Evening star., 1896-11-27
His Brilliant College Record.

Mr. Coffin was born March 3O 1850, in
Pottstown, Pa, and came to Washington
with his parents in 1858. He attended Co.
lumbian College in 1862 and graduated in
1869, having stood at the head of his class
each of the seven years, taking prizes and
medals innumerable and being the vale
dictorian on graduation day. He entered
the census of 1870 as a clerk, at the same
time taking up the study Of law in Column
bian University, graduating in 1873 with
the highest honOrs. The year previous in
1872, he had entered the competitive ex-
animation under President Grants civil
service order and passed at the head Of the
list, being appointed clerk in the revenue
cutter service of the treasury, in which
bureau he remained until last January,
He was one of the original members of the
Columbia Boat Club, one of the founders
of the University Club. is a member of the
Gridiron Club and member of the Sigma
to Lafayette Lodge, No. 10, F. AM, the
Mount Vernon Royal Arch Chapter, Wash
ington Commandery. No. 1. Knights Tenn
plar. and is also a member of Almas Tenn
pie, Order of the Mystic Shrine.
In his college days Mr.. Coffin made a
reputation for Intellectual brilliancy not
often the good fortune of one SO young
and the early promise thus shown was
amply fulfilled tn his maturer years. At
school he showed that keen proficiency with
the pencil that in after life he was to put
to such advantage, and old Columbian
studeEts remember still, smiling through
their tears, the telling pictures he would
dash off of school day episodes and recrea-
ton fun. There was never anything OF
the vulgar In Mr.. Coffin's humor. Its re-
finement was always its predominant feat
ure. He was the master nf satire, but he
dealt 1t out in such genial strokes that
even the subjects smiled. and enjoyed be-
ing victims of such pleasant fagellation.
A Great Social FavOrite.
He became a social favorite to q degree
that would have turned the head of most
men, but the sound basis Of common sense
upon which his personal attractiveness was
founded prevented any injury. In many
homes in Washington there are cherished
productions of Mr.. Coffin's facile pencil,
bright sketches of excursions and outings
where himself and his friends had spent
a happy day, and whose features he had
embellished with bright verse that told the
story of the pleasures with touches OF rare
humor.
His Career as n CartOOnist.
It was not until 1854 that Mr.. Coffin
adapted this latent talent to public uses.
He had previously contributed frequently
to publications such as Puck. Harper's
Weekly and other periodicals, and had
illustrated one or two books, but in the
lsst-named year he accepted the position
of cartoonist on the Washington Hatchet,
then first issued, and quickly became known
throughout the country, despite the crude
mechanical reproduction of his work. as a
and a political satirist Of consummate
power. The Hatchet failed through no
fault of Mr.. Coffin, and several years ago
he began making the cartoons for the
Washington Post. and with each succeed
ing reproduction of his work he became
more and more known and admired. While
in his technique he is lacking when COM
pared to the other great cartoonists, he is
regarded as the peer Of any in the deli
cate satire of his ideas, and in his adapta-
tions of art masterpieces to the living
issues of the day he ts universally looked
upon as without an equal.
To those who know him well and who were
fortunate enough to enjoy the rare felicity
of his privacy, when he was in health, Mr..
Cofins work with his pencil is the least
Eotable expression Of his intellectual bril-.
liancy. Hiss grasp Of affairs is broad ami
comprehensive, and ,, the charity Of his
spa rkled mental meteOric snowor opd