Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29
NEW YORK LETTER.
xNoIrsH And AMERICAN coxrc PAPERS
conTxAsTxD.
euek, the Judge, and the others-- Harrison
the boy Preacher "--Jshn-sttsst Re-
vivai-shs "oid Roms.'s Hslpnsst
lcorrespondence Of tha KIchmona lli.patch. j

NhW 1ohk. jury -, tccc.
Twelve years ago there was not sim
gle comic paper worthy OF the name in
the whole United States. Now there are
number The Wasp, Judge, Puck,
LIFE, Times, dc1ds SJfings, and Vdnf-
" Fair. Just about 10 be issued. All
these are published in New York except
the Wcsp, which is q San Francisco
publication. Puck initiated its form
from the Wasp, which had tinted car
toons and was in existence seye-
raj months before Puck started. 1t
was matter OF surprise to Eng
lishmon that Americans who filed
their newspapers with jokes could not
support comic papers q The experiment
had often been tried, but Was unsuccess-
fnl. Punchincito. the old Vanity Fair,
and dozen others were all failures, not
withstanding the best American humor-
lists, including Artemus Ward, aud the
cleyerest caricaturists Of the day con-
tributed 10 their columns Although
The Wasp was started before Puck it
las not been so successful. In San
francisco It's field was narrower, and ii
had not the clever artists that Puck
managed 10 secure.
TIE ARTIST KEPPLER.
Keppler, its principal artist, comes
from Vienna. He was first a consec-
tioaer and then O variety actor. He
me-, while drawing at Frank Leslie's, a
German printer named Schwarzmann.
They became partners and began the
publication of German Puck in 1876.
Thor came the English Puck in 1877,
which was quite an after-thought, as
neithu Keppler nor Schwarzmann under
stood the English language. They en-
gagged American writers to edit IL. After
a years struggle il was a success. The
paper made money and is now estab-
lished o. a firm basis. II is, however,
in no cnse an American publication.
Politically I'uck was for many years
thoroughly independent. During cam
paign il hid Democratic weeks and Re
publican weeks alternately. 1t changed
its policy, towever, four years ago, sup
porting Cleveland through thick and
thin. Gillian. now OF the JUd5e, who
was the chef cartoon artist OF Puck at
that time, cine very prominently before
the public by drawing Blaine as a tattooed
man-undei instructions from his en-
ployers-as Gillian is staunch Repub-
Gcan.
THE JUDGE.
The hte James A. Wales was the
foundorof the Judge. He was an artist
on Puck, some of the best cartoons APP
pearing in that sheet being his The
Jxdge for n number of years was not
prosperous and changed hands two or
three tines. At length w. j. Arkell, Of
the Albany EUcning Journal. purchased
the pap.r and engaged Gillian and Zim-
mermaa as artists. The JUdge is now on
the high road to prosperity. 1t is strictly
Republican and Protectionist. During
the Cleveland Blaine campaign OF four
years ago it was having a precarious ex-
istence and would have died altogether
had it rot been subsidized to the extent
Of s., 900 by Republicans. 1t is very
different paper nov and IS admirably
gotten up.
LIFE.
Lie, the black and white society comic
journal, grew ont of college publica-
ton. 1t was very poor IN every respect
for some time, but is now model of
beauty. Mr.. Mitchell,
who is an artist with some European ex-
perience and is also Harvard graduate,
is the principal proprietor. While Ltje
aims To hit the ioibles and weaknesses of
fashion and society, 1t does not neglect
politics II favored Cleveland as
against Blaine in the last campaign
and is still his friend. Life is de-
cidedly a paper of refinement, and it
is rare to find any vulgarity In its
columns, which is more than can be said
OF some Of the other comic journals.
T6rus SiftingS, which is now published
in New York. was originally started in
Austin, Tex, by Alexander Sweet and j.
Annoy Knox. The Office was afterwards
removed TO New York. There is also
branch IN London. 6HinQs isa strictly
comic paper, and does not take sides in
politics, although it frequently has funny
cartoons on political subjects Like Lite,
it sticks to black and white in its pictures,
aud does not seek to influence public
opinion except by making its readers
laugh.
Itd-Bits, now called Time, is paper
very similar to L9e in character. 1t
goes in mainly for jokes and handles
politics pictorislly in q somewhat lofty
aud gingerly manner. Whether politi-
al comic papers have much influence on
public opinion is OF course question,
ouT il is certain that the comic cartoon
journals have familiarized the great body
If the people with the features and pc
,uliarities of prominent men, which has
mad its effect.
A COMPARISON
# the American comic journals with tho
English ones is very much in favor of the
ormer, especially in the cartoons. Many
IF those IN Punch, FIN, and Judy are
o the American absolutely pointless, even
allowing for his unfamiliarity with the
oreign political situation. Ar artist like
renniel, who has for years drawn tho
cartoons in Punch, rarely takes an idea
rom an outsider. There is a painful
ameness about his pictureA He is
,mineatly classical and never attempts
% touch the great mass of the people.
The system is different here. Ideas and
suggestions for cartoons from those out
ide the staff are eagerly received and
literally paid for. keppler, who is GER
ainly the most effective cartoonist in
America, almost invariably makes use of
he suggestions OF others. Gillian, on
.he other hand, is very prolific in ideas,
md most OF his work is entirely original.
REVIVAL SCENES IN JOHN STREET.
One scarcely looks for the tumultuous
Icenes OF Methodist. camp-meeting
within pistol shot OF Wall street. But
he fact that Brother Harrison, better
known as "The Boy Preacher" for no
)ther reason that is at present discoyera-
bio than that he started in atthis work
Before the harvest Of the beard began
TO wrostle on the chin, and promise man
,as set the old-fashioned revival echoes
lying in John street, remains most
local novelty.
IT is bulletined every day in the
,apers and the little old Memorial church
.lmost buried in the enervating ware
houses aud cheek by jowl with all the