Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1890 — Artemus Ward’s Last Joke. [ARTICLE]

Artemus Ward’s Last Joke.

Joseph Jefferson, in his autobiography in the Century, relates what was probably the last jest of Artemus When the famous wit lay dying in Southampton he was tended by his devoted friend “Tom” Robertson, the English playright, who was also a friend of Jefferson. “Just before Ward’s death,” writes Mr. Jefferson, “Robertson poured out some medicine in a glass and offered it to his friend. “Ward said: ‘My dear Tom, 1 can’t take that dreadful stuff.’ “ ‘Come, come,’ said Robertson, urging him to swallow the nauseous drug; ‘there’s a dear fellow. Do now, for my sake; you know I would do anything for you.’ ‘ ‘Would you?’ said Ward, feebly stretching out his hand to grasp his friend’s, perhaps for the last time. “‘I would, indeed,’ said Robertson. “ ‘Then you take it,* said Ward. The humorist passed-aw ay but a few hours afterward.”