New-York tribune., 1922-01-22
Hu1noristBan!gs
Succu1nbs After
Two Operations
Dies at Atlantic City Of
an Intestinal Trouble
That Forces His Doctors
to Employ instruments
He Appeared on Platform
Wife and 3 Sons With Au-
thor Of "A Houseboat OH
the Styx' When End Comes
sreciol Dispatch to The Tribune


Srrciul Dispatch to The Tribune
ATLANTIC CITY, Jan. 21.--John
Kendrick Bangs, author. humorist and
lecturer, died here in the City Hospital
at 1920 o'clock this afternoon after q
second operation was performed this
morning in an attempt to save his life.
Mrs Bangs and the three sons Of the
humorist were at his bedside at the
time OF death
Dr. William Blair Stewart. Mr.
Banss's private physician. issued the
following statement after Mr. Bangs's
DEATH
"Mr. Bangs's condition was caused
originally by a malignant intestinal
first operation gave temporary relief.
but it was necessary to-day to perform
a second operation.
"Thc second operation was performed
by DR. Theodore Senseman and DE-
David Altman, but unfortunately the
growth had advanced so rapidly that
it was impossible to remove it."
The body Of Mr.. Bangs will be taken
to New York Tuesday for interment.
The funeral services will be held in
st. Bartholomew Episcopal Church on
Tuesday.
"kenny" to His Friends
Kenny" as John Kendrick Bangs
was famiiarly known TO innumerable
friends, came Of a family which for
several generations had been honor
ably distinguished in intellectual
achievements, and which had been es-
tablished in this country by Edward
Bangs. who came from England to
Massachusetts in the ship Anne in 1922.
"kennys" grandfather, Nathan Bangs.
was for time president Of Weseyan
University, at Middctown, Conn. and
was one Of the foremost writer's Of his
day on theological and historical top
les. "Kenny's" sather, Francis N.
Bangs, who married Amelia Frances
Bull, member Of prominent Ncv
\ ork family. was for many wears
leader of the metropolitan bar and
Tor a time president of the Bar Asso-
citation.
OF such parentage and ancestry, John
kendrick Bangs was born at Yonkers
on May 81. 1862. He was educated at
Columbia College, pursuing the philo-
sophical classical course, and was Grad
uated in 1883 Phi. B. For year
thereafter he studied law at Columbia.
but his bent for literature, and partic-
ularly for humor. bore him away from
the legal profession.
Went From College to "Life"
In college he had edited with bril-
liant success the "Acta Columbiana."
and his work on it was quick pass
port to All associate cditorship Of
| "Llfe' in 1884. In 1888 he became
the editor Of "The Editors Drawer"
the humorous department of "Harper's
Magazine" and conducted it for ten
years. Then in 1898 he succeeded
Laurence Hutton as the writer of
Literary Notes" in the same magazine
The next year Harper e. Bros. began
he edited it, For time he was also
the editor Of "Harper's Weekly" He
edited The Metropolitan Magazine"
for some months in 1902 and 1908 and
, Puck" in 1904 and 1905. Later he
edited "Tle Rambler" in Boston. and
for time made his home at Ogunquit.
Me.
Mr. Bangs was conspicuously as
sociated with various public interests
in his native city. He was director
of the local gas company, president Of
the Halsted School, trustee of the
Public Library and in 1897 vice-presi-
dent of the Board Of Education He
was vestryman Of St Paul's Prot
estant Episcopal Church.
In 1894 he was the Democratic can
didate for Mayor Of Yonkers, and
though he was defeated he got lot Of
fun out of his campaign and gave the
public much amusement He was
much in demand as lecturer and as
reader from his own writings and
ranked among the wittiest after din
ner speakers. His disposition was
notably genial and companionabc and
he seemed to enjoy jokes at his own
expense as much as those which he
told of others. Apart from his IL
repressible humor he was a man Of
rich, broad and deep scholarship, in
both modern arts and classic lore
Outspoken During War
During tho World War he exhibited
an aggressive patriotism, with a keen
and outspoken appreciation of the
falsehood and savagcry Of the German
foe.
he was member of the Psi Upsilon
fraternity and of the Lotos and lrni-
versity clubs and the Century Assocja-
ton OF New York, and the st. Botolph's s
Club, of Boston. He was president Of
the Amacksssin Club. of Yonkers, and
member of the st. Andrews and
Ardslcy golf clubs. In New York on
March ), 1885, he married Miss Agnes.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Jabcz 3.
nSde. After her death he married Miss
Mary B. Gray, Of New York. in 1904
His photography is voluminous. com
prising more than sixty titles. Among
his best known works are "A House..
boat on the StvS," "The Idiot" "'rhrcc
Weeks in Politics." "Ghosts Have
Met" "Tnc Genial idiot" "'rhe Auto
biography Of Methusclah." and "rhe
Foothills Of Parnassus." His writings
comprised poetry and prose. philosophv
and fiction, and the librcttos Of several
musical comedies