American Humorist ~ Benjamin Frankiln King JR

.

19th century American humorist Benjamin Franklin King led a short but interesting public life.

He died in 1894 while on tour in Bowling Green Kentucky. He was only in his 30s. We may have known more about him if his career had been longer. He was a child prodigy on piano, but his writing won him fame in his day.

Apparently, he was not very business savvy, which seems to be quite common among creative people. He went under the name of Ben King and sometimes the pseudonym of Bow Hackley.

Touring and performing live was the way humorist writers made a living back in the 19th century. They presented themselves in a speaking tour. A “one man show” of reciting their works. Even Mark Twain did such tours. They were the 19th century rock stars.

Before broadcast media, all we had was the written word. People actually READ to pass the time. Magazines were king. Illustrators ruled with pen and ink.

Here is an example of his work –

( like many writers at the time, they wrote in a way that was meant to be spoken )

I d-d-don’t c-c-c-are how the r-r-r-obin sings,
Er how the r-r-r-ooster f-f-flaps his wings,
Er whether ‘t sh-sh-shines, er whether ‘t pours,
Er how high up the eagle s-s-soars,
If I can b-b-b-be by her.

I don’t care if the p-p-p-people s-say,
‘At I’m weak-minded every-w-way,
An’ n-n-never had no cuh-common sense,
I’d c-c-c-cuh-climb the highest p-picket fence
If I could b-b-b-be by her.
If I can be by h-h-her, I’ll s-s-swim
The r-r-r-est of life thro’ th-th-thick an’ thin;
I’ll throw my overcoat away,
An’ s-s-s-stand out on the c-c-c-oldest day,
If I can b-b-b-be by her.

You s-s-see sh-sh-she weighs an awful pile,
B-b-b-but I d-d-d-don’t care–sh-she’s just my style,
An’ any f-f-fool could p-p-p-lainly see
She’d look well b-b-b-by the side of me,
If I could b-b-b-be by her.

I b-b-braced right up, and had the s-s-s-and
To ask ‘er f-f-f-father f-f-fer ‘er hand;
He said: “Wh-wh-what p-p-prospects have you
got?”
I said: “I gu-gu-guess I’ve got a lot,
If I can b-b-b-be by her.”

It’s all arranged f-f-fer Christmas Day,
Fer then we’re goin’ to r-r-r-run away,
An’ then s-s-some th-th-thing that cu-cu-couldn’t be
At all b-b-efore will then, you s-s-see,
B-b-b-because I’ll b-b-b-be by her.

Category: Tony Rollo Blog