Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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V ! McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, S. C, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1940 Canadian Memorial Recalls Career of A Judge and Humorist Who Contributed To the Evolution of Our "Unde Sam" :u J J i w ? »* ll It 1- ' 4^ First known cartoon of a sym bolical figure representing the United States. It appeared in Fnch in 1844. By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Released by Western Newspaper^Jnlon.) Y OU may never have heard oft Thomas Chandler Haliburtqn, Canadian barrister and judge, who died in England 75 years ago this month. But you, as an American, should have good reason to remember Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author. For he was the crea- * tor of “Sam Slick, the Con necticut Clockmaker” and Sam Slick provided one of the elements out of which gradu ally evolved our symbolical figure of Uncle Sam. More than that, he had an influence on and contributed largely to a type of humor which we have come to regard as typi cally American. So, even though few Americans know that such a man as Thomas Chandler Haliburton ever existed ®r have forgotten it if they did know, we have more than a pass ing interest in a project now under way up in Canada. The Haliburton estate at Windsor, Nova Scotia, is being rehabilitat ed and a noted painter, Sir Wyly Grier, has been commissioned by the government of Nova Scotia to do a full-length, life-size painting of the man who created Sam Slick and whose writings, a hun dred years ago, were delighting readers not only in Canada but in the United States and England as well. Haliburton, the scion of an an cient Scottish family, was bom in Windsor in 1796. Educated at King’s college in Nova Scotia he was admitted tp the bar in 1820, later was elected to the house of assembly of the colony, was raised to the bench of common pleas in 1829 and in 1840 became a judge of the supreme court. In the midst of his judicial duties, he found time to write a series oiS sketches for the local news papers. In one of these he sati rized the character of the New England Yankee in the person of “Sam Slick of Slickville, Onion County, Connecticut,” a clock- maker and peddler whose knowl edge of human nature, unsophis ticated wit, droll speech and cleverness in using what he called “soft sawder” immediate ly made him a favorite with Canadian newspaper readers. - First published anonymously in a paper called the Nova Scotian, a collection of these sketches was brought out in book form by Joseph Howe, the editor of the Nova Scotian. A copy of this book fell into the hands of Thom as Bentley, the English publisher, who immediately issued an Eng lish edition. A ‘Best Seller.* “The Clockmaker, or the Do ings of Sam Slick of Slickville” was first published in 1835 and was an instantaneous success. It ran through 50 editions, a “best seller” record which, considering the time and the size of the book buying public, has never been equaled. The success of the first book of sketches encouraged Bentley to issue a second in 1838, a third in 1840, and a fourth in 1844. In all, there were five volumes in which “Sam Slick” was the prin cipal character. Three of them were devoted to “The Clockmak er.” The fourth was called “Wise Saws and Modern Instances” and the fifth “The Attache, or, SJam Slick in England.” In the latter Bam appears as an attache to the American legation in London and his shrewd and humorous obser vations on the upper classes of v-n g ianr> an d their pampered ser- “Sam Slick,** after a drawing made by Leech, artist for Punch, who made the drawings for the English editions of Haliburton’s books. vants were as mirth-provoking as his satires on life among the Yankees. As for the influence of Halibur ton and “Sam Slick” on Ameri can humor and American litera ture in general, a writer in the Dearborn Independent several years ago declared that “Bill Nye, Artemus Ward, ‘Mrs. Part ington’, O. Henry, all have light ed their brands at one time or an other at the torch of Judge Hali burton. Certainly no other book produced on this continent has had so widespread and unmis takable an influence.? This writer then goes on to point out that “Mark Twain’s ‘A Connecticut Yankee at King Ar thur’s Court’ is an emanation from ‘Sam Slick, the Connecticut Clockmaker.’ ‘Innocents Abroad’ is inspired by the same model.” Not only did later writers get ideas for characters and situa tions from Haliburton but they also used some of his words and expressions verbatim or almost verbatim. For, as this same commentator points out, “The one most quoted expression from ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ is that ‘Topsy’ ‘just growed.’ That is cribbed di rectly from ‘Sam Slick’ who was read and quoted in Harriet Beech er Stowe’s family, as he was in every other family throughout the United States ... “We use the expression ‘corn fed’ and fancy it originated in our Middle West, but it comes from ‘Sam Slick’ who always described women in the terms which he uses for horses, one of his most commentary ones being ‘fine forn fed.’ ” As for “Sam Slick’s” contribu tion to the evolution of our sym bolical figure of Uncle Sam, this same writer declares “That figure with his shrewd smile, his goatee, striped trousers held down by long straps, the symbolical Uncle Sam—we are apt to think that he was hit upon by someone in a moment of inspiration and pic- torially set forth to symbolize the United States. Not at all. This figure is ‘Sam Slick,’ the hero of ‘The Clockmaker, or the Doings of Sam Slick of Slickville,’ as con ceived by Judge Haliburton and as drawn by Hervieu, a French man, and Leech, the artist, who made Punch famous, to illustrate the English editions.” A glance at the illustrations at the top of this article will dem onstrate the credibility of that theory. In the center is the figure of “Sam Slick,” as delineated by First American cartoon of Uncte Sam, drawq by F. Bellow rawn by in *52. and published Leech, the artist for Punch. At the left is reproduced a picture which is generally accepted as the first known cartoon of a symbolical figure representing the United States. It appeared in Punch in 1844 and although the name of the artist is unknown it may have been Leech. At any rate, the resemblance between this figure and the figure of “Sam Slick,” especially in the matter of costume and “long- leggedness” is striking. It repre sents a young man, of decidedly flippant tendencies, thumbing his nose at the spectators and was intended to depict the rowdy young nation of the United States. The symbol of this nation was “Brother Jonathan” as “John Bull” was the symbol of Eng land. The First Uncle Sam. The picture on the right is usually regarded as the first American cartoon of Uncle Sam. It was drawn by F. Bellow and was published in the New York Lantern, a comic weekly, on March 13, 1852. In it is pictured an amused young man, wearing the high beaver hat, tight trous ers, low-cut waistcoat, high col lar and bow tie in which he is still portrayed. The costume is the same as “Sam Slick’s” and even the face resembles Sam’s. The only difference is that Uncle Sam’s trousers are striped. It will be noted that Uncle Sam was then a beardless young man. English and American cartoonists continued to portray him thus down to the days of the Civil war. Then Thomas Nast, one of the greatest cartoonists this country ever produced, began making some changes in Uncle Sam’s ap pearance. It was Nast who put chin whiskers on him and made him the kindly old gentleman that we know. It is said that Nast had in mind Abraham Lincoln when he began depicting Uncle Sam. He also added the familiar starred vest and striped coat and put stars on his hat. Since that time, cartoonists generally have followed Nast’s lead in portraying Uncle Sam. But the essential fact is that he is the tall gangling man in tight trousers, swallow-tailed coat, high collar, bow tie and tall hat and represents the spirit of America. Typifying America in both costume and spirit, he traces directly back to the typical American character created by a Canadian judge more than a hun dred years ago—“Sam Slick, the Connecticut Yankee.” Haliburton the Historian. Haliburton was not a writer of humorous works only. Some of his more serious works included “Rule and Misrule of the English in America” and the first authori tative history of Nova Scotia. In cidentally, Longfellow is said to have drawn part of his inspira tion for writing “Evangeline” from this history. But Judge Haliburton could not be very se rious even about his serious work. Concerning this history he once said that “Next to Mr. Slick’s His tory of Cattyhunk in Five Vol umes, it (this history) is the most authoritative account of un important things I have ever seen.” However, the government authorities of Nova Scotia thought enough of it to recognize it with a ceremonious speech of appre ciation in the house of assembly. In 1850 Haliburton retired from the supreme court and went to England to live. In 1859 he was elected as a conservative in the house of commons and held his seat there until its dissolution in 1865. Because of ill health, he declined a re-election. The Uni versity of Oxford conferred the degree of D. C. L. upon him a short time before his death at Isleworth, England, on August 27, 1865. + FIRST-AID + to the AILING HOUSE % By ROGER B. WHITMAN (© Roger B. Whitman—WNU Service.) Digging a Cellar. Q UESTION: I intend digging a cel lar under the kitchen. The bungalow is supported by eight con crete piers. The plot is near a lake and composed entirely of sand. Would you suggest concrete block or poured concrete? Would the caving in of the sand be too much of a haz ard? Do you think the cellar would be too damp to use? Would like in formation on the easiest and cheap est way of doing this. Answer: My preference is for a poured concrete cellar. If there is any danger of the sand “caving in,” the sides should be shored up with boards. As to dampness in the cel lar, much will depend on the quality of the concrete and the drainage qualities of the soil. The Portland Cement association, Chicago, 111., can furnish you with printed matter on this subject. Removing Wallpaper. Question: I should like to have your formula for removing old wall paper. Answer: Old wallpaper can be re moved by a thorough soaking with warm water to soften and free the paste. A handful of washing soda to the gallon of warm water may quicken the action. Be careful not to splash the solution on painted or finished woodwork, as it will de stroy the finish. Do not let it run down on the floor. When the paper loosens, tear it off, starting from the top. With the paper off, while the wall is still damp, sponge it with clear, warm water. After dry ing, sandpaper the wall lightly to remove bits of paper and hard ened paste. Cracked Plasterboard Joints. Question: The ceilings of my six- room, one-story house are plaster board. The paper on them cracks at every joint between the boards. How can this be avoided? Answer: One side of the ceiling is exposed to the warmth of the house and the other to the chill of the attic, which results in swelling and shrinking. Also, with the ceilings chilled by the low temperature in the attic, there will be condensa tion against them from moisture in the house air. Under this condition no kind of filling in the joints will be permanent. Your best move will be to cover the joints with thin strips of wood, nailed through to