The subject of this sketch, although one of the oldest of American
humorists, is comparatively unknown at the present time. William Tappan
Thompson was born in the village of Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, on
the 31st day of August, 1812. He came from a good family, his father
being a native of Virginia, and his mother the daughter of an Irish
exile. At the age of twelve years young Thompson was an orphan, and was
thrown upon his own resources in the city of Philadelphia. He entered
the office of the Philadelphia Chronicle, where he remained for two
years working as a printer’s apprentice.
At the age of eighteen he left his newly found occupation and went to
Florida with Acting-Governor Wescott as his private secretary. About
the same time he began the study of law. In 1835, he was at work again
as a printer, in the office of the Sentinel at Augusta, Georgia. Later
on in the same year he became a volunteer with the Richmond Blues and
served for nearly two years in the Seminole war.
Late in the autumn of 1836 Mr. Thompson issued the first number of
the Augusta Mirror, but it proved a dismal failure. It was during the
Mirror trouble that the young editor became the duly wedded husband of
a daughter of Joseph Carrie, a well-to-do merchant of Barnwell, South
Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia. After the death of the Mirror, Mr.
Thompson took editorial charge of the Madison Miscellany, and it was
his writings for this journal that in after years made him famous as a
humorist.
During his idle moments Mr. Thompson began a series of letters from
“Major Joseph Jones of Pineville.” These were begun in 1842, and became
very popular--so much so, in fact, that before a year had elapsed after
their first appearance, they were collected in a volume and published
under the title of Major Jones’ Courtship. In the preface of the book
the author dedicated the work to his old commander in the Seminole war,
General Duncan L. Clinch.
Edition after edition of the book was issued, and it was known in every
city and town on this side of the Atlantic. Later, it was reprinted in
London, where it had an enormous run for several years. A recent writer
in a New Haven paper says of Major Jones’ Courtship: “Its style is
rollicking without grossness; piquant, yet devoid of all exaggeration.
Re-reading these letters to-day, the freshness and vigor, which so
charmed my youthful fancy for the grotesque in home life, are reflected
from every page.”
The preface of the book was written April 10, 1843, and among other
things contains the following:
“It’s a great deal easier to write a heap of nonsense than it is to
put a good face on it after its rit--and I don’t know when I’ve had a
job that puzzled me so much how to begin it. I’ve looked over a whole
heap of books to see how other writers done, but they all seemed to
be about the same thing. They all feel a monstrous desire to benefit
the public one way or other; some is anxious to tell all they know
about certain matters, just for the good of the public, some has been
swaded by friends to give the book to the public, and others have
been induced to publish their ritens just for the benefit of future
generations,--but not one of ’em ever had an idea to make a cent for
themselves! Now, none of these excuses don’t zactly meet my case. I
don’t spose the public--cept it is them as is courtin--will be much
benefited by readin my letters--I’m sure Mr. Thompson wouldn’t went
to all the expense just to please his friends, and for my part I’m
perfectly willin to let posterity write their own books. So I don’t
see any other way than to jest come rite out with the naked truth--and
that is, that _my book was made just a purpose to sell and make
money_. Ther ain’t a single lie in the book, and I’m termined ther
sha’n’t be none in the preface.
“I hain’t got no very grate opinion of myself, but I’ve always tried
to live honest, and what little character I is got I want to keep.
When Mr. Thompson just writ me word, he was gwine to put my letters
in a book, I felt sort o’ skeered, for fear them bominable criticks
might take hold of it, and tare it all to flinders--as they always
nabs a’most every thing that’s got a kiver on; but, when I come to
think, there were two ways of gettin into the field--under and over
the fence. Well, the criticks is like a pretty considerable high fence
round the public taste, and books get into the world of letters jest
as a boy does in a pertater patch--some over, and some under. Now and
then one gets hung, and the way it gets peppered is distressin--but
them that gets in under the fence is jest as safe as them that gits in
over. Seein as I is perfectly satisfied with the under route, I don’t
think the criticks will tackle my book--if they does, all I can say
is, I give ’em joy with their small potaters.”
After the success of Major Jones’ Courtship, Mr. Thompson issued other
works from time to time. Major Jones’ Sketches of Travel appeared a
few years later, and was followed by The Chronicles of Pineville.
Mr. Thompson also wrote a farce entitled, The Live Indian, and a
dramatization of The Vicar of Wakefield. Messrs. Carey & Hart, of
Philadelphia, bought the copyright of Major Jones’ Courtship in 1848,
for the paltry sum of $250. In 1856 Mr. Thompson prepared for the
press, Hotchkiss’ Codification of the Statute Laws of Georgia, and in
1858 became connected with the Western Continent, a weekly illustrated
paper published in Baltimore.
Two years later he sold his interest in the Western Continent, and
went to Savannah, where, in company with John M. Cooper, he issued the
Savannah Morning News, which is now valuable newspaper property. During
the Rebellion Mr. Thompson was appointed aid to Governor Brown, which
position he held until the fall of Savannah. In 1877 he was a member of
the Georgia Constitutional convention, which is the full extent of his
political career. For the past thirty years he has been the editor of
the Morning News, and has been one of the leading citizens of Savannah.
His work at present is the superintendency and the occasional writing
of editorials for his newspaper. It is many years since he gave to the
world a specimen of his old-time humor.
Since writing the above, I have been pained to learn of the sudden
death of Mr. Thompson, at his home in Savannah, on the 24th day of
March, 1882. His death revives the subject of his works, and his
several books are to be republished in Philadelphia at an early date.