Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-09-27
DRIVEN INTO EXILE.
N. QUAD. IT IS SAID, DID IT WITH HIS
Mr.. AND MRS. 6OWsER.
An Interview With the Humorist, Who
Talks Earnestly About His Famous Char
acters-Hundreds Vino Have Thought
They Were Being Written Up.


WICHITA, Kan, July "a Special Mr.
and Mrs. George W. Bowser left here tonight
for visit 10 their old home IN Michigan. Mr..
Bowser has lived here for ten years being
driven into exile. as ~ were, by NJ Quad,
they being the subjects Of his humorous
sketches on Mr. and Mrs. Bowser They 70
at "A summer Resort in Michigan and stopped
at the same hotel with M. Quad when he
conceived the Bowser stories. The notOrety
given them drove them 20 Kansas "a Mr.
Bowser could not stand the Jokes Of his friends
For years Wichita did not recognize them
the originals OF M. Quad's" stories, but a ia.
porter discovered II accidentally last year,
and ever since Mr.. Bowscr has had a similar
experience 70 what he had In Michigan Chi
cago Tribune.
With the above in my hand l called on
NJ. Quad the other day and asked him how
year the Kansas man had hit the truth
well, " laughngly replied the humor-
ist "he didn't exactly hit the nail on the
head but IL will pass well enough.
Did YOU have Mr.. and Mrs BOwser
In mind when you wrote your first
sketchy'
"No, did not / don't remember that
had ever seen the name In print when |
adopted IT, That was the chief reason
why | selected it. d"
but the Bow,ers have been cropping
UP ever since the first article appeared |
have been told. D"
Its very funny about It,, replied
Quad, as he leaned back and pulled away
at the stub end of cigar. by the time
four or five Of the sketches had appeared
two different Mr.. Bowsers, both residents
of Detroit, called on me and demanded
that l write no more. Inside Of a year l
had heard from a. many ten in the
state of Michigan alone. 1t Is by no means
common name, and yet believe l have
heard from 100 Bowsers 20 date and each
and every one was satisfied that l had him
in mind personally as 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 "a friend or q neigh.
bvr-some crank of husband-in your
minds eyc?' | asked
"No, Mr.. Bowser Is not a crank He Ia
simply an average husband Many Of tho
things related Of him transpire in every
household The number Of letters have
had from Bowsers do not begin with the
number Of letters have had from women
throughout the country saying: Your
BOwser articles hit my husband so exact
"
want 20 humble him read him one Of tho
sketches There are few towns in the
country where some particular husband
hasn't been saddled with the name Only
the other day received letter from a
man down in Missouri who said he had
been held up as Bowser till he would cheer
fully travel 500 miles for the pleasure Of
punching my head ~
Don't most people think Mr. Bowser
An exaggeration;' persisted
Il don't think 80. Ii you won't give it
away, I'll tell you that l put on my day
shirt over my nightshirt the other morn
ing and wore both Of them all day and
went home at night 20 pitch into Mrs.
Quad because my collar had tormented me
all day. BOwser did that same thing In
the next article. cant find my socks,
collars or shirts, though they are right un
der my nose Neither can Mr. Bowser or
any other average husband. II sit down
10 play a game Of cards with Mrs. Quad,
III all right a. long as I'm taking all the
counts. When the thing changes become
Mr. Bowscr "
you always have Mr.. Bowser get the
best Of All argument"
Il always have him think ne does, and
that i only striking a strong trait in every
husbands character. Let him think he
comes out ahead, and 1t 5 just As well with
him Mrs. Bowser has always been por
traycd rs rather humble, but you notice
that under that mask Of seeming humility
and submission she generally carries her
point.
Wherein do you think lies the strength
OF the sketch?'
ain its being true TO nature-a photo.
graph, as IL were Of the average house
hold There may be only 100 Mr.. Bowsers
by name in all America but there ara
thousands OF Mr. Bowsers under other
names All husbands are very much alike
in certain things.
And naturally you have become inter
ested in your imaginary characters
asked as the man who has made millions
laugh and weep sat with a smile on his
face.
Very much So" he replied eyes, 1
like Mr.. and Mrs. Dowser They are like
old friends when | sit down 70 write Of
them can't say that | like Mrs Bowser
better. and yet | instinctivcy find myself
taking her part when Mr. Bowscr begins
TO bear down think have had | 900
letters suggesting that change things
about and let Mrs Bowser boss the roost.
but that wouldn do, you know The hus-
band is the natural head OF the house, but
when he begins 90 think he knows it all
and his wife doesn't know anything she
should have pull % take him down
peg
And so you didn't drive Mr and Mrs.
Bowser out OF Michigan and into exiler"
| queried as | rose u 90
II should be very sorry to find that I
had, A" replied the humorist IL wOuldn
be my fault altogether II such were the
case, as Mr.. Bowser ought 20 mend his
ways around the house and give Mrs Bow.
ser little better show. think she a de-
serving woman, don't youS w W in
Detroit Free Press