The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-04-20
OUR OWN OARTo0NlsTs.
Inside Facts Concerning Their Lives Tom
Mast, Matt Morgan, Joe Keppler,
Tom Worth, Hopkins and
Many Others.

A reporter Of the St Louis PoSt-Dts-
patch recently had an interview with
Mr.. +. Jump, the caricaturist who, il
will be remembered, spent u number of
years in this city, and won considerable
praise for some of his work. The re-
porter said to Mr.. Jump:
''Are caricaturists engaged on the IL
Illustrated journals on II regular sala
ryp'
"Some of the best known" replied the
artist, ''are engaged regularly, but a
number refuse to make any bidding con-
tracts, preferring to work on the out
side, and sell their ideas and sketches.
But there are are objections to doing
this, inasmuch as unprincipled foremen
can, and often do, steal an idea that has
been offered for sale and refused. or
course they will not have fac simile OF
the picture offered, but the ruling idea
will prevail, and in caricature, ideas are
what make them popular. On this ac-
count the best known men work regu-
larly for one firm, and it is the best way,
as they have a sure income, and can
profit by the ideas of the attaches of the
journal. 1t is not to be supposed that
men like Tom Mast originate all their
own pictures, for Pro Bono Publico'
and Constant Reader write as much to
Harper's and Leslie's as they do to the
great dailies, and often suggest an idea
that, touched up by an artists pencil
becomes q famous caricaturc. And
then the editors and reporters often fur
nish good subject. OF course Mast
gets ali the credit, and has thus become
the acknowledged caricaturist OF this
country. do not wish to detract from
his merit; his work proves his ability. "
"What is there about Mast interesting
to the publicp'
ooh, the public knows all about him,
he has lectured, and has been here so
long. He is saving of his money, and is
therefore very rich, for his salary has
been for years $3.50 week, and he has
done outside work besides He is the
highest paid artist in the profession. He
has been on the winning side of politics
for years, and has really made the
Weekly what it is He has the knack of
caricaturing public men and politics,
and is without an equal in that line.'
.What about Matt MorganP"
"Matt Morgan is an elegant artist,
with a vast fund of ideas on all conceiv-
able subjects. He is better general
worker than Mast; but Tommy had been
here SO long that he knew just what the
people in this country would appreciate
while Morgan had TO experiment with
them. He was first brought here by
Frank Leslie from England, during the
Greeley campaign, to fight Mast and he
made a gallant struggle, and has made
q reputation co-extensive with the coun-
. try. He has abandoned caricaturing foI
the time being and is settled in Cincin
natl with a great show printing house,
on salary of 5000 a week the year
round. He apparently intends to stay
there, as he is building 1000 house
on the hill. He is very much devoted
to his family and always has kept them
in elegant style. He is very fond OF his
six children"
ssDoes Joe Kepplcr rank nextP"
.Well, do not know rs wish C.
state the rank in which these artists
stand. In the popular estimation KEEP.
nler would come next. He is very well
known here, as he was resident for o
long time; in fact. published two OF
three papers, and was married to st.
T,ouis lady. 1t is popularity that he
made no money to speak of in this city.
He left here under engagement to Frank
Leslie at salary of 500 week, and
after awhile started Puck; his partner.
Schwartzmann, put up all the money.
r. was printed in German, good idea.
as it is the only comic paper of ability
in that language.
s.Ballou Is probably the oldest carica
tnrist in New York. He has also q SOL
IN the business He has owned at diff
ferent times two or three comic papers
Punchinello was one, / believe. He has
never attached himself TO any one paper
hut has worked for all, and SO, with