George William Bagby
Encyclopedia
George William Bagby was an American humorist.
, where he studied medicine. Afterwards, he became engaged in editorial work, especially on the Southern Literary Messenger
, from 1859 to near the close of the American Civil War
. Subsequently, he was made State librarian and became widely known as a lecturer and humorist, writing under the name "Mozis Addums." He having kept alive the old school of Southern humor, founded by Augustus Baldwin Longstreet
and Johnson J. Hooper
. An example of this humor, which contained local dialect, phonetic spelling and an eccentric character, is Rubenstein’s Piano-Playin. It is a short narrative of a surly, less-than-sophisticated soul, who describes how he was deeply moved by a piano concert. His works were collected in three volumes (Richmond, 1884-86).
Bagby is less known for his work as a journalist. As the Richmond correspondent of the Charleston Mercury during the Civil War, Bagby covered the politics of the war and made a reputation for Hermes, his pen name, as a fearless writer who would criticize Confederate General Robert E. Lee as easily as Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Bagby's most popular essay was "The Old Virginia Gentleman" (1877), a paean to antebellum plantation life in Virginia
.
Biography
Babgy was born in Buckingham County, Virginia to George Bagby and Virginia Evans. He attended Delaware College and the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he studied medicine. Afterwards, he became engaged in editorial work, especially on the Southern Literary Messenger
Southern Literary Messenger
The Southern Literary Messenger was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. Each issue carried a subtitle of "Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts" or some variation and included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, reviews, and historical notes...
, from 1859 to near the close of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Subsequently, he was made State librarian and became widely known as a lecturer and humorist, writing under the name "Mozis Addums." He having kept alive the old school of Southern humor, founded by Augustus Baldwin Longstreet
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet was an American lawyer, minster, educator, and humorist, known for his book Georgia Scenes.-Biography:...
and Johnson J. Hooper
Johnson J. Hooper
Johnson Jones Hooper was an American humorist, born in Wilmington, North Carolina. He moved to Dadeville, Alabama where he edited a newspaper and practiced law...
. An example of this humor, which contained local dialect, phonetic spelling and an eccentric character, is Rubenstein’s Piano-Playin. It is a short narrative of a surly, less-than-sophisticated soul, who describes how he was deeply moved by a piano concert. His works were collected in three volumes (Richmond, 1884-86).
Bagby is less known for his work as a journalist. As the Richmond correspondent of the Charleston Mercury during the Civil War, Bagby covered the politics of the war and made a reputation for Hermes, his pen name, as a fearless writer who would criticize Confederate General Robert E. Lee as easily as Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Bagby's most popular essay was "The Old Virginia Gentleman" (1877), a paean to antebellum plantation life in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
External links
- Canal Reminiscences: Recollections of Travel in the Old Days on the James River & Kanawha Canal. Richmond: West, Johnston & Co., 1879.
- Rubenstein's Piano-Playing – read an example of the old school of Southern humor.
- George William Bagby in Encyclopedia Virginia