But his dreams were not destined to be fulfilled.
Thus, at the outset of a career from which much was to be expected, a man, possessed of rare and original qualities of head and heart, sank out of the sphere in which at that time he was the most prominent figure.

There was then no Mark Twain or Bret Harte.

His rivals were such humorists as Orpheus C.Kerr, Nasby, Asa Hartz, The Fat Contributor, John Happy, Mrs.Partington, Bill Arp and the like, who are now mostly forgotten.
Artemus Ward wrote little, but he made good and left his mark.

Along with the queer John Phoenix his writings survived the deluge that followed them.

He poured out the wine of life in a limpid stream.