The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-08-29
ARTE'MUs WARD.
Tho Noted Humorist, Who Died
Catholic in 1867.

Ward, the noted humorist. than whom
there was no more genial wit in Amer
ican letters, became a Catholic shortly
before his death. The Catholic Ency-
clopedia notes .tt1is fact, and accords
him brief but comprehensive biog-
raphy, as follows:
Browne, Charles F'arrar (Artenus
Ward). humorist. b. at Waterford. Ok
ford County, Maine U. S. A., 26 April,
1884; d. in Southampton, England, 6
March. 1867. He went to school in his
native town and at the age OF four
teen was apprenticed in the printing
Office of 1.-THE Skowhegan Clarion" A
year later he was employed in a like
capacity on "The Carpet Bag" Of Bos-
ton edited by B. P. Shillaber (Mrs
Partington), and to which Charles G
Halpine tMiles oReilly) and John G
SAKE were at. tnsts time contributors.
In this journal appeared his first hui
morous article, burlesque description
of Fourth of July celebration in
Skowhegan. After his Boston expert
ence. Browne Travelled the Eastern
states as a journeyman printer, So
/ journing for while in the town Of
.Timn,. Ohio. wherefiae reporter and
cornpositor he received in wages four
dollars a week. Going thence to To-
1od0 hA r;b k<,,
THE Commercial of that city. AL.
ready his reputation was gaining
ground. Though vigorously assailed
ins a. series of articles in ''The Toledo
Blade" he treated his opponents with
unfailing courtesy and humor.
In 1858, at the age Of twenty four,
his reputation first assumed a national
character as a. reporter of "rhe Cleve-
land Plaindealer" under the sobriquet
Of "Artemus Ward" His best work at
this period consisted in burlesque de-
scriptions of prizehghts, races, spirit
ualistic seances. and political meet
ings. Towards the close of 1860, he
accepted an engagement in New York
with vanity Fair" a comic paper
edited after the manner of the London
punch" and ere long succeeded the
editor Charles 6. Leland (Hans Brett
mann) as editor. In this paper some
of his best contributions were given to
the public. II was, however, as a lee
turer that "Artemus Ward" acquired
both fame and fortune. His first ap-
pearance on the lecture platform In
New York was in a travesty called
Babes in the Woods" His next hit
was in a lecture on Sixty Minutes in
Africa" given in Music Fund Hall,
Philadelphia. In 1866 he sailed for
England where success far beyond his
expectations awaited him. His stay in
London is spoken Of as IAN ovation to
the genius Of American wit" He be-
came at once great favorite with the
Literary Club" of London, and his let
ters in Punch" recalled the days Of
4CuO" pIuoI. lout olChISES Drought
his brilliant career to an unexpected
close in the seventh week of his en-
gagement at Egyptian Hall in London,
and his decth occurred a few months
later. When he felt the end was near,
he asked his friend Arthur Sketchy to
procure him the ministrations of a
priest. $50 Sketchy," Clement Scott
informs US. took steps to carry out his
friends instructions" His remains
were brought to his native land and
laid to rest beside his father and
brother in the little cemetery at Wat
erford, Maine.
Artemus Ward was a consummate
humorist and represented a type dis
tinctively American. His fun was q
fountain that always bubbled. minis
tering naturally to the happiness Of
himself and others. In leading up to
the Joke whatever art was employed