American author, humorist, and lecturer--writing under the name "Q(ueer). K(ritter). Philander Doesticks."
From the NY Times of June 26 1875.
OBITUARY
Mortimer Thomson--"Doesticks."
This once famous comic writer died in this City yesterday. Mortimer Thomson was born in the town of Riga, Monroe County, in this State, in 1831. He was for a time a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, but was not graduated, having been (with some others) expelled, it is said, for too much enterprise in securing subjects for the dissecting room. He wandered away without especial aim, and drifted into a traveling theatrical company. Having found that he was not fitted for the stage, he had the good sense to quit it. Like many other young men, he fixed his eye on New York, and would not rest until he was swallowed up in the great City. On his wandering way hither, he stopped at Niagara Falls, where he wrote the first "Doesticks" letter. It was sent to his friends, we believe, with no thought of publication; but they sent it to the Detroit Advertiser, in which paper it appeared. It was a funny muddle of sense and nonsense, with a ludicrous refrain about taking a glass of beer, and was widely copied. Other letters followed, some not so good, but all showing evidence of rare humor. It was in 1853 that Mr. Dana [Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897), long-time editor of the New York Sun], with no idea of the author or his whereabouts, collected enough of these letters to fill a page of the paper of which he was then the editor, and published them all at once. This gave them some notoriety, and people began to inquire "Who is Doesticks?" A few days after this publication the author was found in the person of Mortimer Thomson, a very green-looking, bashful youth, with the mere beginning of a beard on his chin; with long, dark brown hair, and an lndian cast of features. He was a petty clerk in the jewelry establishment of of Sackett, Davis & Potter, in Broadway near Maiden Lane. Mt. Thomason was immediately put on the paper's staff, on which he did the ordinary work of a reporter. Not long afterward he explored the fortune-telling business, and wrote a series of articles called "The Witches of New York." In the course of his investigation he had the satisfaction of catching the smallpox and suffering in the cause of enterprise. About 1858 he became intimate and a favorite with Barton, Wallack, Davenport, "Young Jim"' Blake, Walcot, Mark Smith, and other actors, especially with Dan Setchel, who, some ten years ago, sailed from San Francisco for Sydney, and has not since been heard from. In 1855, Livermore & Rudd published the first of Mr. Thomson's books, "Doesticks—What He Says," comprising most of his letters. This book had a very large sale. The next year came "Plu-ri-bus-tah," a burlesque on Longfellow's "Hiawatha"; a year after, the "History and Records of the Elephant Club," and lastly, "Nothing to Say: A Satire on Snobbery." When the slaves of Pierce Butler (the husband of Fanny Kemble) were to be sold, Thomson went to Savannah to report the affair. To have done so openly would have been impossible, so he passed as a casual visitor, and only glanced at the sale. With a few surreptitious notes, however, and a good memory, he set to work as soon as he got safely into the cars, and wrote up a graphic and very minute and accurate report. The Southerners were angry enough, and threatened dreadful things, and they remembered so well that when Thomsen went to Charleston as a correspondent, in 1861, it was deemed unsafe for him to venture beyond the Northern military lines. During the riots of July, 1863 [NOTE: the New York City Draft Riots], Mr. Thomson performed an act of bravery and manliness that did him much honor. Looking from his window in Seventeenth street he saw a poor old colored woman flying from a crown of Irish rioters. Rushing into the room of the writer of this notice, he seized a navy revolver, and without waiting for hat or coat hurried into the street, took the old woman's arm in his, and pointing the cocked pistol at her persecutors, kept them at bay until he had safely in the Station-house, three blocks away. About this time Mr. Thomson made extensive lecture tours, and delivered several Commencement poems. He still kept his liking for the theater, and wrote a burlesque on the "Lady of the Lake" for the Nelson sisters. It was produced at Niblo's, with indifferent success. He wrote, in 1864-5, sketches and biographies of a number of eminent artists. He also wrote "Doesticks" letters for the New-York Weekly. Mortimer Thomson was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of General VanCleve, a gentleman of note in the North-west. This wife left one child—a son, now living. The second wife was Grace Eldridge, daughter of "Fanny Fern," and niece of Nathaniel P. Willis. She has been dead several years, leaving one child only—a daughter. Mr. Thomson's last literary work was as an editor in Frank Leslie's establishment.
