JOHN KENDRICK BANGS. 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. SAMUEL LANGHORN CLEMENS. Samuel L. Clemens, who is better known as “Mark Twain,” was born in Monroe county, Missouri, November 30, 1835, and received his education at the village schools. On his father’s death, which took place when he was twelve years of age, he went to work in order to contribute to the support of his mother and little brothers and sisters. As an apprentice in the office of the Hannibal (Missouri) Courier, he laid the foundations of his reputation as author and journalist. Within the following twenty-five years he was steamboat pilot, soldier, miner and editor. His first contributions under his famous nom-de-plume appeared in 1862, in the newspaper, The Virginia City Enterprise. Since 1872 he has devoted himself to literary work, lecturing occasionally, and making frequent trips to Europe. It is said that nearly a million copies of his works have been sold. Space will not permit of a full list of them, but Roughing It, The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and Pudden-Head Wilson are classics whose popularity bids fair to last as long as American literature itself. FINLEY PETER DUNNE. The author of the immortal “Mr. Dooley” is Finley Peter Dunne, who began life as a Chicago reporter, but is now under contract to Harper Brothers to write exclusively for their publications. He was born at Chicago, July 10, 1867, was educated in local public schools and began his reportorial life in 1885. After serving on the staffs of several Chicago papers he became editor of the Journal of that city in 1897. It was about this time that he conceived “Mr. Dooley.” The reputation which that unique character brought him resulted in his being engaged to contribute to a syndicate of New York, Chicago and San Francisco newspapers, and later to form his current connection with the Harpers. SIMEON FORD.