TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
The weird spelling in this book is mostly intentional, and it has beenretained as in the original, this includes inconsistencies in spelling andhyphenation. A few changes to which seemed more likely typographic errors havebeen made, they are marked with a dottedunderline, and the printed text may appear in a “pop-up box” whenhovering the cursor on it. The changes are listed at the endof the book.
Titles in the Table ov Kontents do not alwayscorrespond exactly to the titles in the main text, this has been retained, butthe spelling has been changed in some cases to match the text. Some texts, nearthe end of the book are printed with no title in the original, this has beenmaintained too. The List of Illustrations contains someentries for non-existing (in this edition, at least) illustrations and thenumbering is not consecutive, this reproduces the printed book as well.
The original printed book was apparently divided into large “sections”,which were marked only as running page headers. In this version the titles forthese sections are written between {braces} where they start.
PUBLISHERS’ ANNOUNCEMENT.
Among the many humorists of America, not one isbetter known, or more readily accorded a high rankby the public, than Henry W. Shaw (Josh Billings).No writer of the present age is so universally quotedfrom as he. His name is familiar to every tongue,and scarcely a paper in the country appears withoutmore or less space devoted to the sayings of “JoshBillings.” His ready pen seems adapted to all subjects,and he is equally at home, whether writing onthe gravest or the most trivial matters.
seem to be prominent characteristics of his productions,while a fountain of the richest wit supplies hispen with humor, and its waters sparkle and glimmerlike diamonds upon the paper, as he traces thereonhis description of objects in his undisputably originalstyle. His jokes are always clear and perceptible,and his satire, pointed and keen, invariably strikeshome.
As laughter is conducive to health, and as nothingis learned so easily and remembered so tenaciously asthat with which something pleasant is connected,this volume will prove doubly advantageous, as itconsists of matter in which wit and wisdom are soequally mingled, that the reader will rise from itsperusal undecided whether he has gained most by itsreading, bodily health, or general knowledge.
Thousands are eager to place upon their tables andin their libraries a volume which will be a fair specimenof the writings of this great American humorist,and the publishers of this book take great pleasure inbeing able to offer them an opportunity to gratify solaudable a desire.
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