“Uncle Remus” is a well-known character throughout the South, and his
fame has even found its way northward. “Uncle Remus” is the literary
nickname adopted by Mr. Joel Chandler Harris, a well-known journalist
of the South. He was born in Eatonton, Georgia, on the 8th of December,
1846. At a very early age he was taken out of school, and placed at
work as “printer’s devil” in the office of a country newspaper.
Charles Pilsbury, in a recent article, says of Harris: “He must have
had access to many books, and those of the best sort, and he mastered
them thoroughly. One can readily imagine him pursuing his studies in
some shady nook in the summer time, and in the winter evenings by the
blaze of pine knots or the modest tallow dip. It was in these days
and evenings, we may be sure, that he obtained the insight into negro
character, which has enabled him to portray in ‘Uncle Remus,’ the _ante
bellum_ negro.”
In 1866 Mr. Harris became connected with a publishing house at New
Orleans, and he had plenty of spare time to devote to literature. He
has written a good deal for southern periodicals, during the last five
years; essays, sketches and lyrics have appeared from his pen that
would have done honor to older heads. In January, 1867, he published
in the New Orleans Times, a poem entitled The Sea Wind, which has been
greatly admired.
He returned to Eatonton, Georgia, in May, 1867, where he wrote many
articles in both prose and verse. In 1868 Mr. Harris was in Forsythe,
Georgia, still bent on following literature as a profession. In June of
the same year he was working at the case, and thought some of going to
New York, to seek his fortune and a name. About this time he received
the promise of an editorial position on a paper about to be established
at Savannah, Georgia; and on the 12th of July he writes to a friend
that he “thinks he was cut out for a paragraphing journalist.”
His newspaper promise failed to realize anything for him, however, and
in October he was still at the case in a country newspaper office,
longing for journalistic life in a great city. Two years later we find
his hopes realized, and Mr. Harris became the associate editor of the
Savannah Morning News. He worked hard, and soon placed his name high
in rank among Georgia journalists.
After six years of work on the Morning News, Harris purchased an
interest in the Atlanta Constitution, and immediately joined its
editorial staff. It was in the columns of the Constitution that Uncle
Remus and his quaint humor first appeared. From this time forward his
success has been rapid, and he has placed his name in the front rank
among American humorists. Last year Mr. Harris published his first
book, Uncle Remus; His Songs and Sayings. The work took wonderfully
well with the public and has had an immense sale.
Of the later works of Uncle Remus, the following are very popular: