Evening star., 1949-12-12
Leaders, Public
Mourn Death Of
{. K. Bergman
President Truman
Joins in Tribute to
Stur's Curtoonist

USdGu VI SllllOIu n. oGIl yuldll, on,
editorial cartoonist of The Evening
Star.
The artist whose robust good
humor had attracted thousands
of followers down the years passed
away peacefully at II am. yester-
day at his home. 2114 Bancroft
place NV.
Funeral services will be held
at II am. tomorrow in the
Washington Heights Presbyterian
Church, 1862 Kalorama road NV,
which Mr.. Bergman helped build
and which he attended with the
same faithfulness with which he
drew his cartoons.
The Rev. Robert E. Sheriff.,
pastor. will officiate. Burial will
be in Glenwood Cemetery.
President Eulogizes Him.
One of the first to extend his
sympathy to Mrs. Bergman was
President Truman. who sent this
telegram:
"A superb artist whose talent
had been a national asset for
more than half a century is lost
to his far-flung public in the
death of your devoted husband.
He was a valued friend and I
hasten to assure you that I share
the sorrow which has been laid
so heavily on you. To you and
to all who mourn with you,
offer this assurance of heartfelt
sympathy"
Dean of his profession in this
country and friend of Presidents
since the turn of the century. Mr..
Bergman was awarded the Pulit-
zer Prize for his cartoon in August,
1943. on war manpoWer mobili-
zation entitled But Where Is the
Boat Going?"
Used Bear as Symbol.
He also won fame as creator of
the teddy bear" an evolution of
the little animal which became a
cartoon symbol after he first used
it in connection with President
Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr.. Bergman. whose vigor was
q source of constant amazement
to younger colleagues. had been
Ill since November II. On that
day he was reporting to his draw
ing board as usual when he COL
lapsed at the entrance to The
Star Building.
On the day he collapsed one of
his cartoons in the best Bergman
style appeared on Page / Of The
Star. James Roosevelt was har-
ranguing on q soapbox marked
Candidate for Governor of Cali
fornia." California's Governor,
Earl Warren, who was seated at
the left. was saying: Whats in
a name? That which we call a
rose by any other name would
smell as sweet" And President
Truman. who was seated on the
right, was saying, Il doubt it."
His zest for living was apparent
even during his last illness.
Friends had hoped for his recovery
after he returned home December
2. However, a series of relapSes
followed, and he died yesterday
morning with Mrs. Bergman and
his daughter. Miss Florence Berry,
man. at the bedside. His son.
James T. Bergman. also a Star
cartoonist. was at his home and
could not be summoned in time.
Missed Clubs Dinner.
A member of many Washington
organizations. Mr.. Berryman's first
love was the Gridiron Club. Of
which he was the dean Of active
members. Since before he be-
came a member. he had illustrated
the menus.
When the club held its annual
mid winter dinner Saturday. it
was the first in SO years that Mr..
Bergman had missed. Realizing
at the outset Of his illness that
he might not be able to attend,
Mr.. Bergman had requested that
one of his guests. Crosby s. Noyes,
a reporter for The Star. be seated
in his place.
He recalled that Mr. Noyes'
great-grandfather. the late Crosby
S. Noyes, had taken him to his
first dinner in 1896. Mr.. Noyes
was editor of The Star.
With last Saturdays dinner on
his mind, Mr.. Bergman told his