Mister Ron's Basement #441

Thu, Jul 27 2006

Mister Ron's Basement #441

Seba Smith is almost totally forgotten today, but he was America's first important political satirist, whose work was immensely popular for decades during and well after the author's life.

His character Jack Downing was the progenitor of the 'Shrewd Yankee' that has become a mainstay in American fiction.

From 1830 (reprinted in an 1859 collection), Jack gets a letter from his mother -- 'Mrs. Downing Urges Her Son to Come Home.'

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Seba Smith Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/SebaSmith.html