GEORGE H. DERBY.
“Before ‘John Phoenix’ there was scarcely any American humorist—not of the distinctly literary sort—with whom one could smile and keep one’s self respect,” says William Dean Howells, the novelist, in a recent magazine article. This may indeed be true, but there were others in the time of George H. Derby, better known by hisnom de plumeof John Phoenix, who were of the same school of humorists, yet they were far inferior as wits. Derby, had he lived, would have become perhaps one of the leading humorists of the country. As it was, he was known to the public as a humorous writer for only a few years before his death.
George H. Derby was born of poor but well educated parents in Norfolk county, Massachusetts, in 1823. Little is known of his boyhood or early life. He entered the West Point military academy while yet a youth, and graduated from that institution in 1846. The same year he became engaged in the war with Mexico and continued in the field during the larger part of the year following. He was present at the battle ofVera Cruz and Cerro Gordo, and was made brevet first lieutenant at the former place. He received a severe wound during the latter engagement. He remained with the regular army at the close of the war, and was sent upon various surveys and expeditions from 1847 to 1852. During the two years following the last named date, Derby was engaged on the improvement of San Diego, California, harbor, and the next year he was on the staff of the commanding general and had charge of the military roads, department of the Pacific. In 1856 he was on the coast survey, and in the two years following was light-house engineer.
While sojourning on the Pacific coast Derby first began writing for the San Francisco papers and magazines. His contributions consisted mainly of humorous sketches written under the signature of John Phoenix. These sketches attracted general attention among the Pacific States, and in 1855 were published in book form under the title of Phoenixiana, or Sketches and Burlesques. The book was well received, and ten or twelve editions were exhausted. Four years later a second volume was issued under the title of Squibob Papers. This volume also met with a large and ready sale. Early in 1861 Derby took up his residence in New York, and produced a number of humorous sketches which were never published in book form.He died suddenly on the 15th of May, 1861, at the age of thirty-eight. Although young in years and not having reached the acme of his fame, his work still lives and is recognized as one of the most prominent species of American humor.
Derby’s humor is something like that of Artemus Ward, yet it is peculiarly original and is vastly different from the writings of the so-called funny men of the present day. Among the many good things from Derby’s pen are the following:
LATE.Passing by one of our doggeries about 3A. M.the other morning, from which proceeded “a sound of revelry by night,” a hapless stranger on his homeward way paused to obtain a slight refreshment, and to the host he said: “It appears to me your visitors are rather late to-night.” “Oh, no,” replied the worthy landlord, “the boys of San Diego generally run for forty-eight hours, stranger;it’s a little late for night before last, but for to-night! why, it’s just in the shank of the evening.” Volumes could not have said more.FOR SALE.A valuable law library, lately the property of a distinguished legal gentleman of San Francisco, who has given up practice and removed to the Farralone Islands. It consists of one volume of“Hoyle’s Games,” complete and may be seen at this office.WANTED.Back numbers of the Democratic Review, speeches and writings of Jefferson, Coffroth, Calhoun, Bigler, Van Buren and others. Copies of the San Joaquin Republican, files of the Times and Transcript (a few at a time), and a diagram representing the construction of the old United States bank, for the use of a young man desirous of turning Democrat. Apply at this office (by firing a gun, or punching on the ceiling, he being deeply engaged in study in the garret), toJ. Phoenix.AN EPITAPH.This is all, but I writ at the time a epitaff which I think is short, and would do to go over his grave:Here lies the body of James HambrickWho was accidentally shotOn the banks of the Peacus riverBy a young man.He was accidentally shot with one of the large sized Colt’s revolvers with no stopper for the cock to rest on it was one of the old fashion kind brass mounted and of such is the kingdom of Heaven.
LATE.
Passing by one of our doggeries about 3A. M.the other morning, from which proceeded “a sound of revelry by night,” a hapless stranger on his homeward way paused to obtain a slight refreshment, and to the host he said: “It appears to me your visitors are rather late to-night.” “Oh, no,” replied the worthy landlord, “the boys of San Diego generally run for forty-eight hours, stranger;it’s a little late for night before last, but for to-night! why, it’s just in the shank of the evening.” Volumes could not have said more.
FOR SALE.
A valuable law library, lately the property of a distinguished legal gentleman of San Francisco, who has given up practice and removed to the Farralone Islands. It consists of one volume of“Hoyle’s Games,” complete and may be seen at this office.
WANTED.
Back numbers of the Democratic Review, speeches and writings of Jefferson, Coffroth, Calhoun, Bigler, Van Buren and others. Copies of the San Joaquin Republican, files of the Times and Transcript (a few at a time), and a diagram representing the construction of the old United States bank, for the use of a young man desirous of turning Democrat. Apply at this office (by firing a gun, or punching on the ceiling, he being deeply engaged in study in the garret), to
J. Phoenix.
AN EPITAPH.
This is all, but I writ at the time a epitaff which I think is short, and would do to go over his grave:
Here lies the body of James HambrickWho was accidentally shotOn the banks of the Peacus riverBy a young man.
Here lies the body of James HambrickWho was accidentally shotOn the banks of the Peacus riverBy a young man.
Here lies the body of James HambrickWho was accidentally shotOn the banks of the Peacus riverBy a young man.
Here lies the body of James Hambrick
Who was accidentally shot
On the banks of the Peacus river
By a young man.
He was accidentally shot with one of the large sized Colt’s revolvers with no stopper for the cock to rest on it was one of the old fashion kind brass mounted and of such is the kingdom of Heaven.