John Kendrick Bangs occupies a distinctive position in the domain of
humor. To use the vernacular, he is in a class by himself, and so the
products of his pen can hardly be referred to or compared with that of
any other of the writers of to-day. He was born in Yonkers, New York,
May 27, 1862, his father being Francis N. Bangs, who for many years was
the president of the Bar association of New York. Mr. Bangs graduated
from Columbia university in 1883 and entered his father’s office, but
his humor would not down, and so it was that he shortly deserted the
law in order to become the associate editor of Life. This was in 1884.
Since that time he has held many responsible journalistic positions in
New York, and in his present capacity as editor of Harper’s Weekly has
added much to the reputation which is deservedly his.