The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition) — John Shaqi
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)Ward, Artemus
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The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)
Ward, Artemus
American wit and humor
"Fill it up with Showmen, sir! Showmen, is devoid of politics. They
hain't got any principles. They know how to cater for the public.
They know what the public wants, North & South. Showmen, sir, is honest
men. Ef you doubt their literary ability, look at their posters, and
see small bills! Ef you want a Cabinit as is a Cabinit fill it up with
showmen, but don't call on me. The moral wax figger perfeshun musn't be
permitted to go down while there's a drop of blood in these vains! A.
Linkin, I wish you well! Ef Powers or Walcutt wus to pick out a model
for a beautiful man, I scarcely think they'd sculp you; but ef you do
the fair thing by your country you'll make as putty a angel as any of
us! A. Linkin, use the talents which Nature has put into you judishusly
and firmly, and all will be well! A. Linkin, adoo!"
He shook me cordyully by the hand--we exchanged picters, so we could
gaze upon each other's liniments, when far away from one another--he at
the hellum of the ship of State, and I at the hellum of the show bizniss
admittance only 15 cents.
____________________
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCE NAPOLEON.
Notwithstandin I hain't writ much for the papers of late, nobody needn't
flatter theirselves that the undersined is ded. On the contry, "I still
live," which words was spoken by Danyil Webster, who was a able man.
Even the old-line whigs of Boston will admit that. Webster is ded now,
howsever, and his mantle has probly fallen into the hands of sum dealer
in 2nd hand close, who can't sell it. Leastways nobody pears to be goin
round wearin it to any perticler extent, now days. The rigiment of whom
I was kurnel, finerly concluded they was better adapted as Home Gards,
which accounts for your not hearin of me, ear this, where the bauls is
the thickest and where the cannon doth roar. But as a American citizen
I shall never cease to admire the masterly advance our troops made on
Washinton from Bull Run, a short time ago. It was well dun. I spoke to
my wife 'bout it at the time. My wife sed it was well dun.
It havin there4 bin detarmined to pertect Baldinsville at all hazzuds,
and as there was no apprehensions of any immejit danger, I thought I
would go orf onto a pleasure tower. Accordinly I put on a clean
Biled Shirt and started for Washinton. I went there to see the Prints
Napoleon, and not to see the place, which I will here take occasion to
obsarve is about as uninterestin a locality as there is this side of
J. Davis's future home, if he ever does die, and where I reckon they'll
make it so warm for him that he will si for his summer close. It
is easy enough to see why a man goes to the poor house or the
penitentiary. It's becawz he can't help it. But why he should
woluntarily go and live in Washinton, is intirely beyond my
comprehension, and I can't say no fairer nor that.
I put up to a leadin hotel. I saw the landlord and sed, "How d'ye do,
Square?"
"Fifty cents, sir," was his reply.
"Sir?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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