Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-29
THE Gnowru OFF ILLUSTRATIONS.
How the Populurity OF Pen Pictures
Has Compelled the Employment


Has Compelled the Employment
OF nm Artist.
Five good artists are able to eat three
square meals a day now, when but one
was able to do so a few years ago This
happy change in their condition has been
made possible by the growth and develop
ment OF the illustrative art.
II Is not many years since the daily
newspaper essayed the task OF illustrating
an important piece of news concerning the
demise OF some notable, by rude wood
cut intended to be a fair representation
Of the unfortunate subject. Crude as II
was however. 1t caught the public, and
competing contemporaries were oblidged to
Introduce similar feature.
1t was all very well to print almost any
thing as the picture OF dead man, with
out fear Of retribution; but the living event
ually came in for n picture once in while
with the result that many editors were
In jeopardy OF their lives from tho offended
subject who rebelled against caricature.
These little incidents cngendered compcti-
ton among artists and engravers and sc
fiercely has it been waged that the best
work of both is now to be found in the
daily and weekly newspaper that can af-
ford it,
Contcmporarneous with the appearance OF
an illustration, appeared cuts" in adver-
tising columns. So popular did they be-
come that they are now an important aux
has the demand grown for these cuts that
there are numerous firms in existence who
employ original and experienced artists for
the purpose of manufacturing what is
termed as stock cuts for newspaper ad-
vertising. Appropriate reading matter is
sent with these cuts to such as wish 1t.
But even this docs not fulfill the require
ments of the modern and progressive ad-
vertiser who has the best 10 sell and who
demands the best channels OF publicity
What he wants Is something new, original
and unique, every day and he wants II
because he has learned that the public want
ii. To such advertisers stock cuts are OF
little use as they do not answer immediate
requirements.
The business world now demands the best
in art and the latest on dit. 1t was to meet
this demand that pen Pictures Pointedly
and Pleasantly Put" became an advertising
feature of The Bee over year ago Their
popularity as trade drawers is attested by
their continued appearance. 1t Is unneces-
sary to say that had the merchants who
invested in these pen pictures found it did
not pay, they would have ceased long ago.
So interesting have they become that
readers of The Bee watch for them daily,
wondering what queer antic the artist will
have his little people perform next He
has a series now which will not lack in
interest nor fail to do their mission for
the advertiser, any more than those of the
past year For instance there is the DreNel
Shoe Co.'S man, DreX l.. Shooman, on his
trip around the world with his Daschund
pup; Albert Calm and his dainty dude;
Alive and Penfold, whose golden lion gets
into much trouble; A. Hospe, Jr., whose
kitten is an adept with musical instruments;
the John Hussie Hardware Co., ownes a
squirrel with an acorn, advertising their
Acorn stoves; the Omaha Carpet Co., has
very sweet little girl, who is very busy
with brooms carpet sweepers, etc. SHAW
& Fell's old woman is always marketing
at good grocery. and G. w. Douglass &
Co, has boy with a coal scuttle in many
funny attitudes. The latter appear only
in the evening editions.
These pen pictures are all new and orig
inal, none of which will appear twice during
the coming year.
AS the year advances new features ap-
proprate to the season will be added. Sew
eral new advertisers will also embark in
the pen picture feature in a few days hav-
ing become convinced that 1t is profitab !
investment.
Illustrated advertising has become so popu-
lar with Omaha merchants that the advertis-
ing department of The Bee now includes on
its staff a capable artist, who makes new
and original cuts to suit the requirements
of those who demand them whether for
the pen picture feature, or for general ad-
vertising purposes.