[Harte, Brett & Artemus Ward- With Important Four-Page Letter from Ward to Harte with Proof of Article by Harte] Artemus Ward

New York: Harpers, 1919. Three-quarter morocco, red cloth. A fascinating bounty of manuscript with a provocative story are packed into this book concerning humorists Artemus Ward and Brett Harte, both icons of mid to late 19th Century American humor. Included in the assemblage by an unknown person, is a wonderful four-page to Brett Harte from Artemus Ward (mounted), describing in detail his feelings regarding his groundbreaking visit the the West Coast, newspaper biases, as well as Harte knocking on "death's door," with an unknown illness, possibly tuberculosis, which led to his death only a few years later. As well, the biography explains in detail the (truncated) circumstances and goings on of his travels and performances, and even quotes parts of the letter, as well as eluding to Harte's complimentary article published in the newspaper, "The Era," for which Ward thanks him. As well, a long proof sheet (original) of that very article is attached opposite the half-title, with corrections by Brett Harte! Following is, in part, the letter from Ward to Harte, Artemus Ward writing from San Francisco to Brett Harte: "Salt Lake City, Jan. 26/'64. My Dear Harte, I have been very sick... of fever here for the past ten days, or I should have else this sent you my hearty thanks for the kindly manner in which you spoke of me in "The Era." There seemed to be an unhappy impression among the editors in the interior that I was a highway robber, and they pursued me with un-pleasant energy. But the respectable papers all treated me kindly except the Bulletin, which is a good paper, its chief weakness being that it mistakes itself for the New York Evening Post, which is a glaring error. My march through Nevada Territory was in the main a triumphant one. The Virginia Union, however, abused me in a long editorial in which it was said I was a mercenary clown," which is no doubt a very strong extrapolation, although I do not precisely know what it means. I was taken very, very ill of fever upon my arrival here, and was dragged down to death's door. But- I happily now almost well again. My Mormon friends were exceedingly kind to me. A Mormon woman- may God in heaven bless her!- nursed me all through as tenderly and kindly as my own mother could have done. I do not regret my visit to the Pacific. I made, I am sure, many excellent friends there..."[three of four pages]. The item Harte wrote in favor of Ward, appearing in the Golden Era of December 27, 1863, [and appears herewith in the proof], in part: "Artemus Ward is not the greatest American humorist, nor does he himself profess to be, but he deserves the credit of combining qualities which make him the representative of a kind of humor that has more of a national characteristic than the higher and more artistic standard. His strength does not lie simply in grotesque spelling ó that is a mechanical trick suggested by his education as a printer ó and those who have gone to hear him in this expectation have been properly punished ó but it is the humor of audacious exaggeration ó of perfect lawlessness; a humor that belongs to the country of boundless prairies, limitless rivers, and stupendous cataracts. In this respect Mr. Ward is the American humorist par excellence, and His Book is the essence of that fun which overlies the surface of our national life, which is met in the stage, rail-car, canal- and flat-boat..." A wonderful peek at the broad connection Artemus Ward made with America, his closes friends (including Mark Twain) and assembled here in one place. Book with wear, letter with preservative paper tape applied years ago. (Inventory #: 6123)