The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-07-13
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1Nast's Early EndeayOr.,

81 --- - aa Z
- .Nast's Early Endeayor.f i; u.
From an interview with Frank Leslie,gf ff Ay
I remember as we'll as if it were only
Yesterday the first time Mast called on me-
Twas one afternoon, and I was just
closing my Office door, when little fell
low came straight up to ME, and said
boldly and plainly: Il A-f.1
ie.' f,qrf,r,tsfrFI ~ n
"Ilooked 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, I suppose, carried his head we'll
back on his shoulders. ~ Meek, he didn't
appear to have any of, his arms seemed
shortened almost to disproportion, and
his body was of the build one calls stuggy.
His face, was the most remarkable thing
about him, next to his enchanting self
confidence. It was Enthusiastically Of the
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,
understandable, but remarkably Hebraic. I
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 K n forgot to
answer him, when he up and spoke
again. .o~.t cry - !,
".' want to draw for you, Nj. Les
lie..' n*{'at2NJ -
wIndeed, my little man, said I. ssWant
gsHa.Yes,: Mr.. LESLIE he said, and I
have brought you these to show what I
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. lido not claim to
have seen the first glimmering of genius
that discoverers as a rule talk; about and
to tell you the truth, Twas somewhat, dis
appointed, having expected something
lad + y7T& -2I Il - :
"sAh, my little man, Il said, g these are
allvery well, but you have a great deal
to learn before you can draw for me-
Then, as means Of getting rid of him-a
means 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 lot of people who will persist
in jumping off before the boat touches the
wharf, and want to show as graphically
as Lean, how stupid and dangerous the
practice is rig
''!'Very we'll, Mr.. Leslie, will do it.,
said Mast, and off he went, Igoing to my
EsWell, I thought had seen the4last of
him, but to my surprise the next morning
brought the little fellow back. - :.
said. >, t'''''12s7' . -,
II took it, glanced over it, and saw Sr !
that although his studies from. still Life
were full of faults, his drawing of action
had its good points. Besides, the young7.
ster's activity and enterprise impressed
me, so said: a Il. /
swell come around here whetl YOU leave
your present place, and Illsee what WE
can do for YOU Early on the next morn ]
ing,he was in Pearl street, and so, las to-
glye'hlm something to do, I''pttts HIM in,
the artists, room to take the drawinnts !
to the engravers sharpen TIL, pencils e a and
so on. He was the busiest, most, active
little fellow I ever saw, always doing.
something, never idle. a, "a
HnSol Eytinge took a great fancy to himl
and young Mast was forever hanging
around Eytinge's table. OF course 1 did
notyenture to let him do muchon paper
butsstill was in hopes of e'day SEEING
hima prominent member of the. family.
Then Eytinge seeded, went aotte4, to Hair-;:
per's, and Mast went with ,Tlifi1. Mast Isl
a great artist, of course, and paid veil
now, 1 suppose, since he receives so much
the drawing: Mast, however, laborsupdeer'
the same difficulty that the. music pupil.
with too good an ear does.r@H He had - So
much natural talent that lie could never
school himself to the proper appreciation
OF detail. To this day, in fact, Mast can
not draw hand" sSE.}3M II
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