Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-11-21
PROFESSIONAL HUMORISTS.

NY. Correspondence OF the 1n0lanapollSJ ouTNtiI
George Peck, the father Of the ''bad boy"
was here few days ago. In the past few
years Peck has become one of the most sue
cessful of professional humorists. His in
come is said to be nearly S25, 900 year. In
1871 he was reporter on the New York
Herald, several hundred dollars worse OFT
than when he was dead broke He left
| New York with resolve "never TO come
! back until had accumulated $l3.' Peck
originated and grew up III Wisconsin. With
Brick" Pomeroy he went to New York TO
start a democratic paper. lie was fortunate
| losing but 81, ,000-all he had, however. Al
ter reporting on the Herald for short time
he returned to Wisconsin, locating at La
Crosse, started Peck'S .S"n, which has
| brought rays of brightness to many house
| holds on dark and gloomy days. Fiyeyears
ago he removed to Milwaukee, and there
he has met with continued success. friend
| to him told me, few days ago. that he own
ed the whole town. That's perfectly natural.
| lisa way we editors have. The SNr consists
mostly Of real and sparkless, wit and humor.
Peck does nearly all the editorial work
| himself His expenses are light and his
! profits large The humorist is about 10
years Of age, heavy set, and wears an i'm
mensc imperial. He has fitted up an elc-
giant office and has beautiful home. lie
is very popular, and especially so with the
ragged uewsboys. Not long ago be gave
several hundred Of them Il banquet, and
thev in turn presented him with Il pair of
diamond cuil:buttons.
Bill Nye, another western humorist, and
the funny man of the Rocky mountains, is
ald-headed, and the top Of his head shines
like a shirt bosom in the hands OF q China
man. He is married. He is a tall man,
with full brown beard and brown eyes, and
has the general appearance OF prosperous
country merchant. He is quiet in his ways
and 10 look at him one would not think
that he could cause his fellow beings to
laugh. But appearances are deceptive
There's Henry Wattcrson. People say he
looks lust like the individual who is sup
posed to run things in an excessively warm
climate. But he isn't such n person. not
withstanding he lives III Kentucky, and
raises-the democrats sometimes. Nyo WAS
Justice OF the peace in Wyoming. He
wrote number Of letters TO the Denver
Tribune. They contained considerable ex-
aggerated humor and gave him some local
notoriety. i few years ago he started tho
Boomerang, and has succeeded in making
about 900 profits. He las long wanted
to establish funny paper in Minnesota,
and his friends say lie will soon locate near
St. Paul.
The editor Of Push, Joseph Kcppler, al
Austrian with dark hair and eyes aud mod
| est aud cordial in manner, formerly lived in
st. Joe and ST. Louis Mo. He was born in
Vienna about Il years ago. While in his
teens he became an actor, and played in
Austria, Italy and Switzerland. When he
| was n years Of age he came to America and
went to Missouri to join his father. VINO was
seeking to make fortune. The latter de-
sired the son to become physician, aud
| sent him to St. Louis to study medicine.
| But.the young man took to the stage and
aspired to become manager. Fortunately
no one was ever killed by him as a doctor,
| or compelled to be tortured by looking at
| him as an actor. His aspirations to be stage
| manager resulted in bankruptcy in very
| few weeks. Ifthat kind of lightning would
| lust strike two or three hundred alleged
stage managers that are now loose But
| lightning never strikes twice in the same
place Keppler after his bankruptcy, be-
gan drawing humorous pictures. Seven
wears ago, with his partner, SchwartZmann,
| he was employed by Frank Leslie at $50
o 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 self-sus-
tanning basis. Within year it had cir
culaton of 10000 and now, understand
100000 copies are issued weekly. Both Keep
pier and Schwartzmann are enjoying an in
come of $50, 900 q year.