The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-30
GOVERNOR PECK.


heredity and evolution--if he can.
When a short time ago It became
known that the author Of Pecks Bad Boy
had been chosen Governor Of the State
OF Wisconsin. 1t is probable that good
many people felt surprised. Certain
upright and conscientious authors, here
and there, may have decorated their
establishment by glowing comments upon
the condition and prospects Of a litera-
ture which permitted the perpetratOr or
such a volume 20 hold one Of the most
honorable and responsible offices aces
sible to American citizens. What! the
man who concocted that tissue OF vulgar
absurdltiesl To put him on civic level
with Lowell, Motley and Irving. our lit
erature is going TO the dogs-not TO speak
Of the comedy And they would say,
what was the use Of writing beautiful
poetry and elevated fiction. II the pur-
veyor of such abJect rubbish was TO get
the reward.
Now. no one pretends that the book In
question has not got plenty Of good healthy
vulgarity In it, or that its humOr Is not
OF an obvious and boisterous quality But
then, there is a great deal Of vulsarity
in the American people. and Widespread
fondness for coarse practical joking. Ana
the book is popular because Ii reflects
what we are and describes what we door
would like to 40, did opportunity and re-
source admit. Pecks boy, whatever else
he is or Is not, is an American, ana
Americans wish 10 be told about them
selves, especially if they can laugh at
the narrative.
Whether IL be advisable TO Initiate the
popular humorst in august positions Is,
Of course. arOther question altogether
e IL Isatr rnp
the citizens Of any state-even Of New
Jersey--to make Artemus Ward. for in
stance, its Governor: but it does not
therefore follow that man who has
written a funny book is necessarily In
capable of doing anything else. Rabellas
wrote a funny (and an atrociously vul-
gar) book some three or four hundred
years ago, and he was the most learned
man OF bis time. and certainly one Of
the most advanced thinkers. Humor.
even OF the least subtle kind, has never
been incompatible with sound and ell
cient masculine ability. And those who
could read between the lines OF Peck s
book could see that there might well be
a great deal i'm the author besides the
power OF laughing with them over the
escapades Of an outrageous young scape-
grace.
Al all EVENTS Il luiItoftH tHC ~N"HN'
which time and place afforded me TO make
a personal investigation into the matter.
Chicago. though rather far from the Hub
OF the Universe, IS central spot, with
sixteen lines Of railroad conyerging on it,
and just at present. owing TO causes un-
necessary TO enumerate. 1t contains, In
addition to its proper quota OF inhaoi-
tants. liberal contingents or citizens
from all over the country. Moreover,
Madison, the capitol Of Wisconsin, is less
than 100 miles away, and Milwaukee IN
M further; and in those two cities Gov.
peck lives-officially in the first and do
,,asticalIy I'm the 0ther. Finally, the
| Governor, like everybody else. Is interes-
ted IN the Fair, and visited IL every
n.oals There liz Wisconsin State
Putldiug I'm the Fair. the arrangements oil
which are under the Governors super
, vision end II is here that on certain
davs he IL 10 be seen. When wrote TO
inform him OF my designs upon him he
replied as follows
.My Dear Sir.--I have received your
letter in which you state that you hoped
70 lunch with Eugene Field and myself
on n certain occasion In Chicago l am
very sorry that / was not permitted 10
display to you the wild western appetite
which I possess, and 10 become accuain-
I'D with YOU. expect to be In Chicago
an Saturday Of this week. and | may re-
main over sunday. You say that you want
a story out OF me-something about now