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C.F. BROWNE, BETTER KNOWN AS ARTEMUS WARD

CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE (1834-1867). American humorist, best known under his penname, Artemus Ward. An editor of Vanity Fair magazine and a contributor to Punch, Browne was much admired by both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. Autograph Letter Signed, "C.F. Browne." Two pages, 8 1/8" x 10 3/4". Third page bears a printed advertisement for Browne's "The Children in the Wood" monologue, consisting of numerous laudatory reviews. Boston, Massachusetts. April 10, 1862. Browne writes, in part: "My success as a lecturer can only be compared to that of our gunboats in the western waters. I have been on the constant go all winter, I go to Washington next Monday evening then to Illinois for a dozen nights … You've puffed me up so in the Conservator that your citizens may have great expectations, which won't be realized by a d--d sight: But that is a circumstance to which we will not refer … I am resting here for two days. Yesterday I helped put down this unholy rebellion most all day … State in your next issue that I am a Jayhawker, if that is the popular side in your state … Be just and fear not - Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow …" Extremely Fine.