Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-03
DRIVEN INTO EXILE.
NJ. QNaD, IT is SAID, DID IT WITH HIS
Mr.. AND MRS. BOWSER.
An Interview WiGi the Humorist. Who
Talks Earnestly About His Famous Char
acters-Hundreds Who Have Thought
They Were Being Written Up.

|
acters-Hundreds Who Have Thought
They Were Being Written Up.
WICHITA, Kan. July 24.-fspccial. Mr..
| and Mrs. George W. Bowser left here tonight
| for a visit to their old home in Michigan. Mr.
Bowser has lived here for ten years, being
driven into exile. as it were. by an Quad
they being the subjects of his humorous
sketches on Mr.. and Mrs. Bowser. They were
at a summer resort in Michigan and stopped
at the same hotel with I'M. Quad" when he
conceived the Bowser stories. The notoriety
given them drove them to Kansas, as Mr
Bowser could not stand the Jokes Of his friends.
For years Wichita did not recognize them ~
the originals of IN. Quad's'' stories, but a TO.
porter discovered 1t accidentally last year,
and ever since Mr.. Bowser has had similar
experience to what he had in Michigan.-Ch.
cago Tribune
With the above in my hand I called on
NJ Quad the other day and asked him how
near the Kansas man had hit tho truth
WELL" laughingiy replied the humor-
ist, "he didn't exactly hit the nail ON the
head but it will pass well enough
Ibid you have Mr.. and Mrs Bowser
in mind when you wrote your first
sketch?'
"No, did not. 1 don't remember that
l had ever seen the name in print when
adopted it. That was the chief reason
why I selected It,"
but the Bowsers have been cropping
up ever since the first article appeared,
have been told :"
ITS very funny about it, replied
Quad, as he leaned back and puffed away
at the stub end of cigar. "By the timo
four or five OF the sketches had appeared
| t,rp lifforopt Nr bo@
of Detroit, called on me and demanded
that writc no more. Inside of a year
had heard from as many as ten In tho
state of Michigan alone. 1t is by no means
a common name, and yet l believe have
heard from 100 Bowsers to date, and each
and every one was satisfied that had him
in mind personally rs l wrote. They have
threatened libel suits and suits for dam
ages and personal chastisement, but the
sketches are still running"
But did you have friend or neigh
boi-somc crank Of a husband-in your
miads cyef'' asked.
mo, Mr.. Bowser is not crank He Is
simply an average husband. Many of tho
things related of him transpire in every
household. The number of letters have
had from Bowscrs do not begin with tho
number Of letters have had from women
throughout tho country, saying: Your
Bowser cles hit my husband so exact
ly that we call him Mr. Bowser. When
want to humble him read him one of tho
sketches. There are few towns In tho
country where some particular husband
hasn't been saddlcd with tho nane. Only
the other day / received letter from
man down iu Missouri who said he had
been held up "a Bowser till he would cheer
f,,ll Ill f1, 81, -, e
punching my head
Don't most people think Mr.. Bowser
M exaggerationY' persisted.
Il don't think SO. If you won't give it
away, I'll tell you that put ON my day
shirt over my nightshirt tho other morn
ing and worc both of them all day and
went home at night to pitch into Mrs.
Quad because my collar had tormented mo
all day. B0wser did that same thing In
tho next article. l can't find my socks,
collars or shirts, though they are right I'M
der my nose. Neither can Mr.. Bowser or
any other average husband. II sit down
TO play gaIne of cards with Mrs. Quad,
I'm all right as long as I'm taking oil tho
counts. When the thing changes become
Mr.. Bowser."
"You always have Mr. Bowscr get tho
best of an argument.
II always have him think he does, and
that is only striking strong trait in every
husbands character. Let him think he
comes out ahead, and it's just ~ we'll with
him. Mrs Bowser has always been por-
trayed as rather humble, but you'll notice
that under that mask of seeming humility
and submission she generally carries her
point
Wherein do you think lies tho strength
of the sketcb?"
In its being true to nature-a photo
graph as it were, of the average house
hold There may be only 100 Mr.. Bowscrs
by name in all America, but there are
thousands OF Mr.. Bowscrs under other
names. All husbands are very much alike
in certain things"
And naturally you have become inter-
estcd in your imaginary oharacters?' I
asked as the man who has made millions
laugh and weep sat with a smile on his
face. ta
Very much so," he replied. eyes,
like Mr.. and Mrs. Bowser. They arc like
old friends when / sit down to write Of
them. can't say that 1 like Mrs. Bowser
better, and yet 1 instinctively find myself
taking her part when Mr.. Bowser begins
to bear down. i think have had 600
letters suggesting that l change things
about and let Mrs. Bowse- boss the roost
but that wouldn't do, you know. The hus-
band Is the natural head OF tho house. but
when he begins to think hc knows 1t all
and his wife doesn't know anything she
should have pull to take him down
peg"
And so you didn't drive Mr.. and Mrs.
Bowser out Of Michigan and into exileS'
querled as 1 rose to CO.
II should be very sorry to find that
had, replied the humorist. 1t wouldn't
be my fault altogether If such were the
case, as Mr.. Bowser ought to mend his
ways around the house and give Mrs. Bow
ser little better show. Think she's q do
serving woman, don't you?''-W W. in
Detroit Free Press.
Curious Mexican Jewels.