Josh Billings on "Cats"

[John Hartwell]

Josh Billings was the nom de plume of 19th century humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw (1818-85). He was famous as writer and lecturer, and is often likened to Mark Twain. He generally wrote in a phonetic "accent". In the summer of 1864, he published the following observations:

[Sacramento Daily Union, September 7, 1864]​

 

[gary]

thanks. That was a challenge to read and funny too,

 

[ErnieMac]

Glad to see nothing has changed in 155 years except that they may appear in more exotic dishes than sausage.

 

[John Hartwell]

One finds many observations "On Cats" in period newspapers. This one, from the Providence Journal, Sept. 8, 1868, by an upstate New York columnist, who signs himself, simply, "Kringle," [in a somewhat less 'dense' written accent.]:

 

[JOHN42768]

Great items. A joy to go through. A test of one's phonetics ability to read. I guess there were no proof readers back then.

 

[John Hartwell]

Great items. A joy to go through. A test of one's phonetics ability to read. I guess there were no proof readers back then.

That's the way Billings wrote everything. I can't imaging the agony of the typesetters, working from the manuscript, and struggling to make sure everything was properly misspelled in print.

 

[John Hartwell]

In 1870, Billings revisited the subject in a two-part essay "The Cat and the Kangaroo." Below is just the first part, leaving the Kangaroo segment aside. You will notice distinct reflections of his earlier article.

[Tarboro, N.C. Enquirer-Southerner, Oct. 27, 1870]​

P.S., if you want to challenge your phonetic reading, and your funny-bone, The Complete Works of Josh Billings is on Google Books.

 

[donna]

Nice finds. Have to follow closely so can read.

 

[John Hartwell]

[Boston Traveller, June 23, 1866]​

A while back, I came across a story from a town in Ohio (I think it was) where a local man was trying to sue Van Amburgh's Menagerie for breach of contract. It seems he had a signed agreement with the show's "agent" to supply a shipment of cats to feed the lions. The man apparently went around collecting all the stray cats he could find, and packed them up, somehow (in a crate?, or sack? -- I just know I wouldn't want to be the one opening it!) When the menagerie arrived he delivered the lion-feed, expecting payment. When the manager explained that his lions ate only beef, and he didn't know who this "agent" was, the chap was a bit put off. (I imagine the cats were, too!) He lost his case.