Connecticut western news., 1891-02-11

verses cOZy New Ork nome ana listened for an hour while my host and his gifted wife, Harriet Maxwell Converse, enter tained me with "reminiscences of their famous cousin, Charles Farrar Browne, better known to the world as Artemus Ward.
 We were married in 1884," remarked MT. Converse, land left America on what may be called an unlimited we'd ding journey. We wandered through Europe and the Orient for five years and didn't turn our faces homeward un- til the early fall of 1866 Then, while stopping at the Langham, in London, learned that Artemus was in town. ] hunted him up and he returned with me to the hotel. His face was thin, his eyes abnormally bright and his spirits somewhat depressed. He had just con- tributed his first article to Punch. It didn't suit him In fact he regarded it with scorn and referred to it as internal gibberish. Thus weighted down with the blues. he greeted Mrs. Converse, and after formal welcome had been ex- changed, exploded: Harriet. how nice your hair looksl l never can get mine to suit Indeed nothing about me curls except this blamed big nose of mine. All the rest is angles.'"
 Then he went on to unburden his soua of various grievances The chief of these was his inability to secure suitable hall in which to deliver his lectures. Finally he frightened up in the quaint and lovable fashion that so endeared him to his friends. and suggested a visit to the theatre.
 Wen get you a nice seat, Harrietr he urged. and then l want Frank to loaf around among the gods with me. Perhaps can plok mp few ideas"
 Here is Mrs Converse's version of what followed The boys saw me con- fortably placed in one of the stalls and then left. grew interested as the play progressed and had forgotten them for . moment, when all at once the house was filled with a sharp, penetrating, uproar- ious laugh It came from the top gal lery, and looking up saw Artemus and my husband surrounded by an amused and sympathetic crowd of people whose attention had been distracted from tho stage by the funny H'American's' sto- ries. Quiet succeeded. but when the curtain went down no one appeared to escort me home. l went to the front q the theatre and there found Frank try ing to reason with his cousin Artemus was in one of the widest of his prank ish humors, and was engaged in dissem- mating information to 8 cabman on the results of the civil war and the outlook for reconstruction in the southern states. It seems that the boys had left the gal lery and were coming in from the street to take charge of me when they wees greeted with the query:
 "Keb, gents?'
 'Artemus stopped and remarked, Frank, here's chance to do missionary work. Then turning to the driver h. continued: No, sir; don't wish a keb, but desire kebman. What is your charge per hour?'
 1.-Two and six anywhere in the city, sir.
 "'Heres your two and six and shil- ling extra for a tip. Now, want you to stand there. look me in the eye and re- ceive instruction regarding the perilous state of affairs now prevalent iii the great republic over which waves the Stars and Stripes
 Frank and l went home while he was still talking. He called next day and remarked gleefully: I poured red hot facts into that Britisher and the as- sembled multitude for twenty minutes. Then cabby offered me the money back to let him off, and let.
 The only place Browne thought suit able for the delivery of his lectures was Egyptian hall, and that chanced to be leased for the season to an English hu- morist named George Rose. Rose, over the nom de plume of Arthur Sketchly, had written a lot of articles on ''The Experiences of Mrs. Brown" These he had utilized with some success as ma terial for course of lectures.
 One day." said MT. Converse, II heard Artemus coming along the corri- dor to our apartments laughing uproar- iously He burst through the door and cried, Frank, if you'll help me think can get Egyptian hall within the week. All right replied, command my serv- ices. He then outlined his scheme. That evening we dined with some friends, and one of the guests to whom was intro. duced was MT. George Rose. What l exclaimed, is this the famous Arthur Sketchly whose works are so popular in the United States?' He assented as to the name, but was surprised to learn of his foreign fame. told him of the great furore his books had created. h. deed. talked with him all evening. had eyes and ears for no one else. l worshiped at the shrine of his genius, and finally remarked: What splen- did thing it would be. MT. Rose. now t1At Americas mnet famous humorist . in this country, for you, the foremoso English laugh .provoker, to go to thu states on featuring tour! Every ono there is fascinated with your writings, and you would be sure of glorious re- cepton.
 "He jumped at the bait like hungry fish. In three days Artemus had tho hall and MT. Rose was en route for New York. He didn't do very well, under stand; and on going home wrote viru- lent and abusive book entitled 'Impres- 6ions of America
 I've witnessed our cousins subse- quent triumphs," remarked Mrs. Con- verso, ''and sorrowed over his physical breakdown. We were with him great deal during his illness, and would have remained to the last had not an impera- tive summons recalled us to the United States. We parted just before he went to the isle of Jersey. He was hopeful with that vain hope that always inspires the consumptive, and promised to join us in New York the next summer. Poor fellow! In month he was dead"
 Mrs. Converse sat silent for moment and then continued: Let me tell you story about Mr. Browne's mother. The good old soul lived in Maine, and nearly