Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-04-08
something About Artemus Ward.

II Colonel Henry Watterson is running {
series Of "reminiscences In the Saturday
Evening Post on men, women and events
during eight dec ,des of American his
tory entitled "Looking Backward
Colonel Watterson is always interesting
no matter what he is writing about; but
1t was scarcely to be expected he could
write on subject connected with Ok
ford County. During his long life. Mars
Henry has come in contact with most oi
the important personsges of his own
country, and some of those across the
water. These include such men ss Hux.
LEY, Tyndall. Mill and Spencer. Para
doxical az 1t may seem his only acqusint-
aLce with Oxford County was gained
across 5000 miles of water in EDgland.
His point of contact and acquaintance
was Hrtemus Ward, who was then 1855
making lecture tour through that In
sular kingdom.
It is we'll known that at this time
Charles Farrar Browne, or Artemus
Ward az he is more generally known,
was in the last stages of tuberculosis, or
consumption as 1t was called at that day.
"His condition was pitiable," says
Colonel Watterson, "he was too feeble
to walk alone, and he was continually
struggling to breathe freely
Nevertheless be stuck to his lecture and
contrived 10 keep up appearances before
the crowds that flocked to hear him."
In this issue of the Post March 22)
Colonel Wstterson gives q detailed &C.
count of Brownies last days, which are
quite generally known to Oxford Coun.
ty people. and then proceeds to give q
biographical sketch Of him and his par
epts and In this he makes some mistakes.
He says his father (Lsvi Browp) was
state senator and probate Judge; but a
perussl of the list of senators fails to
disclose his name, and no documents
among the records in the probate Office
of Oxford County can be found With his
signature as judge. Nor does the His
tory of the Town Of Waterford published
In 1879 mention such fact.
1t seems probable there has been
mi1-up in the political records of the
family. Daniel Brown, he children OF
Levi Brown were the only ones to add
final to the name) an older brother
and partner of the father of Artemus
Ward, was state senator, but not Levi
Brown. The only man by name Of
Brown to hold the Office Of pr bate judge
in Oxford County was DR.. Thomas H..
Brown of Paris.
Colonel Watterson says 'little is
known" of Artemus Ward or his ante
cedents, which appears to be fact, for
he is not the only writer to make mis-
takes concerning him.
Don Seitz, business manager of the
New York World, wrote an article about
Artemus Ward and his birthplace in
Soribner's Magazine away back in 1881,
W hen he was editor OF local paper
printed in Norway, only few miles dis
tant from Waterford, and he made the
statement that Levi Brown was q mer-
chant and land surveyor, and that be
served tho town of Waterford as clerk,
selectman and representative to the
legislature. The town records disclose
the fact that be served the town In the
first two capacities but not in the last.
1t was bis brother, Daniel Brown, who
was the legislative representative.
People of Oxford County are inter-
ested 10 everything which pertains to
Artemus Ward, for not only is be her
foremost humorIst but he is near the
head of his class in the English speaking
world.
II Artemus Wards father never as-
sumed the dignity of probate judge in
Oxford County, the will of the humorist
reposes in the archives of the Office. 1t
was his last "goak." By this document,
he left millions to Horace Greeley to
provide an asylum for printers-millions
he never possessed. Quite likely he felt
the need of such an asylum, and this
grim "goak" may have put 1t into the
heads Of Anthony ]. Drexel and George
W. Childs to build the stately home for
aged printers at Colorado Springs.
Colonel Watterson also says Artemus
Ward apprenticsd himself to a printer,
serving out his time first In Springfield,
Mass, and later in Boston. This may
be fact, but there are traditions In his
native county that he learned the trade
in Norway In the Office of the Advertiser,
which was owned ct that time by his
brother, Cyrus W. Browne. The History
of Norway says he was employed as
compositor there.
There is one woman yet alive, Mrs.
David Porter Stowell, now of Dixfeld,
who remsm bers him while employed In
the Advertiser Office.