The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-31
Jones Comes Out.

Jones Comes Out.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JONES, the wooden
Indian sign Of the Republican National Com
mittee. Ii q unique sort Of person after all.
He fails to realize himself He Was made
Chairman with the understanding that he
was to do the ornamental part OF the busi-
ness and leave to heads OF bigger circum.
ference the fine work OF the campaign. But
JONES had ambitions. JONES was not con-
tent to take O back scat while STEVE ELKISs
went on with tho performance. 1t was not
enough for JONES TO sit In the Republican
headquarters. like BuMPpo ON a log. looking
Observation-Disclosures and impressing country callers
with his financial and mental magnitude.
The mere process OF signing his rotund
name To the chaste productions OF the type
writer wasn't work enough to keep the pom
derous mental machinery OF JONES going full
time. void, mighty and yawning. like the
void In his committees treasury, became for
the first time revealed u JONES as existing
in his mind. He wanted something. He
craved the fame Of variegating the duh and
jaund;ccd hue OF political routine with q
bright red streak. Then it was that JONES
thought. Let the tenderness due to first per-
formances veil the process; but JONES
thought. Time went and the able ELKINs-
JONES circulars begging for subscriptions
went unanswered. and still JONES sat and
brooded.
Aud out OF the smoky Pittsburgh air OF
cOgitation came at length an idea. solid az
pig iron. Really JONES had an idea. He
was naturally elated and surprised. Every
body else was surprised simply. And tho
analytical history OF his idea seems to DO
this: JONES was reading our clipper con-
temporary Puck one day. and was regretting
that the Republicans had not such brilliant
pictorial assistance. Some gimmering per-
ception Of the advantage OF having on your
side as much wit and humor rs possible
streaked his mind. What had the Repub-
Leans got in the humorous line. There was
LOGAN. OF course-LoGAN they always
had-a perpetual fount Of unconscious
and delightful humor. a great well-head Of
amusement. But. from Republican point
OF view, LOGAN was clearly open to the same
objection as Puck; his humor told against
tho Republicans. There were the edifying
biographies of STEVE ELKINs soap boiler.
showing how serious and truly pious he is,
and how devoid Of guile There were the
Rev GEORGE WASHINGTON PEPPER and the
tcmpestuous Rosa. warriors and patriots
both. but primarily humorists. These were
much, but they were not enough. Ii was
peoples eyes that Pnas corrupted: its evil
Influence could only be counteracted by good
Republican pictures, drawn by good Repub-
lican artists. for a good Republican illus
trated journal. This was the idea conceived
by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JONES.
A circular adorned with his name was
promptly sent out to Postmasters and
porters, to naughty collectors and humble
charwomen. to clerks and tidewaiters and
bungstarters. to all Uncle Sans hired men.
and to various private persons In this cir
cular JONES. with the modesty Of genius,
attributes the idea Of starting ian illus
trated paper to aid in the campaign" to "a
successful and reliable publisher OF this
city," but this modesty will not deceive
anybody who has mastered JONES. The
price OF JoNEs's paper is. as may be learned
from the subscription blank which &C.
companies each circular. only one dol
lar for thirteen weeks. One dollar
Is probably low enough, in fact, ridcu-
lously low price for . specimen OF JoNEs's
idea. But thirteen Is a dark, uncertain
number. Perhaps. however, it will be
deemed !njudiciOus to continue the paper
for that length Of time. We trust that this
will not be the case. for anything which
promises to add to the humor Of the canvass
ought to be encouraged. Nor will any lover
OF his species wish that the first voyage OF
JONES into the world OF ideas should be dis
astrous
The nature Of the replies to the circular
Twill determine whether or not the paper
can be started The first number was to
come out in the last OF August. Has it come
out yet? We don't know. aud We don't care.
But JONES does.