Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-17

local interest. nor in fact did he realize
the humor that was in them or its mar
ket value. He simply reported things
in Laramie as he saw them, not under
standing that his mental vision and his
capacity to reproduce it on paper was of
such peculiar nature as would gain for
him fame, would create in the popular
mind a demand for constant supply of
it, and would therefore have pecuniary
value.
lie, however, realized this when, to
his intense surprise. he found that his
sketches were appearing in every news
paper in the land. He had an indistinct
idea at once that If these things were
worth reprinting they We're worth pay
ing for. They brought him nothing but
fame in Laramie, and there he received
far less appreciation than anywhere else.
Fame In that town was not money, and
The Boomerang gave up tho ghost.
Nye had determined that it WAS his
duty to cultivate this talent. because he
saw III it an opportunity to gain, at
least, a fair support, bat while he was
turning over in his mind the course best
to pursue. he WAS brought TO deaths
door by an attack of meningiti5. and
when he was recovering from that he
was the victim Of cyclone which had
its way with him. blowing him hither
and thither. and finally depositing him
on the sod with a broken lex and some
fractured ribs. This of course brought
him to q halt for awhile. While con-
valescing in tho south he wrote en- ex-
quisite sketch. accompanying Is with
picture which he drew. and sent ii TO
the New York World rather tirnidly.
That paper instantly printed il. and for
waried TO Mr.. Nye proposition to join
its staff.
His business instinct ecrved him well
on this occasion. Nine men out OF ten
would have been only too glad if they
were situated as he was ~ form staff
connected with The World upon terms
proposed By that paper. but Nye was
wise. he felt that it would be dan
gerous thing for a humorist TO go TO
New York city. lie doubted whether
such person could maintain himself
there, aud he believed that the chances
were that in the whiri of newspaper
life, and especially cf newspaper con
Quoted at such high pressure as is The
World, the humoTist would be stunned.
his work would become forced and ar;i-
fetal, mis- identity would be lost and he
would sink 70 the dead level OF the aver
age.
Nye therefore determined TO make a
proposition 10 The World himself. He
went Offering business, not seeking any
employment the paper night have 20
give. lie aid ret expect that his offer
-vrr-id ~ enter ainei. b1St - kis saT-
prise IL was. Re was engaged b. write
what he chose. Is lie chose. over his Hosn
de plume. 70 b subject to none OF the
restrictions or discipline Of the ohice.
and il vss common report that he was
To receive =. 900 year for this under
taking. This shrewdness 81 msnage-
ment uBauestsonsbly saved Nye from
being buried m that mighty wave Of lit
erary cssseavoY which produces anony
nsousiy the b>~s In our dsiie newspapers
II revealed that I'VE wss 81 stroug In
business - Re Wa great in huf1oz. and
from that time on his pathway hss teen
onr Of ever increasing prosperity.
His fare being established, BE -as
able 80 maze otser ncwspsper eeunec-
tons. - THAI h. he course q yesr o.
two he wss n receipt ~ an incosas II
owes Gre go a year There weTe times
when NJ Sye fsls senne sadness that his
reputation skoeid be nssreit fhst a .
literary le<tev. tat he consoisd kimWi,
WITH he fhsssehf that he ~ss giving in-
uoeant dtll<ss 10 tzo~saniz. was pr0-