The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

able fortune. "My son shall be merchant"
was his logical conclusion. So this bright boy
was duly entered on the books of g most an
cient and respectable firm of Portuguese i'm
porters that he might learn the art of money
making. Nothing could have been more un-
congenial to the tastes of young Bunner than
the humdrum calling OF prosaic merchant.
His employers soon decided that he was not
fitted for q commercial career. Instead of de-
voting his attention to the casting up OF long
columns of figures on the ledger, he was con-
tInually writing bits of verse and prose on
blotters or any blank papers convenient
about his desk. Finally the bead of this most
respectable firm was obliged to inform the
embryo merchant that his services were n
longer required and that he might resign with
the kind permission OF all concerned. So
ended the brief commercial career of Bunner
the merchant and thus began the life of Bun
ner the writer.
Now camc the time when he must choose his
own way in liie The selection was soon made.
The daily papers offered the only inducements
consistent with his tastes. SO Bunner entered
the literary lists as an ordinary reporter on
the New York Sun, the most exacting of all
American newspapers. He was soon asked to
pilot new venture known as the Areadian.
which proved but weakly infant, and soon
sickened and died At this time Messrs. SwarZ-
man and Keppler were struggling hard to keep
a little German pictorial above the surface,
and at dinner of the most pronounced DO
hemian character il was decided to ask Mr..
Bunner to take charge of its letter-press. This
offer was gladly accepted, and soon Puck be-
came q power in the land.
Mr.. Bunner occupied most enviable posi-
ton. Editor of popular weekly In the great
city OF New York at the age OF %; surrounded
by q circle OF charming friends, the very
choicest spirits of Bonemia, such men as
Laurence Hutton, George Parsons Lathrop,
Walter Learned of New London, Edwin Booth
George H. Jessup, Joseph Jefferson and host
of Others, all loyal, good fellows. THIS CON-
pact of true friendship, although made some
twenty years ago, was never broken, save by
death.
Eleven years ago Mr.. Bunner married Miss
Alice Learned, daughter of a New London
banker, and sister of Walter Learned, the poet
ana magazine writer. The match was
most delightful union OF kindred spirits
Mrs. Bunner was at once reeog-
nized as q charming entertainer and
withai, q kind-hearted. benevolent little
lady whom everybody loved. She seemed
like an inspiration to her hus sbsnd, for soon
after this happy marriage Mr. Bunner began
work OF more ambitious sort. He was no
longer content with his weekly contributions
to Puck, but buckled down to the hard
task of writing book ana at the same time
became contributor TO the leading maga-
zines. A year after marriage Mr. Bunner pur-
chased their beautiful little home in Nutley
n. j., one of the most charming New York
suburbs. Although in another State, it
was easily reached by crossing the North
River. lying about as convenient to New York
as does Oakland TO San Francisco.
Here was established happy home indeed,
using the term in its broadest sense, for na-
ture and art had combined to make 1t beauti-
full, both within and without Imagine q
beautiful, oId-fashioned house with many
gables, surrounded by a miniature forest of
beeehes, elms and ehestnuIs; q Velvety lawn
girded by low stone wall, which, by the by,
nobody every respected, but ste epped over at
the emostconYenient spot. a comfortable, shady