The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-27
ELI PERKINS ON NYE.
He Relates His Ideas and Conclusions
Respecting the Dead Hum3rist.

/ first met Edgar Wilson Nye fifteen years
ago, while passing through Laramie. Wyo.
Mr.. Nye was then practicing law and MAX
ing his first reputation as humorist
through editorials and paragraphs in his
weekly Boomerang. These editorials were
irresistibly quaint. Every one was reading
his newspaper and everyone loved the genial
writer. He never had but one enemy, and
that was the editor of the Democratic news
paper across the way. This man saw MOTH
ing funny in Nye. He wasted columns week
ly calling Nye. to his great amusement, IAN
idiot and a crack-brained rattlesnake editor
from Moosehead lake
Bill Nye was then, as ever afterward, a
| delicate and retiring man. When 1 asked
him why the rival editor called him such
names he said:
"Well. he is Democratic editor and has
to. be precise in his statements. was born
on Moosehead lake, in Maine and grew up
among the Indians and rattlesnakes of the
West
tor said.
Eyes, L practiced law about year, but"
he added. without changing a muscle, mo
body knew much about it here; kept it
very quiet l have been justice of the
peace in Laramie for six years.
did you ever marry anyone?'
I "Oh, yes: 1 married my WIFE, and after
| that 1 used to marry others and then try
| them for other offenses."
Noticing that the humorist had very white
teeth, / remarked upon their regularity and
| Wilderness, and asked him what kept them
20. that's natural" ne said. 'AIl teeth
remain white If they are properly taken
| care Of OF course never drink hot drinks
| always brush my teeth every morning and
| evening, avoid all acids. and, although am
| thrty-hvve years old, my teeth are as good
"And this is all you do to keep your teeth
white?'"' 1 ass.ed.
| put them in glass of soft water nights.
The attention of the public was first called
| to the humorists writings on account or his
| vigorous English. His language was of the
| fessor of rational psychology of Boulder
College wrote to the Boomerang and asked
| the editor the question, what Is htera-
| ture?''
what is literature?" exclaimed Bill.
| pointing half contemptuousy at the col
| umns of the Boomerang. What is litera-
| ture? Cast your eyes over these logic-im-
bued columns you sundried savant from
the remote precincts Drink at the never
| lore, you dropsicaI wart of a false and
| erroneous civilization. Read our Address
TO Sitting Bull or our ode to the Busted
Snoot of a Shattered Venus de Milo, II you
priced literature. Don't go around hunger
ing for literary pie while your eyes are
| closed and your capacious ears are filled
with bales of hay.
Years after Bret Hartes Truthful
James poem was written Edgar w. Nye
commenced signing his articles Bill Nye-'
Mr.. Nye always considered the best joke
ever perpetrated by an English newspaper
was when the London News came non ont with
serious editorial saying that Bill Nye
was real character. Then Mr.. Nye got
out his. scrap book and read this serious
editorial from the London News:
eff ever celebrity was attained unexpected
" most asSuredly it that thrust upon
Bin Nye by Truthful James. 1t is just pos
sible. however, that the innumerable readers
have imagined Bill Nye and All Sin to be
purely mythical personages. SO far as the
former is concerned. any such conclusions S,,,s
| Nye is no more a phantom than any other
| Journalist. although the name of the organ
| which he runs savors more of fiction than
| of fact. But there is no doubt about the
| matter. for the Washington correspondent of
| the New York Tribune telesraphed on the
under the government He has lately been
| domiciled in Laramie City, Wyoming Terri
| tory, and Is editor OF the Daily Boomerang.
/ In reference to Acting Postmaster-general
! Hatton.s appointment Of him as postmaster
at Laramie City, the opponent OF An Sin
writes an extremely humorous letter. 'ex-
| tending his thanks. and advising his chief OF
| his opinion that his appointment Is tri-
umph Of eternal truth over error and wrong.
| Nye continues: 1t is one of the epochs, i
| may say. in the Nations onward march to-
| ward political purity and perfection. don't
! know when l have noticed any stride in the
affairs of state which has so thoroughly i'm
! pressed me with it's wisdom. In this quiet
! strain OF banter Bill Nye continues to the
! end of his letter which suggests the opinion
| that whatever the official qualifications OF the
| Laramie City must have a very readable
| ne Wspaper in the Daily Boomerang"
During the preparation OF my book, kings
| OF Platform and Pulpit" Mr.. \ye sent me a
| copy OF his lecture. which appears In the
hook with eighty other lectures by Artemus
| Burdette, Josh Billings. etc.
| On one occasion Mr.. Nye sent me the fol-
lowing note. which gives true history OF
| his family;
Dear Eli-You ask me how I came 20
| adopt the nom de plume OF Bill Nye. and
| all.
My first work was done a Territorial
| paper I'm the Rocky mountains some twelve
| years ago. and was not signed The style, or
! rather the lack OF IL. provoked some COM
| ment and two or three personal encounters.
| other papers began to wonder who re-
| spcnsible. land various names were assigned
| by them as the proper one. among them
| Henry Nye. James Nye. Robert Nye, etc.
| and a general discussion arose. I'm which
did not take hand The result n COM
! promise by which / christened Bill <ye,
and the name has chung 10 me.
/ Il am not especially proud or the name. Tor
| IL conveys the idea 10 strangers that am a
| lawless profane and dangerous man. People
who Judge me by the brief and bloody name
| alone, instinctively shulder and examine
| their firearms. II suggests daring, debauch-
cry and defiance 10 the law. Little children
| are called in when i am known 10 be at
! large. and a day OF fasting Is announced by