The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
From TIT Bits.

From TIT Bits.
n MERICA Is, without doubt. the
p happy hunting ground OF the
cartoonist, for there almost ev-
cry daily paper has Its political artist
just as 1t has its leader writer and So
ciety editor, In England very few news
papers possess their own cartoonists.
with tho result that this particular
branch of art is becoming rarer every
day. At the present time there are no
more than a dozen prominent cartoonists
in England, while in America they may
be counted by hundreds. Every leading
American daily endeavors to get the
best cartoonist in the country, with the
result that these artists are highly paid
and occupy a position second only in I'M
portance to that of the editor himself.
Payment to political cartoonists In the
states varies very often according to the
value which the artist himself puts upon
his work The writer knows one man
who is a cartoonist to his fingertips. but
he doesn't know It, Consequently he is
getting about RS a week when he should
really be getting $50 or 225. And he
will get 1t soon, for when his present
contract comes to an end dozen pa
pers will be fighting to possess him.
The American cartoonist is in his ele-
ment, of course. during presidential
election. 1t is then that his talent Is
put to the real test, for he is up against
the combined efforts of all his rivals. A
clever cartoon has considerable influence
on an election; and 1t is said that Homer
Davsnport's election cartoon of Roosevelt
few years ago aid much to swell his
tremendous majority. For weeks prior
to the conclusion Of a presidential cam
paign Davenport receives $1,000 a week
for his services--services which consist of
turning out one cartoon day. Mr..
Davenport does very fne work and his
art is q natural gift which has had no
training, and which is therefore all the
more wonderful. Originally Mr. Daven-
port earned a precarious livelihood by
fulfilling the duties of clown IN q err
Gus.
Probably tho leading cartoonist of the
day in tho states II Mr.. G. r. Maeauley.
whose work appears daily ON the editorial
pages of the New York World. He IL
the only American artist whose style
resembles that Of Sir John Tenniel,( who
IL, perhaps, the greatest cartoonist OF
the age. Mr.. Macauley is one of the most
rapid workers In the art world today,
turning out = complete cartoon finely
finished in less than two hours. Gar
toonist" Macauley is paid very big
sum for his work, and might make con-
siderably more II he would sell the orig
mails Of his work, for which there is al
ways a demand. But Mr.. Macauley does
not do this. preferring to allow the SUBJ
1ects of the cartoons to have the pictures
whenever they express that desire.
B. Upper Is a cartoonist as well as a
..comic artist" TIe was the originator of
the trusts "fat man." a figure that is
now always associated with the various
trusts" Mr.. Opper also originated
''Happy Hooligan," "A1phonse and Cas-
ton" and many other celebrated Ameri-
can characters. This artist also works
very quickly, and could, II he desired
to do SO, earn anything from 21o0 to
$500 a week. There IL not much refine-
ment about his work, but 1t Is good news
paper art, and generally achieves the
object for which 1t was prepared.
James Montgomery Flagg Is so
ciety'' artoonist-somewhat on the lines
of the late George du Maurier. His work
ID now regarded as on higher plane
than that of Gibson, Christy, Fisher or
any Of the artists who have gained fame
by delineating the charms of the Amer
lean Girl Mr.. Flagg receives ESQ for a
1 single drawing and he could, II he de-
i sired. work "a hours day at uniform
lsts of eaa an hour--so numerous are his