The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-03-01
OUR OWN OARTOONISTS.
Inside Facts Concerning Their Lives Tom
Mast, Matt Morgan, Joe Keppler,
Tom Worth, Hopkins and
Many Others.


'.Are earicaturists engaged on the il.
lustrated journals on regular sala-
ry?''
''Some of the best known" replied the
artist, ''are engaged regularly, but q
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. Oh
course they will not have fac simile OF
the picture offered, but the ruling idea
viii 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 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 theil
own pictures, for Pro Bono Publico'
and Constant Reader write as much t.
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 a famous caricaturc. And
then the editors and reporters often fur
nish good subject. OF course Mast
gets all 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" F."
"What is there about Mast interesting
to the public?"
''Oh, the public knows all about him,
he has lectured, and has been here SC
long. He is saving of his money, and is
therefore very rich, for his salary has
been for years $3.50 a 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 Morgan?'
"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 gallant struggle, and has made
a reputation co-extensive with the coun-
try. He has abandoned caricaturingf foi
the time being and is settled in Cinein-
matt with a great show printing house,
on salary of 5000 a week the yea1
round He arr,e,::Ger'tls pore intends la r. N+ss
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
'Does Joe Keppler rank nextp''
''Well, do not know as | wish t..
state the rank in which these artists
stand. In the popular estimation Kep.
pier would come next. He is very well
known here, as he was resident for a
long time; in fact, published two Oh
three papers, and was married to St.
Louis lady. 1t is a peculiarly that he
made no money to speak of in this city.
He left here under engagement to Frank
Leslie at a salary of S1O0 a week, and
after awhile started Puck; his partner,
Schwartzmann, put up all the money.
1t was printed in German, good idea,
as it is the only comic paper of ability
in that language.
''Ballou is probably the eldest carica-
turist in New York. He has also a son
III 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
but has worked for all, and so, with
Harry Stevens, who is also an old-timer
is well known. And then there is Wales
and Tom Worth, of the Judge. They
have been known for many years.
Worth makes speciality (or used toy of
horses and sports. Most of those carl
catures of trotting horses and Jockeys
which hang around town owe their or
igiI to his pencil. Berjhaus, now with
Puck, is very good ON mammalia. As
q rule, artists have specially. For in
stance used to make a specially of
faces, and was frequently assigned to
Washington to take Senators and other
public men who had an objection to
having their photographs taken. IN my
meanderings this way | have met most
of the artists OF this country. By the
way, Hopkins is as funny as writer as
an artist. He used to be on W1id oats
and the Graphic. He is the only one
l can recall who is good in both branch
es."
What is the ordinary salary of a car
icaturist?'
''Oh, 1T varies; there are some who re-
ceive $50 week, and others S75, and
SlO0, and so on. 1t depends altogether
on the man himself -
'.How are these pictures drawn by tho
artists?"
MOSTLY on Bristol board, with pen
and ink. They are then photographed
down to the size that they are to be
printed in. They are mostly lithograph-
ed, although Harper's pictures are
woodcuts. The New York Graphic is
printed. The original way was taken
from the Canadian Illustrated NeUs and
was called Leggotype, after the inven-
tor. That was the scraped glass pro-
cess. But now time is the great disid-
eratum, and fatty ink is used, which
IS printed on the stone, which eats the
stone and leaves the picture in relief
This is done very quickly. 1t would
be difficult to print the Graphic other
wise"
"Are you engaged in newspaper work
now?''
mo; | am employed now by great
publishing houses, on theatrical and
display work and ON caricatures for sa-
looms and other places of public resort.
By the way, this was first introduced
during the war, when Mast, in New
York, made number of drawings on
paper for the benefit of the Union Relief
Committee. These pictures were sold
at auction and brought enormous prices
on account of the cause But the pur-
chasers really had no use for them, end
they were bought at very low price by
Jerry Thomas, who kept public house
near the Fifth avenue Hotel This made
his house famous and the idea spread to
the other cities, until now it is an espe-
cial feature with many saloons