Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-24
HIS FATHERS BONES.
a Serious Looking Man Puts in
Claim for the Shcwman'5
tsSkilletin."
fArkansaw Traveler.1

AT the Louisville exposition an lngeniouSiy
arranged skeleton dances on a platform
keeping perfect time with the music Tht
other day, during a performance Of the
skeleton, a serious looking man rushed for
ward iind exclaimed:
"Hold on, caD'n. Take the string offen
that skeleton an let him lie down awhile"
The exhibitor poid no attention, and the
man exclaimed: ''Tu1n that skilletin loose y
II wish yea would keep quiet" the exhib-
itor replied.
''Keep quiet, the deuce. This is no time to
keep quiet. want that skilletin, an Tn
goin' to have itl'
eff you don't keep qniet, I'll have you
elected" the exhibitor said, with frnness
that left no doubt in the minds Of the audi
ence that he meant exactly what he said
You don't understand the relationship be-
tween me an that skilletin," the man re-
marked with emotion Listen to NE. My
father alters teached me-"
'He didt teach you grammar" said the
exhibitor
''Never mind about grammar I've got
facts, an grammar an geography can't hold
light to facts My father alters teacheo
me that it was wrong to dance. Many time
make me stop shakin' my feet. Finally, l had
so much respect for him that quit dancin',
an for years now have been deprived Of
the pleasure. Now, 1 see that have been
imposed on. If he wouldn't allow me to
dance, blamed if I ought to allow him, an
dinged if am goin' to do it."
Il don't understand you," said the exhib.
itor, becoming interested.
Il recllin' not, but you will. That sllilletin
is my father. He was buried out here in
Brothet county, an because he was o fire
lookin' man, of shape, the doctors dug him
up They tuck him away, scraped his bones
strung em together, and sold 'eln TO you
Now you are making him do jest what he
KEEP me from doin' It's wrong, capn, TO
make u preachers skilletin dance in a side
show. Take him down an let me put in a
few ticks. The old man has had the advan-
tage for many years, an now blamed if
don't want a show; but aside from that,
cap'n, I do think that it is wrong to
make the skilletin OF a preacher
dance, specially when the preacher
in life was opposed to shakin' the
foot. Give me the old man an Pil go an
bury him. It's shame to keep him up SC
late for he aPers did believe in goin to bed
'arly. Hend him here, podner, an with a
solemn feeiin' let me put him away. You
may have bought him, an may lose by the
transaction, but consider the feelin's of a
devoted son. How would you feel if your
father was made to dance in a side show.
Wouldn't you feel like maulin' the fiddlers
an mashin' the dancin' marsters Gimme the
old man an let me take him home to his
grief-struck family. Let my mother an sis
tiers bend over his wired bones an sob. You
have never been placed in my position,
reckin. don't suppose you ever saw the
aged skilietin of your honored father
stand up an dance for the amusement
of white folks an niggers. The
appeal that I make to you is from TIE tan:}e1.
est part of my breast. Look how reckless
the old man is made to shake bis Deg. He
suffered from rheumatic in life, an don't you
know that it is wrong to make him caper that
way? am appealin' to a humane sympathy, u
and he sorrowfully leaned on the edge Of the
platform 81 am directin' my remarks to
people that have had fathers I want to know
if there's man in this crowd that would
like to see the skilletin of his father git I'D
here an kick up his heshless heel-bones for
the amusement of a. gigglin' crowd? What
WOulC you UNlnk, SIT, turning 10 Cne e61JOT
of an Arkansaw newspaper, if you were to
find your father dancing here instead of
quietly sleeping in his graveP
eff the old man wanted to dance" replied
the editor, ''I'd let him dance, but If he
didn't, I'd take him down"
'But know that my father didn't want
to dance"
"Then I'd haul him off the box"
"Believe I'll do it. Here, Snowman, take
the old man down an let me bury him. I've
stood the thing as long as can My family
can stand much, but it cannot be ridiculed
after DEATH" and he reached over and seized
the shank of the skeleton. The exhibitor
called loudly for the police. and the man who
had shown such respect for his fathers bones
was taken away. 1t is thus that civilization
moves backward A feeling of this kind
caused Thackeray to stop on the street and
contemplate u turtle on whose back was
posted the announcement, Turtle soup to-
morrow
All! blind little god, if thy blindness
Shouid lead thee to fiutter my way.