Connecticut western news., 1891-02-11
ARTEMUS WARDS MATERIALS.

He Found an Unworked Mine and Used
 1t Like True Genius.
 The following letter of Artemus Ward. recently brought to light, shows the sources of his characters. especially the reference to his 1.-two years of peripatetic life'' in the west:
 WATERFORD, Me-, June 5, 1854.
 My DEAR SIR-There is really noth- ing very remarkable in my history. was born in this quiet little town about twenty eight years ago My father died when was 12 years old, and at the age of 13 entered printing office at Lancas- ter, N. H. My father was a magistrate and lumber uerchant-a clear headed and thoroughly honest man, so compe- tent in his business as to be consulted on all kinds of law questions. and so honest that he invariably had his hands full of business involving large sums of money. fear he was little too honest, for he died poor after all
 ran away from the office at Lancas- ter and entered a similar establishment at Norway. this state. This establish ment failed. and l roamed through the state, setting type short time in one
  other. Running away appears to have been my chief weakness at that time. l finally landed in Boston, and worked at my trade until was declared toleratly good printer then went west and south, and for two years led peripatetic kind of life. l commenced writing for paper in Toledo, O., about ten years ago. succeeded as paragraphist well enough to achieve very good local rep utation, and moved to Cleveland and took charge of The Plain Dealer news paper.
 1 here, commenced the Artemus Ward papers The selection of that nom de plume was purely accidental. wrote the first Ward sketch on a purely local subject, not supposing l should ever write another. Somehow the name Ward entered my head and l used it. Five years ago moved to New York and assumed the editorial conduct of Vanity Fair, succeeding Charles G. Le- land. For the past four years have lectured almost constantly, and with success that is perhaps unequaled, con- sidering what startling innovation l have made on long established institu- tion. My writings and featuring have given me competency. Ihawe liberal offer to go to England this fall on lect- uring tour. and l may accept. l am writing now book of travels, giving my experience among the Mormons. l live in New York city, although l spend portion of my summers here with my mother. That is about all.
 have only drifted with the current, which has carried me gayly on of it's own accord. As am frank enough to say this, hope have right to say that have always meant the creatures of my burlesques should stab Error and give Right friendly push. You are at iber- ty to use these facts, although my letter is necessarily written in great hurry. for I am very busy. 1 am popularly supposed to be ''rusticating'' here, but it i ghastly mockery. I am working very hard.
 CHARLES F. BROWNE (Artemus Wardl There has always been mystery about Artemus Wards money. He re- turned from his Utah and California tour with $15,O00, and paid but $6,000 for his farm; he received at least $15, ,OO0 more in the short interval before his death, yet his executors found barely enough in England to pay the claims against him there and still less in Amer ica- Yet his will indicates that he be- lieved himself rich. It had somehow siwed away without his knowing it. 1