Walt Mason

Born in Columbus, Ontario, on May 4, 1862, he became a Canadian-born American journalist, humorist, and writer. He was largely self-educated and moved to the United States in 1880, building his career in newspapers before finding a wide audience for his witty prose poems.

His best-known work grew out of newspaper writing in Kansas, especially at the Emporia Gazette, where his playful, conversational rhymes helped make him famous. Distributed by the George Matthew Adams newspaper service, his daily column appeared in more than 200 newspapers in the United States and Canada, and readers came to know him for a warm blend of satire, optimism, and homespun wisdom.

He published several books drawn from his newspaper verse and remained a popular literary voice in the early 20th century. He died on June 22, 1939, in La Jolla, California, but his light, readable style still gives a clear sense of the humor and rhythms of everyday American life.