The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03
PROFESSIONAL HUM0RISTS.
Sketches of Geo. w. Peck, Bill Nye,
Keppler, and Field.
Also, Interview with Senator Plumb,
Who Is Not Set Down Humor-
list, but Ugly Man.
Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal


humorists. His income is said to be nearly
sos, 900 a year. In 1871 ne was a reporter on
the New York Herald, several hundred
dollars worse off than when he was dead
broke" He left New York with a resolve
never to come back until l had accumu-
lated $13." Peck originated and grew up in
Wisconsin With Brick" Pomeroy he went
to New York to start a Democratic paper.
He was fortunate, losing but 81, O00-all that
he had, however After reporting on the
Herald for short time he returned to Wis
consin, and, locating at La Crosse, started
Peck's Sun, which has brought rays OF
brightness to many households on dark and
gloomy days. Five years ago he removed to
Milwaukee, and there he has met with con-
tinuous success. A friend to him told me, a
few days ago, that he owned the whole town.
That's perfectly natural. It's a way we ed
itors have. The Sun 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 forty years of age,
heavy-set, and wears an immense imperial.
beautiful home. He is very popular, and
especially SO with the ragged newsboys. Not
long ago ne gave several hundred OF them a
banquet, and they in turn presented him
with pair Of diamond cuff-buttons.
Bill Nye, another Western humorist, and
the funny man OF the Rocky Mountains is
baid-headed, and the top Of his head shines
like shirt bocOu, in, tho hands Of n China
man. He is married. He is a tall man, with
full brown beard and brown eyes, and has
the general appearance of prosperous cOun-
try merchant He is quiet in his ways and
TO look at him, one would not think
that he could cause his fellow be-
ings to laugh. But appearances
are deceptive. There's Henri Watterson.
People say he looks just like the individual
who is supposed to run things in an excess
sively warm climate. But he isn't such Il
person, notwithstanding he lives in Ken
lucky, and raises--the Democrats sometimes
Nye was justice of the peace in Wyoming
He wrote a number of letters to the Denver
Tribune. They contained considerable ex-
aggerated humor and gave him some local
notoriety. few years ago he started the
Boomerang and has succeeded in making
about $4,000 profits. He has long wanted
to establish funny paper in Minnesota, and
his friends say he will soon locate near ST.
Paul.
The editor of Puck, Joseph Keppler, an
Austrian with dark HAIR and eyes and
modest and cordial in manuer formerly
lived in st. Joe, and st. Louis, Mo. He was
born in Vienna about forty-seven years ago.
While in his teens he became an actor, and
played in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
When he was twenty-four 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 10 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 bankruutcv
IN a very few weeks. II that kind of light
ming would just strike two or three hundred
alleged stage managers that are now loosel
But lightning never strikes twice in the
same place. Keppler after his bankruptcy,
began drawing humorous pictures Seven
III,
he was employed by Frank Leslie at $35
week. The two saved and borrowed 81 500
and started Puck. Leslie prophesied that
the enterprise would fail. But it didn't.
and in three weeks the paper was on self
sustaining basis Within a year it had cir
culation OF 20,O00 and now, l understand,
100000 copies are issued weekly. Both Kep-
pier and Sch wartZman are enjoying an in
come OF $50. 900 year.
1 first first saw Gene Field in Kansas City
about three years ago. The time was a sum
mer night. Field was in a small-sized
a sleeping-car berth, writing paragrap hs for
Kansas City paper. On the closed door
outside was big yellow piece of pasteboard
containing, in enormous black letters, the
word smallpox" He was sitting in his un-
derclothes, with his feet perched on a three
legged table, the fourth leg having been
broken from the weight above it. In adion-
ing rooms were the remainder of the editorial
force, in costume similar to the then manag-
ing editor. Western Editors are not much
on style, Field is an average-sized man,
with smooth face and blue eyes. What hair
he has on his head is decidedly light colored.
He wears a business suit, which, while not
light, is not dark. He is thirty-three years
old, is married, and has four children. At
present he is living in Chicago, being para
graphst on the Daily News
ST. Louis people were the first to know
of his entrance to the world. His parents
were wealthy and provided him with CON
siderable money in his younger days. For
time he lived in New England, but re-
turned to Missouri and attended the State
University There he was exceedingly
popular. and his apartments were the
rendezvous for college boys, who have
an inclination to enjoy themselves while ut
university. Before he left college he visited
Europe. His first newspaper work was on
the old St Louis Journal, where he began as
reporter at $40 a week. Then he went to ST.
Jo, and remained year and a half becom-
ing city editor of paper in that place Al
terward he returned to 81. Louis, and later
became managing editor of the Kansas City
Times. Two years ago he accepted a similar
position on the Denver Tribune, continuing