Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-25

into leading periodicals and became popu-
lar, still there was no intimation of the ex-
istence of that fairy tribe which finally
was to monopolize his thoughts and ener-
gies for the rest of his life.
Funny Animals Made Hit.
In telling of this period in the life of Mr..
Cox, Malcolm Douglas, who later wrote the
songs for the theatrical representation of
the brownies, once said:
During this period of his life his ami
NAL drawings especially won the fancy of
the critics and found an eager audience
among the readers of Little Folks, Wide
Awake. Harper's Young People and st.
Nicholas. Yet in depicting the humoristic
side of the animal world he found that his
work lacked that individuality which he
knew 1t must possess to attain true sue
cess. He saw that he must hit on some
thing distinctive, that would make his crea-
tons stand out from those of other artists
something that bore the stamp of origi-
nality, that was all his own. For years he
searched his mind for a new theme to
which he might devote all his energies,
and at last he bethought himself OIL the
brownies Of his childhood.
Brownies Came as Inspiration.
'The idea came to him as an inspiration.
All at once 1t occurred to him that these
jolly little elves, who had endeared them
selves to the children of his native village,
although they existed only as formless /
creatures Of the Imagination, might be apt
ly portrayed in tangible face and figure and
be made the heroes of exploits which,
through che pases OF Periodicals, would win 4
the affections OF the little ones of thes1
whole country His belief proved true.
The brownies. which he first began to
draw in 1888. when he was forty years old,
became popular from the start"
h1 vrao ar, nj
idea, its development in the brain of Mr., /
Cox made It a new being. Formerly a
shapeless thought, 1t because an actual per-
sonage, and with its pop eyes. smiling face.
pot stomach and wiry legs 1t at once as
sumed an individuality altogether its own.
In Scottish legend the brownies worked
separately. and limited their activities al
most entirely to domestic toll. In the mind
of Cox they became gregarious, Travelled
about In bands. and achieved all kinds OF
wonderful deeds.
Versatility His Saving Grace.
OF course. the mere discovery of the ar
tistic adaptabilty of the brownie was only
the gateway to the success of Mr.. Cox. Had
he been possessed of only ordinary talent
he would soon have exhausted his theme.
The brownie would have become only
quickly passing fad. Mr.. Cox. however, had
abled him to keep this subject ever novel,
He is always finding new things for his
brownies to do. He keeps them up to
date. When the bicycle came out, they
rode bicycles, and with the invention of
the automobiles they rolled around the
country in the most modern motor cars.
After the war with Spain,~ when Americans
were still wondering what kind of country
they had acquired from Spanish control in
the orient, the brownies went to the Phil
ippnes, Travelled all over those islands, and
told the children OF the United States all
about the archipelago.
Bristle With Individuality.
In the Brownies. Mr.. Cox also has been
able to depict human nature in way which
has made them peculiarly interesting to
both old and young. He has made them
represent various types of humanity. and
endowed each with a personality of his
own. There is a Brownie dude, for ex-
ample. who always appears in silk hat
and swallowtail coat, and who frequently
becomes the butt of ridtc1le because of
his overweening vanity. There is also the
Brownie policeman whose characteristics
Brownie soldier with his military strut;
pedantic school teacher; the rough and
tumbl. clown, the palavering lrishman, the
sly Turk. There Is a Browne representa-
tive for nearly every vocation, creed and
nationality, and they all have done SO many
thing that the stories of their deeds now
fill seven large volumes
There is a poetic side to the creator of
the modern Brownie which should not be
overlooked. Not only has Mr. Cox written
enough rhymes in narrating the adven-
lures of his fairy folk to comprise an epic
twice the length of the Had, but he has
written much verse On other themes, which
promises long to survive its author. Sim
pleness of thought is combined with such
rare freedom of fancy and kindness of
hunor in his best poetry that it refreshes
the mind, no matter what may be ones
mood.
Tale of Two Travellers.
These characteristics are SHOWN in some
degree in the following poem, entitled, The
Two Travellers
In bygone times. Il came TO pass,
tall giraffe and dwarfsh ass
AS fellow travellers, side by side.
Were jogging through country wide.
The much inclined TO smile
At his companions awkward style,
His great long legs to criicise.
And at his neck express surprise
In short, to spare cruel hit
Whereby he might display his wit
But as they moved the region through
The vegetation scafcer grew.
Until upon the sterile ground
But little else than stones found
And only the taliest trees
Grew aught that could their hunger ease
/. And there, with famine worn away,
The hungry ass was forced TO stny
And watch his conrade the fruit
A dozen feet above the root.
s.Ah mel" he cried NO more I'll chat
Nor at your neck and figure laugh.
In truth. find now after all.
I'd give my ears 10 be as tail"
Does Not Look Like Joker.
Personally Mr.. Cox affords the observer
no clue to the merry creations of his mind.
" Ike he rbo