The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-22
THE LAST CHANCE LouNGER.

Ed. Z,mmsrmani's friends are laughing
over a funny "break" made by him = week
aro his evening. He knew Lolita many
wears AGO and an the LounCer told wNa,in n a
single occasion, a valued member of her
company. Last Sunday night d WAS
down at the Northern Pacific depot when
Lolita and her company started for the
east. John Mcguire WAS there to say good
bye, and seeing Ed, thought he would in
troduce the genial landlord to the famous
little woman. Calling Ed. he walked down
the aisle where Lolita and her mother we're
seated in the section. With his accustom-
ed urbanity the manager presented his
friend.
The third Napoleon made a most cour-
teous salaam, and remarked: I'VE are got
ting along in years. ! arst saw you on the
coast in 'B7 when I was a boy seventeen
We ars old"
The actress looked up with an amusing
smile az q faint tinge of color came to her
checks; her mother looked out of the win
dow to hide a laugh; Mcguire fell over in a
dead faint, but was afterwards revived by
the porter until no could sneak of the car
into a hack. Ed. in the meantime. utterly
unconscious Of the significance of his re-
mark, continued chatting with Lolita until
the train rolled away for the east.
~
John Mcguire tells an incident about the
once famous artist. L. H. Mast. II is we'll
known in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but
was never printed for reasons to be explain
ed later. Mast is capable of driving his
facile pencil with all of his old power SO
far as the actual work goes, but he has lost
his grip, probably forever. He first made
his reputation during war times. but during
the great Tweed scandal he made his name
famous throughout the country. At differ
emit times he has made various
attempts to regain his popularity. but
without success The occasion did not
arise and other clever caricaturists have
since appeared, notably in the s~atirical
illustrated journals. Tn ee years ago Mast
and Mcguire happened in Denver at the
same time. 1t occurred to the manager
that it would be a great scheme to take
Mast on a lecturing tour throughout the
northwest to the coast. He interested a
Denver manage in the plan and the result
WAS that Mast was engaged for the remain
der of the season. 1t was stipulated, how
ever, that political, personal and religious
cartoons should be barred. He opened in
Denver to a house worth $1,000, and the
success of the scheme seemed assured.
St. Paul and Minneapolis we're next
reached. Business was good in the first
town, but the Pioneer Press gave the artist
a rough scoring because he was a rabid
anti-Blaine man. The Minneapolis Tribune
gave him a very good local notice but came
at him rough shod in IN editorial para
graph. The next morning Mcguire found
Mast foaming at the West hotel for he was
to appear in Minneapolis that evening.
The Tribune was "by Alden j. Blethen'' at
that time as it has been since until the
paper was sold a few weeks ago. One pc
culiarity of Blethen was his advocacy of
temperance. although this did not interfere
with his divine aust in the virtues of the
republican party. While Mcguire was
chatting, the angry artist turned
around to his son Tom, who was
with the combination, and told
Blethen. John Immediately "caught on
and with his professional foresight in
formed Mast that there must be no funny
work with Blethen at the lecture that night.
The local manager also heard of it and said
it must not be done. The artist vas finally
c ooled off, and it was understood that he
had abandoned the scheme.
~
That night Mast was greeted with a
crowded audience of the finest people in the
city. His lecture, which was undoubtedly
bright and entertaining. was given with
great eclat until he approached the closing
pictures. Then he branched off into u little
dissertation about the power of the press,
the different classes Of editors, etc., con-
Guiding with the remark that some editors
are hypocritical towards and unfit for the
earth. "For instance" he said, you have
one of them in this town. His name is
Blethen," and in a hesitating way added,
II have a half mind to draw his picture"
"Do itn yelled the audience.
Il believe ! will" replied Mast, and he
picked up a photograph and went to work.
With a few clever strokes he produced one
of Nast's caricatures, and everyone knows
what a wealth Of meaning can be suggested
by his pencil. His great effect is in his
ability to transfer a likeness to any form;
we recall, to illustrate, the face of Tweed
on a big dollar. He made a pious looking
man with Blethen's face.
"Now this is Mr.. Blethen as we see him
every day." observed the artist. "We will
now take a look at him at his home.' Then
the artist, with a piece of red chalk, made a
delicate and picturesque c~oloring of the
nose. Finally he added that to make no
mistake as to the identity he would tell the
subject of the caricature. He then wrote a
fac-simile of Mr.. Blethen's autograph be-
meath 1.-THE picture and added, "the
man who insulted the first lady in the
land" TIL audience roared, but this was
not all that was wanted by the artist.
w
He had formed his plans with some in
g%enuity. He expected that the papers
would roast him to tho queens taste and
this was what he hoped for. He told Ma
guire that night that he would forward the
papers to the White house and all over the
country, 1t would be one of the most novel
and far-reaching advertisements ever de-
vised in ths country. At that time there
was some talk of starting a democratic
illustrated weekly with Mast as the bic
card, and this 'ad.," the artist thought
would clinch the affair. However, to his
surprise and increased anger not one of the
st. a or Minneapolis papers mentioned
the affair in the next mornings issue ant
Al--- NJ Arn,ks, l~.a. z.- A -