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DECAY OF A GREAT POWER Puck drew its last breath a few days ago The news of its final passing will stir the memories of an elder generation of Americans who knew it in its prime Puck was born before the commercialization of literature had begun Conceived of brains reared by parents of courage and high principle it lived to become one of the most powerful influences in this country Its earlier years like thosfr of many a great man were a struggle for life but they served to stimulate not to embitter Indeed some of its most striking cartoons were printed when it seemed to those interested that each issue might be its itsIt It is not easy to apportion to each one of the men whose talents contributed to the making of this great journal of satire and humor the exact mead of credit due Joseph Keppler may be said to have created a school of cartooning that was at least new to this country The keen wit and lit ¬ erary gifts of H C Bunner served to lift the paper above the standard set by its predecessors in the field of humor J A Wales Frederic B Opper R K Munkittrick Brander Matthews A E AAat rous W J Henderson Ernest Harvier and Carl Hauser were among those whose talents contributed to the ultimate success of Puck during its period of struggleTo struggle To these men wit and humor were not for mere clowning but were instruments intended to serve a serious and worthy purpose and therein lay the secret of their success Tho making of cartoons was a business that enlisted the talents of the entire staff each member offering unreserved crit ¬ icism and the best idea his brain could evolve The brains of fully half a dozen experts went into the famous cartoon of the Tattooed Man which proved a powerful influence in the election of Gmver presidencyAVith Cleveland to the presidency AVith the passing of those who had made it Puck entered upon the mournful period of Its decline The decay of a great mind from vigor to senility is alweys a sad tiling to contemplate and Pucks end was as pitiful as that of Harpers Weekly also a power for good in its day Passed from one incompetent hand to another becoming first foolish and then senile It drew its last breath in a literary knacker s yard unheeded and unwept by a gen ¬ eration that knew it not New York Herald
