The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-09-22
CaricaturiStS.

Caricaturists.
"Are ,caricaturists engaged on the
Illustrated journals on aregu.ar salaryp''
''SOme of the best known are engaged
regularly, but a number refuse to make
any binding contracts, preferring to
work on tho outside aud sell their ideas
and sketches, but there are objections to
doing this, inasmuch as unprincipled
-foremen- can and often do steal an idea
that has been offered for sale and re-
fused. OF course they will not hsve a
fac-simile of the picture offered, but the
ruling idea will prevail. and in Carl
cature, ideas are what makes them
popular. On this account the best
known men work regularly for one firm,
and it is the best way, as they have q
sure income, and can profit by the ideas
of the attaches of the journal. 1t is not
to be supposed that men ike Tom Mast
originate all their own pictures, for
..Pro Bono Publico' and Constant
Reader write as much to Harper's and
Le,lie as they do to the great dailies,
and often suggest an idea that, touched
up by an artists pencil, becomes a
famous caricature, and then the editors
and reporters often furnish good sub
ject.
'.Of course Mast gets all the credit.
and has thus become the acknowledged
caricaturist of this country. OF course
l do not wish to detract from his merit;
his work proves his ability"
"What is there about Mast that would
interest the publicp"
"Oh, the public knows all about him;
he has lectured and has been here so
long, he is saving of his monev. and is,
there ore, very rich. for his salary has
been for years $3.50 week, and he has
done outside work beside. He is the
highest-paid artist in the pro 'ession. He
has the knack of caricaturing public
men andpolitics, and is without an equal
in that lire"
"Wh at about Matt Morgan?''
''Matt Morgan is an elegant artist,
with vast fund of ideas on all conceiv-
able subjects. He is a better general
worker than Mast, but Tommie had
been here so long that he knew Just
what the people in thus country would
appreciate, while Morgan had to expert
here by Frank Leslie from England to
fight Mast, and he made gallant strug-
gle and has reputation cock ensi e
with the country. He has abandoned
caricaturing for the time being. and is
settled in Cincinnati. with great show
printing house, on a salary of $500
week the year round. He apparently
intends to stay there. rs he is building
a $40, 900 house on the hills. He is very
much devoted to his family, and ALWAYS
has kept them in elegant style. He is
very fond of his six children"
"Does Joe Keppler rank next?"
"Well, / do not know that wish to
state the rank in which these artists
stand. In the popular estimation KEEP
pier would com, next. He is very we'll
known here, as he was resident for a
long time, in fat. published two or
three papers, and was MARI ed to st.
Louis lady. 1t is popularity that he
made no money to speak OF in this citv.
He left here uni Ter engagement to Frank
/ eslie at a salary of 800 a week, and
after awhile started Puck: his partner,
Schwartmann, put up all the money.
1t was printed in German-a good idea,
as 1t is the only comic paper of ability
in that language. 1t was asuccess from
the start, and the demand Tor t necessi-
tated an English edition. 1t is making
money fast. and Keppler Will soon be
rich. He deserves it, as he has worked
hard and has great ability"
Who else is there famous in this
line?''
"Oh. there are great number; it
would be hard to talk about them all.
The leading artists of the great papers
are, of course, the best known, but
there are a number of men of ability
who are liable at any time to become as
we'll known rs those about whom we
have been talking. 1t is Just as in any
other profession. some men are always
being talked about, and others of equal
ability are not even mentioned. Some
are natura ly retiring, and their work
is distributed in SO many journals that
they have not attained that prominence
in the public mind that attaches itself
to the regular artists. in
st. Louis Post Dispatch.