The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-09-03
Additional Nearly Forgotten Facts
DAvY CROCKETT AND JOSH nnLlxas.

M1ny CITIZEN readers are douutleee
under the impression that the Almanac
regularly published for a number OF
years under the titlo OF Josh Bi.lipga's
Allmanax" was the FIRST humorous an
nual printed with amusing prognosti-
cations ae to the probable coalition OF
the weather for the twelve months TO
come. Aud yet mos. OF them have
heard OF the redoubta Davy Crockett
to whom the treed coon, on discovering
that the Colonel had drawn bead on
hin, shouted, Don't shoot, Davy, Ill
come down."
Well, the old fighting stntesmau was
getting out yearly almGuac Of the fun
ny order when josh Billings (Honry W.
shaw was seventeen years old. He
called it "Dlvy CrockCtt'a Co Ahead
Almanac, and the Issue for 1885 gives
characteristic accounts Of his counting,
hunting, eleclioneerlng, and other ex-
ploits. The remarks upon the weather,
and the influence of the different sea-
sons upon human nature are original
aud amusing. January ii. he saye,
Cattle kick !" 81, GRAVY cools quick"
Feby 1, "A pair OF hurricanes March
Q. Grows grow black, and girls grow
ticklish about this time" May 2, Good
weather for goslings;' C. "Old Ladies'
grow talkative;" TO- Boys full of mis-
chief" IA, Calves fat fast" June 10,
Fine weather for chickens" July Il,
Agreeable drizzling." Aug. 10, Girls
grow lovesck." S,pt. IL, Children
troublesome" Oct. 80, "Chain light
ming" Dec. S, Girls rather waspish;' y
IL, Women very cross"
Colonel David Crockett's parents were
Irish, but he was born in Greene coun-
ty, Tennessee. August IL, l7S6. His
father was volutionary soldier.
When Davy wns twelve years OF age he
commenced the active duties OF life as
drover, and to tho neglect OF his educa-
ton soon dritted into career Of advent
ure aud excitement. Serving under
Andrew jackson as q Colonel in some OF
the Indian wars, he became fast friend
Of "Old Hickory" lie had o natural
taste for politics. aud bis smartness and
eccentricities making him very popular
on the frontier, he was elected to the
Legislature OF Tennessee, aLd subse
quently to Congress-. where he served
three terms, and in which body he was
one OF the most popular members, al
ways being found at hls post OF duty
and ever mindful Of the welfare of his
constituents. He was killed at the
Alamo, Texas, March 1, 1886
josh Billings wac born in Lanesboro,
Mass, April 21, 1918. and died Oct. 4,
1885. He first attracted attention as An
auctioneer in Poughkeepsie, N. Y,
which city was his home for most Of his
lite. His funny comments on the goods
offered for sale, the buyers. or onything
else upon which his ready mind could
hang joke, gained hun great reputa-
tion as wit, and IN the strength OF this
popularity / ,egan to write for the
newspaper a articles, as he told the
writer, fell c>, cdly fiat until he adopt
ed the exaggerated phonetic spelling
which he used as we'll in the "Ali
manax" as in his journalistic contri-
buttons, and later in one or more bound
volumes Of his quaint philosophy.
In 1868 he began to lecture and at once
became q platform favorite. He was
tall, raw-boned, somewhat stopped,
with long, straight, black hair aud a
careless, leisurely gait, which instantly
attracted attention when he appeared
on the streets. He wore broad brim-
med slouch hat and turn-down collar
with an ample black tie.
Josh Billings's reputation was per
hsps at it's best when man, giving hi
name as Clark, and representing him
self to be the humOrist's agent, came to
Honesdale and placarded the town for l.
lecture to be delivered in Liberty Hall, =,
on Saturday evening, March 1G h, 1867
Subject. Putty and Varni5h; or Pom.
toon Philosophy The tickets went of
like hot cakes, and by eight o'cloc'-
STANDING room only the aunouur e.
ment. Ait,r some minutes sofimpatiert
waiting, 1t began to ee whispered about
that the audience had been "Joshcdn in
earnest; IN fact, that MIR Billings knc ~
nothing about the appointment made for
him, and of course would not appear
This resulted in a raid on the oox- office.
and choosing between the jail q ride on
a rail, and the return OF the ticket
money, the fraud promptly decided on
tho last named horn of tho dilemma,
and shelled out the cash. lie made "a
getaway, from the town, however, the
same night. leaving behind him nun
ber of unpaid bills as souvenirs of his
visit.
The evident desire on the part of the
public to SEQ and hear Billings, led the
writer hereof TO propose 10 him an early
visit, as likely to please large Homes
dale audience and put money in his
purse. The tollowing reply is character
Istic:
"Po'keepsie. March 20. 1857.
"HAM, MY DEAR:-I am just in from my
last trip this winter, and am Obliged TO say
that | will not be happy TO 'Lektur' any
"
where quite near home.
~ thank you most cordially for the expose
in The Herald. II puts me before the good
people of Honesdale just where | like to
stand, present or absent; man who has al
ways been anXiOus to do things on the cube.
IL can't see why the man Clark did not
manage to get off with tine entrance money,
but | am most joyiuiiy delighted that he
did not do IL. He must certalnly have been
a new scholar in the school Of roguery.
81 expect next season To be out win
new discourse composed of essays, proverbs,
monographs, etc, and shall hope TO be in
your state with II, and shall b" happy, II II
is thought best, to visit honrsdale, In the
meantime, my dear fellow, take things ca
sy, and will also and may the best mau
and woman WIN, and wear the belt!
"RumrmbeT me gently 10 the hOnesialers
aud tell them to be happy. Upon rCfCC-
tom | viii say that II you tnought II best 10
have me come to llonesdalc the night OF
April 10Th, (Wednrsday,l ANA II Is so that !
can come IRON New York in one day by
your communication by rIilrOli, taking th
first train ont of New York, riN come Tor
/