The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1883-12-13
The Lightning Ticket Seller.

From the Cincinnati News Journal.
Nearly every circus advertises its
treasurer and "the lightning ticket-sel-
Ter of the world" and the gentlemen
who manipulate the coin in ticket wag.
On unquestionably arrive at wonderful
degree of proficiency and rapldity.
Knowing that Colonel John Murray's
name had figured good deal in this di-
rection reporter questioned him on
The subject recently.
Colonel Murray, from your expert
ence and your knowledge of the subject,
whom do you consider to be the fastest
ticket seller In the world?" was asked.
well, that is a hard question to al.
swer. Several claim it, but great many
things must be taken into consideration
quick calculation, correct change, etc.
believe, however, that none have ever
come up to the record made with Sells
Brothers Circus in Chicago o the lake
front. on Decoration Day, 1882"
"What was the record Them"
81 sold 6, l50 tickets in an hour with
out an error. and without taking in
lad piece of money. IF this record has
ever been excelled | have not heard of
it."
care there many efforts to pass bad
money!"
such instances are of everyday oc-
currence. But in twenty-five years ex-
perience I have never taken but one s.
counterfeit bill. The silver money can
detect the moment get it in my hand,
either by the weight or the handling OF
it. have passed money back so quick
ly and went on selling tickets that the
party would look at me in perfect as
constituent and take minute or two to
recover his wonted equanimity. Some
come back and claim that l have given
them the wrong change, but that never
works as l know better. One very
amusing thing has occurred thousand
| dimes, and that is when l have given
man his change and his ticket together
| he would stand and demand his money
not knowing it was in his hand, so
quickly had it been given him. / have
seen fly fellows around the wagon come
up and present twenty dollar bill ex-
| pecting me to give them the wrong
| change, but would never be caught III
anything of the kind"
"You run across queer customers al
the mouth of Il ticket wagon?"
~ should say so. In some parts
the South and North they come TO
| circus with KNIVES up tnelr sleeves, aI
as would hand them money and tick
cts the points of their weapont Won.
| cut my hands. The negroes OK tb
South are the queerest set ever RI
across. They remember man fo
years. When had not been in tow
| for four seasons have seen them stan
around the ticket wagon and say. 'Tb
is the same teller who was here fol
years ago. Before the season is ovt
my hands have corns on them from tt
constant handling ofsilver. No atteml
at robbery was ever made but once, ar
that was in Cleveland in 1880. 1t W.
after the night performance, and he
over 5000 in my valise. Eph Sells an
l were just getting off of the grounds
| take q hack, when a man struck
with slug shot. shot at hin, and
did Sells, but he got away without tn
money, and q policeman promptly
rested me for shooting at him. hav
been treasurer of Sells & Brooke
Shows Cooper & Bailey's Circus I
Great Southern Show and The La
Circus. / have also been treasurer o
several theatres, and used to officiate i
the box Office of the old Woods Theati