The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-01
HE WAS A DAISY!
And His Name was +. Reed, and He
Travelled for Barnum, the
Great Snowman.
He T0iled not, Neither did He Spin, but
Solomon in all His Glory, was
not ArraYed Like Him.

He was daisy; he was! His name was
Reed, Frank Reed He came to town last
Saturday and took state rooms at the
Harper house. He had a fine suit of
clothes, and his hair was parted in the
middle, and not spot of dirt was allowed
to rufllle his linen. In fact he
was regular sweet scerted gale from off
Arahv. He was business though, straight
from the handle. He gave Mr.. Willerton,
the clerk at the Harper house, letter OF
introduction, given him by friend OF
Mr.. Harper. He told Willerton that he
had come here to make arrangements fol-
Barnum's great and only show. He
wanted to know how many people-theiI
very best people could be accommodated
at the Harper house He was told that
they could accommodate sixty people
"All right" said Reed, Il will depend
upon you TO keep your prom
Use. Then the fellow went
to number of butchers and spoke fol
beef, for the animals, the lions, the bears
the tigers, the hyenas, etc. etc. He then
went TO a number of cur livery men and
contracted for hay, oats, corn, etc, all
for Barnum. lie then went and saw
Bailey Davenport in regard 10 renting the
grounds for the show to exhibit on, MIR
Davenport told him what the cost of the
ground would be, and he said it was
reasonable enough. He then went to the
city clerks office to see about the cost OF
license. Then he rested on his oars, see
ing life as it was in Il moral city. From
He had a conversation with Manager
Skeels, of the Burtis opera house about
billing Davenport. SkecIs advised him
not TO come to Davenport, but he needed
not Skeels advice, but went ahead and
engaged hay, corn, oats and lodging fol
BaTnum' show at the BurtiS house lust
as he did over here at the Harper house.
Along towards 8 a'clock Tuesday after
noon, Mr.. Frank Reed got to hosting
tanglefoot on board to the very much
disgust of his stomach He soon became
full-full but not noisy. lie AGAIN
saw Skeels, and told him he was going to
bill the town for Barnum, let come what
may Skeels noticed that he was drunk.
He knew that Barnur. employed no
drunken men. or men who were in the
habit of drinking. Still the fellow was
all right in appearance He had glib
tongue, talked show TO his heart 5 content,
convincing Mr. Skccls that he was no fool,
but understood his business. The fellow
went 10 bed Tuesday night, got up Wednes
day morning, ale his breakfast and said
he WAS going ont to Peoria To take a look
at the town. lie went, but has forgotten
to return. A Telegram was sent east t.
Barnum enquiring after him. but Barnun
knew him not. He telegraphed back that
he might be a daisy, hut he was fraud
of the first water. nevertheless Now that
he has gone we hope he will stay
We never took any stock in him. lie
owes bill at the Harper house, but he
will never pay it. If he got into any
body's confidence and borrowed money
On the strength of his claims of being s
was We are sorry that Barnum's show
will not visit this city in JuIy-as Reed
said it woIld-but We guess we can live
over our disappointment.