Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-17
PROFESSIONAL HUMORISTS.
Pen Pictures of Men Well Known.

New York Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
George Peck. the father of the bad boy" was
here few days ago. In the past few years
Peek has become one of the most successful of
professional humorists. His income is said to be
nearly so, 900 year. In 1871 he was reporter
on the New York Herald. several hundred dol
lars worse off than when he was dead broke"
He left New York with resolve ''never to come
back until had accumulated S13" Peck origi-
mated and grew up in Wisconsin. With Brick
Pomeroy he went to New York to start demo-
cratic paper. He was fortunate. losing but
81 ,G00-all he had, however. After reporting
on the Herald for a short time he returned to
Wisconsin. and, locating at La Crosse, started
Pecbs .Sua. which has brought rays of bright
ness to many households on dark and gloomy
days. Five years ago he removed to Milwaukee,
and there he has met with continued success. A
friend to him told me- a few DAYS ago. that he
owned the whole town. That's perfectly natu-
raj. It's a way We editors have. The Stut con-
sStS mostly of real. and sparkless wit and
humor. Peek does nearly all the editorial work
himself His expenses are light and his profits
large. The humorist is about 20 years Of are.
heavy set, and wears an immense Imperial. He
las fitted up an elegant office and has beaIlti-
fu home. He is very popular and especially so
with the ragged newsboys Not long ago he
gave several hundred Of them a banquet and
they in turn presented hiln with pair of diamond
cuff buttons.
Bill Sye. ANOTHER western hunsrist. and the
funny man OF the Rocky mountains, is bald
, headed. and the top Of his head shines like a
shirt bosom in the hands of Chinaman. He is
married He is tall man. with full brown
beard and brown eyes. and has the general APP
pearancc of prosperous country merchant
He is quiet in his ways and to look at him one
would not think that he could cause his fellow
| beings to laugh. But appearances are decep-
tive. There's Henry Nattcrson. People say he
looks just like the individual who is supposed
to run things in an eXcessiyey warm climate
But he isn't such person. notwithstanding he
lives in Kentucky, and raises-the democrats
sometimes. Nye was a Justice of the peace in
Wyoming. He wrote a number of letters to the
Denver Tribune. They contained considerable
exaggerated humOr and gave him some local
notoriety. A few years ago he started the
boomerang. and has succeeded in making about
$1,000 profits. He has long wanted to estab-
lish funny paper in Minnesota, and his friends
say he will soon locate near st. Paul.
The editor Of Puck. Joseph keppler. an Aus
trian with dark hair and eyes and modest and cor
dial in manner. formerly lived in st. Joe and St
Louis. Mo. He was born in Vienna about ~
years ago While in his teens he became an
actor. and played in Austria, Italy and Switzcr-
land. When lie was ~ years of age he came to
America and went to Missouri to join his father
who was seeking to make fortune. The latter
desired the sOn'tO become physician, and sent
him to st. Louis to study medicine. But the
young man took to the stage and aspired to be-
come a manager. Fortunately, no one was ever
killed by him as doctor, or compelled to be
tortured by looking at him as an actor. His
aspirations to be stage manager resulted in
bankruptcy in a very few weeks. If that kind of
lightning would just strike two or three hun
dred alleged stage managers that are now loose,
But lightning never strikes twice in the same
place. keppler, after his bankruptcy. began
drawing humorous pictures. Seven years a-o.
with his partner. Schwartzmann, he was en-
plOyed by Frank Leslie at S35 a week. The
two saved and borrowed 81 800 and started
Puck. Leslie prophesied that the enterprise
would fail. But it didn't, and in three weeks
the paper was on selt-sustaning basis Within
year 1t had circulation of 10000. and now.
understand 100000 copies are issued weekly
Both kcpp!er and SchwartZmann are enjoying
an income OF 500, 900 year.