The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-11-07
Bill Apps First Interview with
Josh Billings.

Josh Billings,
Carlton introduced us at his
store, under the Fifth Avenue.
Josh was a scttin there about hall
asleep. | thought he was Il Meth.
odist ex'orter. Mr.. Carlton, says
he to me: "Arp-Mayor Arp-ai-
low me to introduce you TO Col
Billings - Josh Billings, Mayor
Arp, from Georgia"
Seating myself, looked at JOSH
and Josh looked at me. lie never
said nothing and lncvcr said moth
in. | still took him tor an eX'ortcr.
After a good long minute he open
ed his mouth solem'ly and said:
"Say something's ,
"Something y said |; for had
lust spotted HIM and was looking
as Solem' as possible. ,
"When you fled from the foul
invader YOU had Il steer with a Knot
in his tall said he.
"Yes.' said l..
as he we'll " said he.
"As well as could be expected,
considerin"' said /.
"Considerin' what?' said he.
"Heis dead said |.
Billings sighed, and wiping his
eye, said with much feeling:
"Hence these steers"
just then Mr.. Carlton called us
to the door to see Il ballon sailing
away with a balIOnatic in it. After
awhile it dritted clear out of sight
and we sat down to ruminate. Bill
ings sighed again aud the corners
of his mouth dropped very low.
Said he:
"Thc like of that makes me very
sad. Thirty years ago | embarked
on life's uncertain sea-not the wet
sea shore enuft but the dry land.
| started West with 81 and a good
carakter-which is to stay there
was no Indictment agin' me: |
wasn't Il runnin' away from nOthin.
went on and e%Xplorin' expedition
like Columbus and Sir John Frank
lin-an experimental survey of the
face of the earth. | Travelled alOOt
that is a good many feet-in fact
a few hundred miles and got out
of money and eXpediehts about the
same timG-way off at Il little town
III Indiana.
"My natural aversion to muscu-
lar exercise had about brought me
to the verge of bankruptcy when |
sped a crowd moving round i'll the
suburbs. There | found Il little
dried up Italian going about with
a hat trying to make up ten dollars.
He said he could go up i'll his bal
loon for that sum and no less. The
crowd FASTENED, and talked and
laughed and joked, but they didn't
contribute. The little fellow look
ed sad and discouraged, and was
about to give it up when | sudden.
~ discovered my opportunity.
Rousing myself as it were from
despair, | whispered to him and
asked if he would give me all over
the ten dollars | could get. "IeS,'
said he.n Selling the hat | grew
eloquent. let fly my homely wit
and got everybody in good humor
and IN about five minutes had rak
ed in twenty-five dollars.
"The rotten Old Ialloon was fir
ed up in. a twinkIing. | helped to
fire it-ifhd fill ed it so full OF gas
the old guy ropes could hardly hold
it to the ground. | saw that the
little fellow looked anxious, but |
felt gaily and was bound to give
him a lively send off.
"When we cut the ropes we shot
up like IA sky rocket !; in less than
IA midute he was about a mile NJ
III the blue ethereal vault. 1t was
a calm, still day as you ever see,
and he Wentup 50 straight it almost
broke our neks to look at him. Up
and up and up he went until the
balloon was a bare specB in the
Sky-anu hlgnef ana nlSheflI went
until the spcck was gone, and not
even a sky glass could find it,
"My friends, from hat day to
this, no body has never seen or
heard Of that little Italian, or some.
how or somehow else | have always
felt responsible for him. My only
hope is that we went dead straight
to heaven. May the Lord have
mercy on us all"
Billings choked up and sObbed
a little as he remarked "Tve got
his part of the twenty-five dollars,
but if he's never heard OF III pay
it to him and three per cent inter
est will 'pon honor Arp, let's
step round and take somethin'-l'm
leelin' so sad"