From the NY Times of June 26 1875.
OBITUARY
Mortimer Thomson--"Doesticks."
This once famous comic writer died in this City yesterday. Mortimer Thomson was born in the town of Riga, Monroe County, in this State, in 1831. He was for a time a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, but was not graduated, having been (with some others) expelled, it is said, for too much enterprise in securing subjects for the dissecting room. He wandered away without especial aim, and drifted into a traveling theatrical company. Having found that he was not fitted for the stage, he had the good sense to quit it. Like many other young men, he fixed his eye on New York, and would not rest until he was swallowed up in the great City. On his wandering way hither, he stopped at Niagara Falls, where he wrote the first "Doesticks" letter. It was sent to his friends, we believe, with no thought of publication; but they sent it to the Detroit Advertiser, in which paper it appeared. It was a funny muddle of sense and nonsense, with a ludicrous refrain about taking a glass of beer, and was widely copied. Other letters followed, some not so good, but all showing evidence of rare humor. It was in 1853 that Mr. Dana [Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897), long-time editor of the New York Sun], with no idea of the author or his whereabouts, collected enough of these letters to fill a page of the paper of which he was then the editor, and published them all at once. This gave them some notoriety, and people began to inquire "Who is Doesticks?" A few days after this publication the author was found in the person of Mortimer Thomson, a very green-looking, bashful youth, with the mere beginning of a beard on his chin; with long, dark brown hair, and an lndian cast of features. He was a petty clerk in the jewelry establishment of of Sackett, Davis & Potter, in Broadway near Maiden Lane. Mt. Thomason was immediately put on the paper's staff, on which he did the ordinary work of a reporter. Not long afterward he explored the fortune-telling business, and wrote a series of articles called "The Witches of New York." In the course of his investigation he had the satisfaction of catching the smallpox and suffering in the cause of enterprise. About 1858 he became intimate and a favorite with Barton, Wallack, Davenport, "Young Jim"' Blake, Walcot, Mark Smith, and other actors, especially with Dan Setchel, who, some ten years ago, sailed from San Francisco for Sydney, and has not since been heard from. In 1855, Livermore & Rudd published the first of Mr. Thomson's books, "Doesticks—What He Says," comprising most of his letters. This book had a very large sale. The next year came "Plu-ri-bus-tah," a burlesque on Longfellow's "Hiawatha"; a year after, the "History and Records of the Elephant Club," and lastly, "Nothing to Say: A Satire on Snobbery." When the slaves of Pierce Butler (the husband of Fanny Kemble) were to be sold, Thomson went to Savannah to report the affair. To have done so openly would have been impossible, so he passed as a casual visitor, and only glanced at the sale. With a few surreptitious notes, however, and a good memory, he set to work as soon as he got safely into the cars, and wrote up a graphic and very minute and accurate report. The Southerners were angry enough, and threatened dreadful things, and they remembered so well that when Thomsen went to Charleston as a correspondent, in 1861, it was deemed unsafe for him to venture beyond the Northern military lines. During the riots of July, 1863 [NOTE: the New York City Draft Riots], Mr. Thomson performed an act of bravery and manliness that did him much honor. Looking from his window in Seventeenth street he saw a poor old colored woman flying from a crown of Irish rioters. Rushing into the room of the writer of this notice, he seized a navy revolver, and without waiting for hat or coat hurried into the street, took the old woman's arm in his, and pointing the cocked pistol at her persecutors, kept them at bay until he had safely in the Station-house, three blocks away. About this time Mr. Thomson made extensive lecture tours, and delivered several Commencement poems. He still kept his liking for the theater, and wrote a burlesque on the "Lady of the Lake" for the Nelson sisters. It was produced at Niblo's, with indifferent success. He wrote, in 1864-5, sketches and biographies of a number of eminent artists. He also wrote "Doesticks" letters for the New-York Weekly. Mortimer Thomson was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of General VanCleve, a gentleman of note in the North-west. This wife left one child—a son, now living. The second wife was Grace Eldridge, daughter of "Fanny Fern," and niece of Nathaniel P. Willis. She has been dead several years, leaving one child only—a daughter. Mr. Thomson's last literary work was as an editor in Frank Leslie's establishment.
