The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-11-09
THOAIS MAST.

The artist Mast, Thomas Mast, has
presented rich portfolio OF political
cartoons. His genius thus far has
shown 8 versatility beyond all pre-
eedent. He is the Raphael Of carl
caturists, sld like Raphael he has at
tSined fame in earlier manhood.
Mast takes wide liberties with the
public men Of the day, but it is to he
observed that he never displays any
thing like = malicious pleasure In
showing up human infirmities. His
/ genuine good humOr Is proven by the
fact that he is as ready to make fun"
OF himself as OF others He has carl
eatured Mast as sharply As he has
csricatured any other man. Indeed,
the severity with which be portrays
his short, clumsy figure and Jewish
nose and ugly features, Is rather sur
prising, He might omit il, and thus
spare himself, but this Is not his char
acter. He will deal with all alike,
and make no personal exceptions.
Here he shows personal independ-
enee thst has no equal in the history
OF art HOgarth was the great carti-
eaturist of the previous century, but
II any one reflected on him, he was
mortally offended. Mast, however,
defies all his ensmies by taking great
er liberties with himself than any one
can invent.
HIS ANTECEDENFs.
Mr., Mast is by birth 3 BavarIan,
/ and Is now in his thirty-fifth year.
His parents came to America poor,
and struggled hard for q living. The
boy Thomas was ambitious, and, feel
/ ing the power Of in-dwelling genius,
began to make pictures. He saw the
rude and defective cuts in Frank
Leslie, and thought he might equal
them. Having made few sketches,
/ he took them o the Leslie establish
ment and they were accepted. Thus,
atthe age OF fifteen, he began, In 3
small way, to earn q living. He saw,
however, the defects in Leslie's meth
| cd. The latter had no conception Of
moral truth, or the grand purpose 10
which art might 5e applied. About
that time, the Hsrpers began their
illustrated weekly, which attracted
the boy artists notice. He saw
more elevated tone, and a more cor
rect appreciation OF the destiny Of ART.
he therefore offered q few sketches
which were accepted. One of these
was, ''Skating in the Central Park"
Many of the sketches were New
York editors (in face at least) each
bearing q ccmical expression. Ben
Eett had slipped aud lay fiOundering
on his beck, while Greeley was ready
TO fall. The signature "r. H. Nasth
was new, and all inquired who is this
gifted llmner Other sketches follow
ed and attracted attention, but
it was in defense OF National truth
that he won his present fame.
RESIDENCE.
The Harpers secured Mast BY Iiber-
al pay, and he was soon able 70 take
house at Harlem where the family
could live comfortably. Every few
days his short, dumpy figure, with !
portfolio under his arm, appeared at
Franklin square, with sketches ready |
for inspection. The editors saw that |
the youth was ahead of them In his |
perceptions, and they found their |
suggestions anticipated. Harpers in |
creased his salary, and he was led to |
understand that IL was for his inter-
est to decline all offers rendered by !
other parties. His pay continued TO |
increase, until salary of $500 q week /
was aT his command. He then \
moved to q rural spot in New Jersey
(MorristowD), where he established /
what may be called q permanent /
home. He is making money rapidly, |
but, like artists generally, spends IL /
in liberal manner. It is doubtful, 4
indeed, whether at present Bierstsdt |
or Church are doing as well, In q Pc
euniary point OF view, as the carics-
turist, Thomas Mast.
CHARAcFERIsrICs
The element Of ridIeule has always
been felt as power in literature, but
its introduction to art is comparative
ly speaking, OF modern date. Mr..
Mast, however is not content with 1
this alone. There Is o dignity OF
composition in some OF his groups,
which show that he might have ex-
eelled in his historical paintings, but
in all these he prefers to indulge his
peculiar conception Of the humorous.
He did more to destroy the infam-
Gus ring than any other power, and II
he could have been silenced by mon
ey, Tweed would soon have made
him rich. Mast imperiled his life by
his bold cartoons. He has received
great numbers Of threatening letters,
but they could not change his pur-
pose. A very peculiar feature In
Nast's genius is his inability to work
out, in successful manner, Lhe idea
OF others. Suggestions have been made
him, but he is not able to adopt them.
The ides must be his own conception.
He is under q continual inspiration,
and dashes off his bold sketches with
a rapidlty never previously known
in the record Of art. Mast IL . pro-
found student of Shakespeare, whose
seen es he has introduced in the most
felicitOus travesty. In order to assist
in his rapid work, he has obtained,
gradually, pictures OF all the leading
statesmen, editors lawyers and poll
tieisns in the United States. It Is
that this collection includes
five hundred names. He does not
allow these men to know how or
where these pictures are obtained
and occasionally some prominent
man may be astOnished to see him
self protrayed by Nast's genius in q
very pungent manner.
ENGRAVING.
The drawings are done in erayOn,
with bold, free hand, aud are at
once dispatched to franklin Square,
where Harper's wood engravers are !,
waiting for them. They are at once
to the blocks which are
afterward divided into sections, so
that four engravers can work on one
picture. This is the more easily done
since q number OF blocks are screwed
together for large drawing, and they
can easily be separated. Harpers' art .
and engrayers, who
lind steady employment aud are
paid by the week. The salaries range
from $50 to $50 per week, the latter {
being an unusual rate, but Mast be-
ing q grand exception, draws q quad
ruDla rate - Gin IOzeffe