The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-10
4 Professional Funny Man Gives the
Secrets and Rewards Of
His Trade.
People Who Compound Jokes I'm
der Circumstance Often the
Most Melancholy.
The ORIGIN OF the Famous "Tattooed Ian
Cartoon-Men and Women Who
Suggest Ideas.

Written for The SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
When the first comic paper WAS founded.
more than a dozen years ago, it was almost
Impossible to obtain for it an adequate and
steady supply OF jokes and comic articles,
though nearly all the clever newspaper writ
ers in New York were invited to contribute
to it. As n matter of fact humorous jour-
nalism did not prove successful in America,
and there was not then as there is now a
large number of men making a specially Of
writing funny articles for the press. 1t twas
not until i've years ago, however. that the
demand tor humorous matter brought a
etoady supply to the Office from which
the editor could make a choice. The
bright young men employed on the daily
papers found that they could add to their
incomes and at the same time obtain a little
Aeeting celebrity by sending their amusing
c~onceits to the new weekly whose gaudy
pictures and pungent witticisms were begin
ming to tax a strong hold OH the town, in
spite of the raven-like croaks of mo comic
paper will ever pay in this country" or
"Americans don't care for anything but a
few funny paragraphs in the daily press"
During this past decade a class of trained
humorous writer's has sprung up large
enough to supply all the matter needed on
the distinctively comic papers like Puck,
Judge and Life as we'll as the humorous de-
partments in the various weekly, monthly
and daily publications that set aside a part
of their space for that purpose. Many of
these writer's are, to = certain extent, known
to the public. But there are many who
have contributed literally to American hu-
NOR, without ever having their names in
print. I refer of course to the men who
make a speciality of four-line dialogues, hu-
morous paragraphs n suggestions for
cartoons, who are utterly unknown to the
general public, though they may have a
very high standing with editors and pub
fishers.
How many times have I heard it said of
this or that cartoonist: 'He's just brimful
of bright, clever IDEAS" when l happened to
know that the artist in question never had
an original idea in his life, and could do
nothing but smbody-with genuine artistic
skill perhaps-the ideas furnished by 9th
ors.
Early in Puck's history q certain Miss
Rowland began to furnish in u delicate
feminine hand, Jokes, funny stories and
suggestions for pictures to the paper, and
80 satisfactory was her work that it was de-
cided to offer her a regular salarisd position
In the Office. The offer was made and &C.
cepted and, a desk having been fitted up for
her, notice was given to the editorial and
artistic staff that young lady was expected
and that they must keep their conversation
within suitable Chesterieldian limits.
The next morning miss Rowland ar
rived in the person of a man of unkempt
aspect and bibuleus face, who waited about
him a distinct ordor of strong drink. His
name, he said, was David Stuart Lloyd. He
was the grand nephew of Gilbert Stuart,
the portrait painter, and the husband of a
pretty and clever woman whom he had
taken from the stage.
Years ago." he explained. 81 offended
Frank Leslie and since then | have always