American author, humorist, and lecturer--writing under the name "Q(ueer). K(ritter). Philander Doesticks."
From the NY Times of June 26 1875.
OBITUARY
Mortimer Thomson--"Doesticks."
This once famous comic writer died in this City yesterday. Mortimer Thomson was born in the town of Riga, Monroe County, in this State, in 1831. He was for a time a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, but was not graduated, having been (with some others) expelled, it is said, for too much enterprise in securing subjects for the dissecting room. He wandered away without especial aim, and drifted into a traveling theatrical company. Having found that he was not fitted for the stage, he had the good sense to quit it. Like many other young men, he fixed his eye on New York, and would not rest until he was swallowed up in the great City. On his wandering way hither, he stopped at Niagara Falls, where he wrote the first "Doesticks" letter. It was sent to his friends, we believe, with no thought of publication; but they sent it to the Detroit Advertiser, in which paper it appeared. It was a funny muddle of sense and nonsense, with a ludicrous refrain about taking a glass of beer, and was widely copied. Other letters followed, some not so good, but all showing evidence of rare humor. It was in 1853 that Mr. Dana [Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897), long-time editor of the New York Sun], with no idea of the author or his whereabouts, collected enough of these letters to fill a page of the paper of which he was then the editor, and published them all at once. This gave them some notoriety, and people began to inquire "Who is Doesticks?" A few days after this publication the author was found in the person of Mortimer Thomson, a very green-looking, bashful youth, with the mere beginning of a beard on his chin; with long, dark brown hair, and an lndian cast of features. He was a petty clerk in the jewelry establishment of of Sackett, Davis & Potter, in Broadway near Maiden Lane. Mt. Thomason was immediately put on the paper's staff, on which he did the ordinary work of a reporter. Not long afterward he explored the fortune-telling business, and wrote a series of articles called "The Witches of New York." In the course of his investigation he had the satisfaction of catching the smallpox and suffering in the cause of enterprise. About 1858 he became intimate and a favorite with Barton, Wallack, Davenport, "Young Jim"' Blake, Walcot, Mark Smith, and other actors, especially with Dan Setchel, who, some ten years ago, sailed from San Francisco for Sydney, and has not since been heard from. In 1855, Livermore & Rudd published the first of Mr. Thomson's books, "Doesticks—What He Says," comprising most of his letters. This book had a very large sale. The next year came "Plu-ri-bus-tah," a burlesque on Longfellow's "Hiawatha"; a year after, the "History and Records of the Elephant Club," and lastly, "Nothing to Say: A Satire on Snobbery." When the slaves of Pierce Butler (the husband of Fanny Kemble) were to be sold, Thomson went to Savannah to report the affair. To have done so openly would have been impossible, so he passed as a casual visitor, and only glanced at the sale. With a few surreptitious notes, however, and a good memory, he set to work as soon as he got safely into the cars, and wrote up a graphic and very minute and accurate report. The Southerners were angry enough, and threatened dreadful things, and they remembered so well that when Thomsen went to Charleston as a correspondent, in 1861, it was deemed unsafe for him to venture beyond the Northern military lines. During the riots of July, 1863 [NOTE: the New York City Draft Riots], Mr. Thomson performed an act of bravery and manliness that did him much honor. Looking from his window in Seventeenth street he saw a poor old colored woman flying from a crown of Irish rioters. Rushing into the room of the writer of this notice, he seized a navy revolver, and without waiting for hat or coat hurried into the street, took the old woman's arm in his, and pointing the cocked pistol at her persecutors, kept them at bay until he had safely in the Station-house, three blocks away. About this time Mr. Thomson made extensive lecture tours, and delivered several Commencement poems. He still kept his liking for the theater, and wrote a burlesque on the "Lady of the Lake" for the Nelson sisters. It was produced at Niblo's, with indifferent success. He wrote, in 1864-5, sketches and biographies of a number of eminent artists. He also wrote "Doesticks" letters for the New-York Weekly. Mortimer Thomson was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of General VanCleve, a gentleman of note in the North-west. This wife left one child—a son, now living. The second wife was Grace Eldridge, daughter of "Fanny Fern," and niece of Nathaniel P. Willis. She has been dead several years, leaving one child only—a daughter. Mr. Thomson's last literary work was as an editor in Frank Leslie's establishment.
