MAKE TWAIN AND ARTEMUS WARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 5, 28 April 1880, Page 4

MAKE TWAIN AND ARTEMUS WARD.

A controversy has been going on in some of the American papers as to I whether Artemus Ward or Mark , Twain held the leading place amongst American humorists. The author of the" [nnocentsat Home and Abroad" has, in consequence, addressed the following characteristic letter to Mr. Frank B. Earnest, one of the editors of the Knoxville (Tennessee) Tri- ; bune : —

" I thank you very much for that pleasant article. Of course, it is not for me to judge between Artemus and myself on trade merits, but when it comes to speaking of matters personal, I am a good witness. Artemus was one of the kindest and gentlest men in the world, and the hold which he took on the Londoners surpasses imagination. To this day one of the first questions which a Londoner asks me is if I knew Artemus Ward ; the answer, " yes," makes that man my friend on the spot. Artemus seems to have been on the warmest terms with thousands of these people. Well, he seems never to have written a harsh thing against anybody — neither have I, for that matter — at least nothing harsh enough for a body to fret about — and I think he never felt bitter towards people. There may have been three or four other people like that in the world at one time or another, but they probably died a good while ago. I think his lecture on the " Babes in the Wood " was the funniest thing I ever listened to. Artemus once said to me, gravely, almost sadly, " Clemens, I have done too much fooling, too much trifling; I am going to write something that will live." "Well, what, for instance?" "klie." It was an admirable surprise ; I was just getting ready to cry, he was becoming so pathetic. This has never been in print — you should give it to your friend of the American, for I judge by what he writes of Artemus that he will appreciate it. I think it's mighty bright — as well for its quiet sarcasm as for its happy suddenness and unexpectedness.

S, L. CIiEMENS.