Smyrna times., 1882-11-22
American CariCature.
THE VICTIMS SAID RATHER TO LIKE IT.
-SECRFTS OF THE TRADE.
HEADS IN STOCK.


HEADS IN STOCK.
Caricaturing is now more popular
than ever before in America, and the
probabilities are that the public will
continue to encourage it," remarked
well-known caricaturist, sententiously,
as he gently stroked his chin whiskers
and gazed at the toes of his boots.
YES; there are many good carica-
turists cow"
That has nothing on earth to do |
with it, he replied, calmly tapping the /.
toes of his boots together, and pursuing
up his mouth. He is a man whose
pencil has made him a large fortune in
this particular line, and he is, therefore
entitled to contradict freely. There
have always been men who were
capable of turning their hands to the
production of telling satires. but it is
only of recent years that the public
has shown a disposition to support
them. Many men remember how
barren and unattractive the old-schoOl
caricaturing was. The cartoons Of the
present day would have been absolutely
useless twenty years ago. Then the
most ambitious efforts were made to
look crude in the extreme. Two or
three clumsily-drawn figures were
placed without background or prOspec-
tive, and from the mouth Of each figure
was a scroll or loop, looking like an
elongated balloon. In each loop was a
long speech, usually taking the form
of political harangue. The names OF
the men the figures were intended 10
represent were printed under them
The plainest figures and the longest
speeches produced the best effects
Now it is all reversed, and the mos
artistic picture, without line of cap
ton, gains the most admiration"
What has led up to this 2
THE education of the people a
much as anything. 1t is only of recen
years that the public could be made t
think in this direction. By degrees tn
cartoons were improved and elaborate
until now, as 1 have said, we are at
higher point than ever before"
Are your caricatures the result Of
happy thought or an inspiratio
usually ?"
well" remarked the artist, with
grin that took all the romance out (
the subject at a swOOp, " there is abOl
as much inspiration about caricaturir
as there is about cleaning street
Success is achieved by persistent al
untiring study and genuine hard wOr
What you wish to know is how ol
. pictures are produced week after wee
: year after year, is it?
. That is it exactly"
Well, to begin with, it is necessa
TO read the daily papers very careful
and to keep thorOugly abreast of t
5 times. This is not to be done wi
< any idea of amusement, but as
i necessary course ofstudy. Then eve
{ morning the members of the s,aff
c the paper meet and discuss the advi
bility of drawing such and such
picture. Every illustration, you kno
must be accompanied by an editori
) Sometimes the editor cannot write
q cartoon suggested by an artist, q
h. often an artist cannot carry out
: ideas of an editor. In either case
If subject is abandoned and a new {
!. thought up. 1t is always difficult
get good ideas. Great care must
- taken not to come out too early wit
III political cartoon, for it takes the pul
at some time to grasp thoroughly an il
n and its presentation before it is wild
understood leads to confusion. NJ
worse, however, is the effect of
toOn that comes out too late. 1t
- fiat then, and the paper suffers palI
" ly. 1t is sometimes very difficult
Il avoid thing of this sort. We
G. caught in spite of ourselves once
e while, but often escape by mira
i. The best instance l ever heard of
re. in the great political contest at Chic
= in 1880, when the machine was
-. standing terror of the people. We
W. to press on Friday, and the pap
IN issued early Wednesday morning.
ere found that it was necessary to ha'
it! picture on the great Chicago sensat
for but couldn't tell what the poll
tbc situation would be by the time
of paper was issued FIVE or six days l.
and were nervous about it. At Ia
this is q State secret-we decide to
duce something that might be cOnst
either way. Late Friday l wen
work at q double page picture n
/. senting the machine as being b
to atoms with Grant and the
spinning in the air. We intende
say that the picture represented
wish of the people, but did not da
hope that the machine really won
up. Tuesday night, however,
great blast occurred, and we cam'
a few hours later with our pic
D which had been printing since Fr
-V We took big chances and won.
one success did a great deal for US
n we gained a great reputation for
phetic wisdom, nun of the OF
/ = BloSSd hl1Sd that forecast is the strongest kt
hs TsIi64 is5A picture
"Are the greatest successes
ma. Del. with political subjectsP"
8 ean Oe "well, it is a great field, but