The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-28
MAST, THE CARICATURIST.
Sketch of the Career of the Prince of
American Caricaturists.
Early Days in New York-Rambling Through
Europe-His Work in the War-Picture
of His New Jersey Home.
Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal


& Essex, the most important of the suburban
railroads leading out of New York, whirling
me up hill and down hill, around curves and
along straight levels, through the richest and
most beautiful portion of the State of New
Jersey, brought me to this ancient city. 1t
is one of the Oldest places in the State, and
boasts the best preserved and best authenti-
Gated "Washington's headquarters" in ex-
istence. The city boasts nearly five thou
sand inhabitants, and it nestles picturesquely
on the southeast slope of spur of the Blue
Ridge. 1t is a desperately conservative place.
In the center is a large park called still THE
Green" as it was a hundred years ago.
Around it are clustered all the business
houses of the city. Circling widely about
these, in the outskirts, are multitude of
palatial homes, superb churches, school and
other public buildings all which we'll sub
stantiate Morristown's claim of being the
home of greater wealth than any other city
of equal size in America.
Where two streets meet, in the border of
the city, find a handsome house, sur
rounded by spacious grounds-lawns, groves,
AnASo1 hOHCA S1AOCuos D1ANo oWdlm every
tree and shrub, and make the air vocal.
Three or four children are at play on the
verdant lawn, with couple of well-trained
dogs for playmates. Passing through
gateway in the rustic fence, I APP
proach the house. 1t is a modern-built
structure, three stories high, with French
roof. 1t is of wood, painted artistically in
do IL i
broad piazza, at one corner of which hangs
awell-worn hammock The front doors stand
ajar. They are massive doors, their upper
panels being adorned with life-sized bronze
nymphs, and their lower panels with life-sized
heads-one of a Roman matron, the other of
an Egyptian queen. The master is not at
home but am invited in, and l enter the
most remarkable art museum probably in
America. Furniture of costliest woods, in
laid in rare mosaics; china and glass from the
master workmen Of Japan and Bohemia and
Venice; bronzes, marble statues, armor,
tapestries, rugs, relics from Pompeii, books
printed before Columbus landed on Cat
Island, and parchments written in the days
of the first crusade, paintings, sketches
what shall 1 say?-everyt thing that art co1ld
design, taste crave or money purchase adorns
the rooms in rich profusion.
/ return to the piazza to watch for the
masters return. Soon the sharp ring of
horse-h on the macadamized road is
heard. There he comes, mounted on pow
erful gray horse, which he bestrides so we'll
as to look almost like centaur. He bounds
from the saddle and sends the horse trotting
stableward alone, springs up the steps, grasps
my hand, motions me to an easy seat in the
shade fiEgs himself into the hammock-and
am at last engaged in personal conversation
with the greatest cartoon and caricature art
list in the world-Thomas Mast.
Mr. Mast does not impress me at first sight
with being as small as he really is. He only
stands five feet four inches tall, but he is
powerfully built With large head and bold,
handsome features. His face is full, his nose
Roman, his chin massive. His mouth is ex-
quisitely moulded, but concealed by a heavy,
glossy, black moustache. He also wears a
black imperial" Years ago his raven hair
hung in heavy curls upon his neck,
but now it is cropped close. His dark,
olive skin is clear and smooth as
WOlhoh 1lio IootlcSSt DluCk eyes speak
volumes with every glance, but wear habit
ually shrewdly satirical expression. As he
lounges in his hammock, wearing velvet
jacket knee breeches and hunting boots, he
looks the incarnation of vigorous health,
buoyant spirits and genial good nature.
He was born, l am told, in his vivacious,
off-hand way, forty-three years ago, at that
much fought-over fortress town of Landau,
in Bavaria. People of every blood live
there, and a half-dozen different races have
mingled and blended in past generations of
the Mast family until its latest exponent is a
genuine cosmopolitan. At six years of age
he came to America-that is, his parents did
historic one-"poor but honest" The father
was musician, and obtained employment
blowing cornet in the elder Dodworth's
band. Young Tommy was designed to be a
matchmaker, but wouldn't. He wanted to
draw But his parents didn't want him to,
for they thought there was no money in it.
However, he managed to get six months in
struction at drawing school, and that is all
the teaching he ever had in his art Then he
was put to work in daguerreotype-t takers
gallery.
Fifteen years of age found him in the
sanctam of an illustrated paper seeking en-
ployment He got it on the strength of an
0tf-hand sketch of a Hoboken ferry-boat-
and it was l am told, that fact that led him,
years after, to cross the Hoboken ferry and
come out on the Morris & Essex railroad to
seek summer home. 1t was Frank Leslie
who first engaged him, at S. week, IN his
old office on Frankfort street, close by old
Tammany Hall, where now stands the New
York Suns building. All the artists here
were thorough Bohemians, and for
about four years Mast worked with
them in hap-hazard sort Of way, but
diligently. Indeed he came near
running his health by too close application
to his work and by giving himself too little
and felt himself underpaid, but he did the
best work he could while he was there.
Mast was only nineteen years old when
there was strike in the Office, and he was
among the strikers. He left for good, and
Joined the staff of the illustrated News. One
Of his first jobs was to go to Canada and
sketch the prize fight between Morrissey and