The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
Some of the Young Men Who Are Giving Presidents of
the Big Corporations Close Race

fornia and was graduated in 1904 with
a b. S. degree. That degree is now
for sale-cheap. His father, a real
estate man, had been Police Commits
sioner and Fire Commissioner and was
so we'll liked that young Reuben l..
Goldberg didn't have much trouble in
landing a job in the City Engineers
office at 800 per month. He held
down the job by sheer force Of will
for that month, collected his salary
and shook from his feet all the dust
he had gathered off the floor and from
his heart any warnings to become
famous as an engineer.
He had always wanted to draw
omething-anytfing. he didn't care
what 1t was, particularly. but family
advisers who knew of the trials and
fluctuations of an artistic career urged
him to get into a regular occupation
with a living salary. Gle was re-
minded that even some of the famous
portrait painters have years that are
very lean indeed. Goldberg listened.
Thought over the matter for a couple
of minutes, then went around to the
nearest newspaper office and asked for
a job. He got 1t and stayed there
three years. In 1907 he felt the call Of
the East and obeyed it. first sending
ON ahead a postcard to the only man
he knew in New York asking that he
meet Goldberg at the Grand Central
Station. because Goldberg expected TO
arrive there without a cent carfare
in his pocket.
1t happened that this friend had
heard of New York paper that
wanted a daily cartoon. so Goldberg
took some Of his work to the Office Of
that paper next day. showed it to the
city editor and was turned down with
out regret. The following morning he
went back with the same sketches and
asked for the sporting editor who
looked at the sketches. took them
away to the managing editor. and half
an j rrr later Goldberg was on the
sa,ary list. His only friend in New
l.rk was newspaper artist him.
and had impressed upon Goldberg
mat he must not under any Circum-
stances accept less than $50 a week.
as it would tend 10 cut rates for other
folks. So when the managing editor
asked Goldberg how mach pay he
wanted the lad from Frisco swallowed
hard and suggested fifty per-and he'd
have wept for JOY at the idea OF
getting ten.
you're on" said the managing edi-
tor. Wei! sive You a trial for three
months"
At the end of the three months
Go!dhcrg started his Foolish Ques-
tons and has kept them up ever
since. Eight years have passed since
he accepted $50 a week and would
have jump q at ten. To-day his pic
lures are widely syndicated and he
gets from them a regular income Of
more than 10000 per year. In addi-
ton he appears in vaudeville at $3.50
a week when he feels like il. usually
twelve or fifteen weeks a year: ana
also has royalties from his books. And
Reuben Luc.us Goldb, rg will not be 3
years old until next July. He lives
uptown, keeps regular office hours and
works as steadily as If he We're an in
suranCe c.erk.
Another OF the comic artists who
has achieved financial success while
still a very young man is Harry Con-
way Fisher. whose Mutt and Jeff'
pictures bear the familiar signature
Bud Fisher" He too is San Fran
cisco boy, born there just thrty-one
years ago. But he left the Pacific
slope in 1898 and went to Chicago,
where he prepared for college. He
had one year in the academic course
at Chicago University, then went to
the University of Wisconsin for
another year or so. when he quit the
whole idea Of student life. Fisher, too,
had always been scrtbbllng on paper,
and when he got back to San Fran
cisco he called on one Of the news
papers and asked for job.
What can you do?" asked the edi-
tor in charge.
Draw" Fisher replied promptly.
I'm an artist
The lad was so self-confident that
the editor person got miffed. He didn't
like such cocksureness on the part of
smooth faced boy who had done
nothing up to that date.
'All right" he replied. "if you're an
artist We'll give you trial. Your pay
will be SIS a week. Now get busy on
this work of art"
What is ito" Fisher inquired a