Description
B. P. SHILLABER HANDWRITTEN MRS PARTINGTON QUOTE SIGNED, "B. P. Shillaber", one page, ruled, 5.25 x 7.5, Chelsea, Mass., April 26th, 1879, probably done for a Mrs. Partington fan, by the American editor and humorist. In part: "We should never cease to forget," said Mrs Partington, looking earnestly at the strange...steam of her tea, "that we are all unaccountable creaturs, and should always avoid distension [?] and strife, doing nothing harmonious to our neighbors, & living so that when we die we shall have nothing to recal that our insincere will af." Ike made no reply but seriously helped himself to another quarter section of pie." Shillaber ends by closing this with "Which is respectfully submitted by B. P. Shillaber." Mounting remnants on reverse and some minor age toning, otherwise in fine condition.
Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber (1814-90) was an American printer, editor, and humorist. He often wrote, as he does in this manuscript, under the guise of his most famous, fictional, American character Mrs. Partington. He was also the editor of the, Boston based, Carpet-Bag, which earned a national reputation as one of America's first comic publications and even published a submission by 16-year old Samuel L. Clemens, later known by the name Mark Twain. Shillaber's character of Ike Partington, Mrs. Partington's nephew [also mentioned in this transcript] , may have influenced Twain's title character in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
$275 #11225
