The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-06
THE BAD BOYS PA.
George w. Peck in Denver-His
Opinion of Americas Leading
Humorlst. ..

George W. Peck, of the Milwaukee
San, is in Denver, accompanied by
his wife. and will put in week "see-
ing the sights" throughout Colorado.
Mir. i'eck is known far and wide
throughout the world as the father
of Tine Bad Boy The origin of
1.-The Bad Boy" was an accident.
Some time last summer his son one
cay told him that one of his chums
had played good joke on his father,
in sending u note to him signed
Daisy" requesting meeting. The
old man, who is something Of a
ma,her, accepted the invitation, and
stroIIed the streets half the night
looking for his "mash," The boy
told his mother, then there was a
high old time at home. Mr.. Peck
thought over the occurrence and
finally wrote it up. with considerable
Imagination and thus gave birth to
what has since Lec0me national
character. For many years he has
been IL journalism, in fact with the
exception OF the time spent in fight
ing for his country, he has never done
anything else, for he is graduate
from "the case. ;" When Brick Pome-
roy was in New York Mr.. Peck
worked for him, and as one of his
editorial writers made for himself a
reputation as humo1ist that has al
ways remained. He might almost
be called the father of pa agra PHI
ing,' as for three years he daity con-
tributed column of that cla,s Of
work 10 the Democrat From New
York he went to La Crosse, Wi>con-
sin, where he had charge of P"me-
roy's paper there. He then, in 1874,
established the S.m at La Cross,
which he tinailv moved to Milwa'l-
kee in 1878. His reputation as hu-
morist may be said to have been 10
cal until within the past three years.
A Tribune reporter interviewed
Mr.. Peck regarding humor and hu-
mOrists, and the result is given be-
low.
"This is something l know very
little about, as those [ have met l
have seen very little off, said Mr..
Peck, "My acquaintance with the
humnrists has been very small. l
have never met Samuel NJ. Clemens
Mark Twain,) ami | suppose he is
the greatest American humorlst.
although the fact that he is unhealthy
now seems to me to delract some
what from his later writing. When
the business was new to him. ana he
wrote fun for a livelihood. he saw
the lndicrOuS side OF everything.
Funny ideas came to him unsCught;
now that he is wealthy he has to
search for funny things to write
about; in ether words. when a man
makes all he wants he loses his ain
bition."
"Whom do you consider to be the
best newspaper humOrist:"
II have considered Bob Burdette
the hest, but during the last year or
two he has been in the lecture field
and bas not written so much, because
he has been constantly tired out,
riding from one State to another on
freight traits to meet engagements.
Every thing that Burdette writes Is
good and nothing bad.'
"How do you like Lewis NJ. Qua;d)
Of the Detroit Free Ps'ess::'
"Lewis is probably the most pro-
life writer Of all the humorists, and
holds out remarkably we'll consider
ing the amount of work he does. For
tue last year he has been travelling a
good deal in the south, writing let
terS of au historic nature about the
war, which have no pretentions to
be funny, although lie works ina
good many quaint jokes. He has
made good deal of money, and
seems to like it real well.'
"How does Bill Nye's style suit
you?'
II like Bill Nye's writing as well !
IS any huInorist's in the country. He
las u way OF putting things that no
one can initiate, and which pieases
readers very much. lie is at the !
present time in the position OF !
,he boy who bit Oft more !
plug tobacco than he could chew; he !
ouldn't swallow it or spit it out, and |
t made him sick. He tried to edit a !
Daper, run IL postotfice and a pollti-
al campaign all at once, which is
enough to Kill any White man. He /
las been on the sick list for the last !
Eight months, and he says himself !
hat he is like the hoy who was kicked !
u the face by mule, whose heels |
ne had b en tickling, who asked his
ather if he thought he would be as
pretty as he was before, and the old
nan said he didn't think he. would,
)ut he would know d-siyht more.
Bill Nye is u victim of over work ,and
Ie knows ii, and says if he gets over
his spell he will never tackle the
mule by trying to co four mems
work again, and [ think his writ
ngs hereafter will he better than
,ver, Because he will confine him
elf to Writing and let politics rua
"How about Bailey, of the Dam
Jury Ners?'
II have seen nothing of his writ
ngs in the past eight years. he did
great deal of good writing the first
ear or two, but it was evident to his
riends that he struck pocket mine
nd got all the pay ore out and re-
ired. He is said to be a very nice
but was not brought upte
he newspaper business, and was ;
Tot as liable to hold out as those who
lad been educated to tie profess
ion."
"Who is the party who writes the
lovelties in the Chicago Tribune,
: no works in the horse reporter so
nucli?"
That is Henry Ten Eyck White,
son of George julius White, Of Chi
ago. He is tine sporting editor of
he Tribune, and is probably one of
ne hest posted men Oh holse matters
n the Uni ed States. A couple Of
ears ago, when he had a little leis-
re time on his hands, he prepared a
alf column OF "Lak-side Musings"
Il which be worked in one Of these
some poetry, etc. The
id Presby;erians who own and edit
he tribune were paralyzed when
hey saw humorous article in that
,aper, and had serious thoughts of
pologjZng to their readers
Or it and reprlmanding the
'oupg man; but the arti-
IL attracted so much attention and
we're quoted SO widely that MIR
" hi;e was requested to keep them
ID, which he has done since with
he exception of a few months after
ad bereavement in his family.
These articles are abaut rs popular
s anything of a humorous nature
IL, II, t