the supporting beams and papered with the ceilings. Fireplace Tile. Question: My fireplace is faced with brick-colored tiles that are not handsome. Could I cover them with marbleized linoleum and blacken the tiles of the floor? Answer: Wall linoleum can be ap plied to tile, but I do not think that the effect would be particularly good. It would be better to bear with the tiles for a while until you are able to replace them with tiles that are more attractive, or with slabs of real marble. If the floor tiles are glossy, the color cannot be changed. If they are dull, you can blacken them with nigrosine dye, to be had at a paint store, or with black ink. Leaking Terraces. Question: How can I take care of flagstone terraces that are leaking? Is there any such thing as a water proof transparent paint that can be used by applying three or four coats, and doing it each year? Answer: All cracked mortar joints should be raked out and repointed. A porous stone or mortar joint can 5e treated with two or more coats of a transparent waterproofing. A poorly mixed mortar, however, might be difficult to waterproof. It may even be necessary to repoint all the joints. Bungalow Plans. Question: I understand you send out blue prints, at a small cost, to readers of your papers. I have in mind a bungalow 31 feet by 33 feet; bur rooms, bath and front porch. Will appreciate any information you can send me. Answer: I am sorry, but I do not iimish this kind of service. The Superintendent of Documents at Washington has a booklet of “Farm- liouse Plans” which may ba helpful o you. Write for Farmers’ Bulle- ;in 1738. The price of the booklet is 10 cents in coin. Water Heater Piping. Question: I would like to move he hot water storage tank from the kitchen to the cellar; to be con nected with the tank water heater and the furnace. Is there a book I can buy, which will tell me how to make these connections? Answer: Manufacturers of water heaters publish data on the proper way of making connections between the storage tank and the heater. I am sure the firm whose heater you are using will furnish the necessary data. Sweating Tank. Question: In the bathroom of my country home there is water on the floor most of the time, due to the flush tank sweating. The water com ing out of the well is usually about 50 degrees. Can I insulate the tank to stop this dripping? Answer: A wooden box lined with some form of insulation, made to enclose the tank on all exposed sides, is one way of overcoming this condition. Warm moist air must be kept from coming in intact with the cold surface of tlf€ tank. lATTERNhjL .V V t^AAAAAAJUAAAAAAAAM m EPARTH FNT It’s a good style for checked ging ham and sharkskin, too. Send for, the pattern right now. Be among the first to wear it! Pattern No. 8738 is designed for sizes 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. Size 13 requires 4% yards of 35-inch ma terial without nap; 8% yards braid. Send order to: LJ U 8738 ID EMEMBER how nice you used to look and feel when you tripped off to school in a fresh white blouse with a sailor collar? Well, if you’re in the junior size range, you can take upon yourself that same naive, engaging charm, by making this frock With sailor collar and rows and rows of braid. Design No. 8738 has very soft and feminine lines, however sailorfied its spirit, because the skirt has smart unpressed front fulness and the blouse is gathered to round out your bustline. Carry out the nautical idea by making it up in blue chambray with white braid, white linen with navy braid, or beige with scarlet. SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT. Room 1324 211 W. Wacker Dr. Chicago Enclose 15 cents in coins (or Pattern No Size Name Address HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONS Clean paint brushes used for en ameling with turpentine. When used to shellac, clean with de* natured alcohol. • • * Grass stains can easily be re moved from linens, cottons or white stockings by rubbing the stains with molasses before wash* ing. • * * The backs of pictures should be inspected from time to time. If there are any holes in the paper, fresh pieces should be pasted over them, or dust will get in. * * • Delicate colors in washing ma terials will not fade if before be ing washed they are soaked in tepid water to which a few drops of turpentine have been added. * • * When laundering curtains of voile, scrim or any material which has to be ironed, if they are folded so the selvage ends are together and ironed, they will hang per* fectly even and straight. ‘‘TAKING THE COUNTRY BY STORM** 1/rilT ASK YOUR DEALER FOR <f flft KENT izjxxvziJxzi.Ez: 10° CUPPLES COMPANY, ST. LOUIS, Always a Duty Knowest thou not, that thou canst not move a step on this earth without finding some duty to be done, and that every man is useful to his kind by the very fact of his existence?—Carlyle. am »i tm»»* Switch to ^something you’ll like 1 MADE BY KELLOGG'S IN BATTLE CREEK Trained Heart f heart is a menace, however many The man anywhere with a I degrees he may write after his trained head apart from a trained | name.—Anon. LOCKOUT MOUNTAIN HOTEL A Vacation Paradiso Located on highest point of Lookout Mountain, overlooking Chattanooga and seven mountain ranges. Cool nights—pleasant days. All sports, including outdoor swimming pool, golf, riding, tennis. Rates moderate. Addrwa S. JOHN LITTLEGREEN. Manager Lookout Mountain Hotol Chattanooga. TonnoaaoR THE ADVERTISER INVITES YOUR DAI? TQOM Th® advertiser assures us that his goods ^ 1V1 * « *1 * \y * w are good. He invites us to compare them with others. We do. Should he relarffor a minute and let his standards drop, we discern it. We tell others. We cease buying his product. Therefore he keeps up the high standard o! his wares, and the prices as low as possible.