wracsed
and -ls l1-a-y. tie So se Of 80 many days oi
rap--rrr-s delEat. looted and Destroyed
Bat. as al! jze r1r knows. better days
'a2le- after g lsz- ps-l5d y travail and s1t-
fari11 WAT JoEssoy