River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-07-12
Nast's Early EndeayOr.
an interview with Frank Leslie.

From interview with Frank Leslie
/ remember as well as if it were only
yesterday the first time Mast called ON me.
Twas one afternoon, and | was just
closing my Office door, when little fell
low came straight Up to me, and said
boldly and plainly:
81 want TO draw for you, Mr.. Les
lie
Il looked down at the speaker with
some interest. He was small understood
lad, below rather than over five feet, and
from being accustomed to look up to the
people, suppose, carried his head well
back on his shoulders. Neck, he didn't
appear to have any of, his arms seemed
shortened almost to disproportion, and
his body was of the build one calls stugsy
His face was the most remarkable thing
about him, next to his enchanting SET
confidence. 1t was Enthusiastically of tie
Jewish persuasion. The nose alone prov,
ed that, but the eyes lips and ears fol-
lowed suit, while over the whole counte-
nance, there was a pervading expression,
Undesirable, but remarkably Hebraic.
afterward learned that his father was a
Bavarian, and played in the orchestra of
Wallack's, while young Mast attended to
keep an old odds-and-ends museum op-
posite the theatre. i was so much struck
by his appearance that | forgot to
answer him, when ne up and spoke
again.
81 want to draw for you, Mr.. Les
lie.'
90 Indeed, my little man, said /. Want
to draw for me, ehf
eyes, Mr.. Leslie he said, and l
have brought you these to show what
can do
With that he opened a small portfolio
and handed me some sketches. They
were crude, and not particularly promis-
ing sketches of the statues and curios of
the museum, mostly. | do not claim to
have seen the first glimmering of genius
that discoveries as rule talk about; and
to tell you the truth, was somewhat dis
appointed, having expected something
marked from the queer, plain-spoken
lad.
"'Ah, my little man. I said, these are
all very well, but you have great deal
to learn before you can draw for me.
Then, as a means of getting rid of nina
means l had often employed before-I
said: Now look here, my little man,
Just to show me what you can do, go
down to the Fulton ferry, and make me a
sketch of the boats coming in. There
are always a lot of people who will persist
in jumping off before the boat touches the
wharf, and / want to show as graphically
as can, how stupid and dangerous the
practice is
80 Very well, Mr.. Leslie. | will do ii,
said Mast, and off he went, Igoing to my
dinner.
'Well, thought had seen the last of
him, but to my surprise the next morning
brought the little fellow back.
{" Here is the sketch, Mr. Leslie, he
said.
Il took it, glanced over it, and saw
that although his studies from still life
were full of faults, his drawing of action
had its good points. Besides, the young
ster's activity and enterprise impressed
me, so / said:
"Well come around here when YOU leave
your present place, and I'll see what we
can do for you.' Early on the next morn
ing he was in Pearl street, and so as to
give him something to do, put him in
the artists, room to take the drawings
to the engravers, sharpen the pencils, and
so on. He was the busiest, most active
little fellow l ever saw, always doing
something, never idle.
.'Sol Eytinge took great fancy to him
and young Mast was forever hanging
around Eytinge's table. OF course did
not venture to let him do much on paper,
but still was in hopes of one day seeing
him prominent member of the family.
Then Eytinge seeded, went over to Har-
per's, and Mast went with him. Mast is
great artist, of course, and paid well
now, suppose, since he receives so much
the drawing. Mast, however, labors under
the same difficulty that the music pupil
with too good an ear does. He had so
much natural talent that he could never
school himself TO the proper appreciation
of detail. To this day, n fact, Mast can
not draw hand"