The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-19
THE STATEN ISLAND HOME.

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 demand for constant supply of
it, and would therefore have pecuniary
value.
He, 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 were 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 the ghost.
Nye had determined that it was hin
duty to cultivate this talent. because he
saw IN 1t an opportunity to gain. at
least, a fair support. but while he was
tuA ONCl ia Ills liLS COuISS DcSL
to pursue, he was brought to deaths
door by an attack of meningitis, 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 leg and some
fractured ribs. This of course brought
him to halls for awhile. While con-
valescing in the south he wrote an ex-
qulslte sketch, accompanying it with a
picture which he drew, and sent it to
the New York World rather timidly.
That paper instantly printed it. and for
warded to Mr.. Nye proposition to Join
its staff
His business instinct served him we'll
on this occasion. Nine men out of ten
would have been only too glad if they
were situated as he was to form staff
connected with The World upon terms
proposed by that paper, but Nye was
wise. He felt that it would be a dan
gerous thing for a humorist to go to
New York city. He doubted whether
such a person could maintain himself
there, and he believed that the chances
were that III the whirl of newspaper
life, and especially of newspaper con-
Quoted at such high pressure as is The
World, the huInorist would be stunned,
his work would become forced and arti-
fetal, his identity would be lost and he
would sink TO the dead level of the aver
age
Nye therefore determined to make a
proposition to The World himself. He
went offering business, not seeking any
employment the paper might have to
give. He did not expect that his offer
would be entertained. but TO his sur
prise It was. He wss engaged TO write
what he chose, as he chose. over his nom
de plume, TO be subject to none of the
restrictions or discipline of the Office,
and Ii was common report that be was
to receive $. 600 year for this under
taking This shrewdneSs of manage
ment unquestionably saved I'VE from
being buried IN that mighty wave Of lit
erary endeavor which produces anony-
mously the best IN our daily newspapers
1t revealed that Nye was as strong IL
business as he was great in hunor. and
from that time on his pathway has been
one of ever increasing prosperity.
His fame being established, he was
able to make other newspaper connec-
uons, so that IN the course OF a year o.
two he was IN receipt OF an income OF
over Sl0.009 year There were tsrnee
when Mr.. Nye felt some sadness that h.s
reputation siloald be merely that of 4
literary Jester, but he couSoled himself
with the thought that he was giving IN
nocenl delight 10 thousands. was pro
viding well for his family and also with
the hope tast IN the future be would n
able 10 win a more critical reputation IL
hizher literary endeayor.