The record-union., 1894-03-27
ARTEMUS WARD.
A Letter Written by Him When His
First Book Was Published.


G. w. Coe, who has been a resident OF
Toledo for twenty years, gives to Toledo
Bee reporter letter written by Ward to
him. 10 Mr.. Coe was dedicated Artemus
Wards first book, with the words, "a
Friend All the Year Round"
1t is entitled, 'Artemus Ward, His
Book" The following letter accompanied
the book, and has been preserved by MIR.
Coe
'FREEPoRT, May 81, 1862.
"JfY Dear Charlie: / am still lecturing
and to crowded houses. My success is
wholly uneXampled in the lecture busi-
ness. Some say it's id nonsense talk,
but they all come to hear me, and all pay
for it, which is the main pint Gives
really themselves to be highly pleased,
while the newspapers are warmly for me,
to man, which is a hunky thing /
think of going to California in October
for sixty nights lecturing, Pll tell you
all when L see you in Cleveland. | shall
be there in about six weeks. / suppose |
can lecture all summer with good re-
ceipts, but hot weather approaches and
warns me to quit or trust my health. My
book is out at Iast-you see. my old and
tried friend-God bless you forevermore
it is dedicated to you. You have indeed
been friend TO me all the year round,
and it gives me great pleasure and deep
satisfaction to thus show you | am grate-
ful. Love to your wife and the children
love to all our mutual friends, and |
am always yours. CHAS. +. BROWN"
The book was issued in May, 1862. 1t
contained many comic illustrations with
amusing sketches characteristic OF Arte-
mus Ward, the only. Among other
things the book contained one of MIR.
Wards business letters, which reads as
follows:
To the Editor of the -, SIR: Pm
movin' along-slowly along-down lords
your place. l want you should rite me a
letter, sayin' how is the show biziness in
your place. My show at present consists
of three moral bares, a kangaroo "a
amoozin' little raskal3twould make you
larf to deth to see the little cuss Jump up
and squeaD, wax fggers of q. Washing
ton, Gen. Tayler, John Bunyun, Capt.
Kidd and DR.. Webster in the act OF KILN;
DR.. Parkham, besides several miscel-
lanyous moral wax statoots of celebrated
piruts IL murderers, etc., exalted by few
IL exceled by none. Now, Mr.. Editor,
scratch OFF few lines, sayin' how is the
show bizness down to your place. shall
have my handbills dun at your otfus.
Depend upon it. / want you should git
nv handbills up in fiamin' stlle. Also
git up a tremenjuS excitement In yer
paper bowt my onparaled show. we
must wurk on their 1eellnS. cum the
moral on them strong. If it's a
temprance community, tell um | sined
the pledge fifteen minits arter l'se born,
but on the contery eff your people take
their tods, say Mister Ward is as jenial a
teller as we ever met, full of conviviality.
d the life and sole ofSoshul Bored. Take,
don't you? If you say anythin' abowt
my show say my snaiks is as harmless as
the new born Bable. What interestIn'
study it is to see a Neurological animil
like a snaik under perfech subjecshun.
All for 10 cents, L am anxyos to skewer
your infiooence. l repeat in regard to
them handbills that l shall git them
struck orf up ter your printin' office.
"My perlitical sentiments agree with
yourn exackly. l know tney 90, De-
cawz never saw man who's didn't.
..Respectively yours. a. WARD.
"P. S.-You scratch my back and lie
scratch your back"