he returned to england and briefly worked in his father's business, but his interests lay in writing, and he began to write stories and poetry. he began to publish pieces in "fun" in 1874, succeeding editor tom hood and making friendships with fellow contributors w. s. gilbert and ambrose bierce. he also contributed early to the "weekly dispatch". in 1876, sims penned a satiric open letter "to a fashionable tragedian", humorously accusing actor-producer henry irving of inciting mass murder by emphasising the gore in his shakespeare plays and of paying bribes to critics. irving sued sims and his editor harry sampson for libel, but after an apology he withdrew the legal action.