The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-02-27

tors for the syndicate by which he was
regularly employed, writing books and
plays and lecturing. The work was
enough to kill far stronger man. In
addition to his regular syndicate work,
within the last two years he published
a history of the United States, which
lie often said he wanted to stand as
tn. last book he wrote.
sketch Of Nye's Career.
Edgar Willis Nye. or 'Bill' Nye, as he IL
much better known to his friends and the
public. was born : In Shirley. Piscataquis
county, Me-, August Is, 1850, but ut the age
OF two years. according to his own story,
he took his: parents by the hand anoiIe0
them to the west.
They went to Wisconsin. and there, on the
banks OF the st. Croix river. young Nyo
was brought up on farm. He received an
academical education at Fall River. Wis.
and in 1876 went to Wyoming territory,
the bar.
There, as he says. he practiced law in q
quiet way, although frequently warned
by the authorities not to do So"
He had plenty Of leisure time on his
hands, which he used in writing Sunday
letter for the Cheyenne Sun at the rate Of
one dollar column. In one of his humor-
GUS photographed sketches Mr.. Nye
says that that sum, which amounted to
nearly $50 a year. SO dwarfed his returns
from his law practice that he decided to
take up newspaper writing as profession.
and accordingly moved to Denver. where
he obtained a position on the staf Of the
Denver Tribune. 49,. -.
lie corresponded from Denver for the
Salt Lake Tribune. Later a new paper
was started in Laramie called the Boom
erang, after a favorite mule owned ny N!e,
and which he called boomerang" be-
cause he never knew where it woul! strike.
At the time Nye edited the Boomerang it
was published over livery stable. a
sign on the door instructed callers to
Twist the tail OF the gray mule ana take
the elevator"
The Boomerang was quoted all over the
country and Nye began to get hts reputa-
ton as q humOrist OF note at that time.
The paper was not a financial success, but
it was the foundation for the fortune
which Nye afterwards made as humor'
ist.
Like many humorists, Mr.. Nye was q
man of almost womanly gentleness of dis
position. His amiability was never
clouded. and his good humor was as spon-
taneous as it was goOd-natured. He never
forgot a friend. Inslater years his writings
and lecturing brought an income OF over
$50, 600 year, and he will leave moderate
fortune to his widow and children.
h " Mr.. Nye was married In 1871 to Miss
Fanny Smith. Of Chicago. With her and
their children Nye lived happily for q long
time on the banks Of the st. Croix. and
they went with him to New York city and
made home bright on. Staten Island. OF
late years, when he was not going about
the country on featuring tours. NyeA has
passed most Of his time at his country
place near this city. 4..r,. 1922,
Some Of the experiences Of his life on this
farm are among his quaintest and best
efforts. or his appearance all that ID
necessary to say lie that. he looked like his
pictures" and there IS hardly a man. WON
an or child who reads newspapers who
docs not know them by heart. Perhaps
the most famous Of his humorous writ
ings was the letter to the president Of the
United States accepting the postmaster
ship at Laramie City. That letter was
commented upon in seriousness by the
London Times, and the comment was, per.
haps, al funny as the original letter, when
all the circumstances are taken into con-
sideration.