The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-05
THE DEATH Of BILL NYE,
Tho Great Humorlst 10 LAD 10 Rest N tho
Mountains OF Western North Carolina,

Tho Great Humorlst is LAD TO Rest N tho
Mountains OF Wes,sro North Carolina.
Tho death OF Bill Nyo, tho celebrated
humorist, which occurred on tho 22nd
OF February, Is lamented throughout
tho country. The physicians states
that his patient had boon In failing
health for three years, and he was not
surprised at the fatal termination OF
tho malady. He was buried twelve
miles south OF Ashovillo, N. c., noar
Flctchor's.
About iiiteon years ago thoro began
10 appear in different newspapers OK
tracts which wcro said to have been
COPIED from paper published at
viii III was alleged to bo Tho Boom.
erang. The sketches were unique and
most amusing, but for u long timo
many OF those who enjoyed tho humor
OF them were very doubtful about tho
existence Of q newspaper with such q
seemingly absurd namo. However,, it
began to be understood that q new
humorist had arisen and was located
on the windy uplands OF the northwest,
md that his newspaper. Tho Boom
orang, as we'll as his humor, was
genuine.
OF course 1t was asked who this
genus OF humor Of the Wyoming up
lands was, and the papers began to
circulate rumor that his name was
Bill Nye, and that hc was a relative
OF man who had won great ropute,
not only as statesman, but rs d fun
lover and maker, the lsto United
States Senator. "Jim" Nye. Of
courso every one wondered whether
tho Bill Nyo who was writing, with
that spontaneity which Is tho basis Of
all genuine humor, the Boomerang
sketchos was also the Bill Nyo whom
Brot Harto had immor talized In his
" Heathen Chinee." Harte's celebrity
had before this been supposed to be q
myth, creature Of his fancy but
there were many persons In the east
who felt suro that Bill Nye OF tho poom
and the Bill Nye OF The Boomerang
could be no other than one and tho
same porson.
1T was not many months before the
public know that Bill Nyo was nom
de plume, and that this genius Of
humor was baptized Edgar Wilson
Nye.
Tho Boomerang was quoted all over
the country, and Nye began to got his
reputation as n humorist OF noto at
that time. The paper was not a
financial success, but 1t was tho founda-
tion for the fortune which Nye aftor.
ward made rs humorist.
Like many humorists, Mr.. Nyc was
man OF almost womanly gcntlencss
OF disposition. His amiability was
never clouded, and his good humor
naturcd. He mover forgot u friend
In later years his writings and lectur-
Ing brought an income OF over $4,000
year, ard he leaves a moderate for
| tune to his widow and children.
Some OF tho experiences Of his life
on his famous "Buck Snoar" farm ar,
among his quaintcst and best efforts
| or his appearance all that ia nccossar,
to say is that he "lookcd like hi
pictures" and thcro 10 hardly a man
woman or child who reads ncwspupcr
who does not know them. Perhap
tho most famous Of his humorou,
writings was the letter to tho president
OF tho United States accepting the
postmastcrship at Laramie City. Tha,
| letter was commented upon in serious
| ness by tho London Times, and the
| comment was perhaps as funny as the
! original lottcr, when all tho circunl-
stances are takon in consideration.
MIR. Nyc, unlike most writer's OF his
kind, had excellent business qualiiica-
tions. He VAS q thrifty humorist," :"
as ono OF his friends expressed it.
When he began to write his sketche es
for tho Boomerang he had no idea th at
thoy would be Of moro than local in.
terest, nor in fact did he roalizo the
humor that was in them or its market
value. He simply reported things ir
Laramie as ho saw thom, not under
standing that his mental vision ant
his capacity to reproduce it on papol
was OF such peculiar nature rs woult
gain for him fame, would create in the
| popular mind q demand for constant
| supply OF 1t, and would therefore have
pccuniary value.
Mr.. Nye personally was q most
lovablc man. He was genial and
kind-heartcd, with not tho slightest
suggestion OF conceit or "uppishncss
in his manner. Fcw men have had
moro or bcttor friends than he had.
No man was ever more modest and
unassuming. 1t is no I'M Isticc to him
to say that much OF his success as a
writer was duo to tho ambition and
encouragement OF his wife. Long
before the world know him she had
told him OF his powers and applaudcd
his early efforts. She did not with
hold her praise until the flood OF his
success came, but in tho dark days
whom there was an actual struggle for
existence she stood by him, tower ol
strength and an inspiration, her faith
in him ncvor faltcring.