From the NY Times of June 26 1875.
OBITUARY
Mortimer Thomson--"Doesticks."
This once famous comic writer died in this City yesterday. Mortimer Thomson was born in the town of Riga, Monroe County, in this State, in 1831. He was for a time a student in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, but was not graduated, having been (with some others) expelled, it is said, for too much enterprise in securing subjects for the dissecting room. He wandered away without especial aim, and drifted into a traveling theatrical company. Having found that he was not fitted for the stage, he had the good sense to quit it. Like many other young men, he fixed his eye on New York, and would not rest until he was swallowed up in the great City. On his wandering way hither, he stopped at Niagara Falls, where he wrote the first "Doesticks" letter. It was sent to his friends, we believe, with no thought of publication; but they sent it to the Detroit Advertiser, in which paper it appeared. It was a funny muddle of sense and nonsense, with a ludicrous refrain about taking a glass of beer, and was widely copied. Other letters followed, some not so good, but all showing evidence of rare humor. It was in 1853 that Mr. Dana [Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897), long-time editor of the New York Sun], with no idea of the author or his whereabouts, collected enough of these letters to fill a page of the paper of which he was then the editor, and published them all at once. This gave them some notoriety, and people began to inquire "Who is Doesticks?" A few days after this publication the author was found in the person of Mortimer Thomson, a very green-looking, bashful youth, with the mere beginning of a beard on his chin; with long, dark brown hair, and an lndian cast of features. He was a petty clerk in the jewelry establishment of of Sackett, Davis & Potter, in Broadway near Maiden Lane. Mt. Thomason was immediately put on the paper's staff, on which he did the ordinary work of a reporter. Not long afterward he explored the fortune-telling business, and wrote a series of articles called "The Witches of New York." In the course of his investigation he had the satisfaction of catching the smallpox and suffering in the cause of enterprise. About 1858 he became intimate and a favorite with Barton, Wallack, Davenport, "Young Jim"' Blake, Walcot, Mark Smith, and other actors, especially with Dan Setchel, who, some ten years ago, sailed from San Francisco for Sydney, and has not since been heard from. In 1855, Livermore & Rudd published the first of Mr. Thomson's books, "Doesticks—What He Says," comprising most of his letters. This book had a very large sale. The next year came "Plu-ri-bus-tah," a burlesque on Longfellow's "Hiawatha"; a year after, the "History and Records of the Elephant Club," and lastly, "Nothing to Say: A Satire on Snobbery." When the slaves of Pierce Butler (the husband of Fanny Kemble) were to be sold, Thomson went to Savannah to report the affair. To have done so openly would have been impossible, so he passed as a casual visitor, and only glanced at the sale. With a few surreptitious notes, however, and a good memory, he set to work as soon as he got safely into the cars, and wrote up a graphic and very minute and accurate report. The Southerners were angry enough, and threatened dreadful things, and they remembered so well that when Thomsen went to Charleston as a correspondent, in 1861, it was deemed unsafe for him to venture beyond the Northern military lines. During the riots of July, 1863 [NOTE: the New York City Draft Riots], Mr. Thomson performed an act of bravery and manliness that did him much honor. Looking from his window in Seventeenth street he saw a poor old colored woman flying from a crown of Irish rioters. Rushing into the room of the writer of this notice, he seized a navy revolver, and without waiting for hat or coat hurried into the street, took the old woman's arm in his, and pointing the cocked pistol at her persecutors, kept them at bay until he had safely in the Station-house, three blocks away. About this time Mr. Thomson made extensive lecture tours, and delivered several Commencement poems. He still kept his liking for the theater, and wrote a burlesque on the "Lady of the Lake" for the Nelson sisters. It was produced at Niblo's, with indifferent success. He wrote, in 1864-5, sketches and biographies of a number of eminent artists. He also wrote "Doesticks" letters for the New-York Weekly. Mortimer Thomson was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of General VanCleve, a gentleman of note in the North-west. This wife left one child—a son, now living. The second wife was Grace Eldridge, daughter of "Fanny Fern," and niece of Nathaniel P. Willis. She has been dead several years, leaving one child only—a daughter. Mr. Thomson's last literary work was as an editor in Frank Leslie's establishment.
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