The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-10-05
A POPULAR PETITION.

A POPULAR PETITION.
How Little Johnny Brought tho Circus
to Kentucky Jim's.
The whole country south of Ken
lucky Jim's mining camp was ablaze
with circus posters. Every bit of fence,
every tumble down. deserted miners
cabin between Sligo and Wild Cat
which could by any possibility be made
to hold scrap of paper, became bill
board. Johnny Hunter had feasted on
them all with eager eyes as he rode
about the country with his father.
There were pictures of big, spotted
African giraffes, eating leaves from the
topmost boughs Of tall trees; elephants,
with feet like door-stones and great
swinging trunks; big and little ponies
in brilliant trappings, standing on two
legs, making ladders of themselves,
sitting at table, and performing the
most amusing tricks. There were fe-
rocious tigers, and white bears on big
blocks of ice, and wolves and lions,
and man sitting right in the den with
them. And there was big cage of
chattering monkeys and parrots with
red, green and yellow feathers Best of
all were the wonderful ring perform
anoes, where man was flying through
trapeze, and six others making an
Dbelisk of themselves, and man in red
and green being fired out of big can
non.
Then there was a procession of gold
chariots, and ladies in beautiful clothes
riding on horseback. and troops of
Shetland ponies, and brass band, and
man playing on a steam piano.
Johnny, who had never been twenty
miles from Kentucky Jims, and who
had never seen travelling show of
any kind, much less a gorgeous circus
like this, hugged himself with ecstacy.
Not many bills were posted very near
to Kentucky Jim's, for the circus was
to exhibit at town forty miles away,
and it was hardly probable that
many could go that distance. In par
ticular, Johnny knew very we'll that he
was not going. Mr.. Hunter was su-
perintendent of three mining camps,
and as busy as a man could well be,
from morning to night Johnny would
never be permitted to go so far alone,
though he would willingly have walked
from Kentucky Jim's to San Francisco
to see these wonderful sights had his
father consented.
Johnny thought it all over very care
fully as he rode along by his fathers
side over the smooth, beautiful noun
tain road. Tall pines lowered above
them. Smooth barked manzanita
cleaned from thickets by the wayside,
and sweet odors Of mountain pinks
waited their fragrance to the passer-by.
Mr.. Hunter had business with one of
the overseers at the mine, and Johnny.
catching the word "circus," listened
with all his might.
They thought, sir" the man was
saying, ''if we drew up a petition you
might see fit to let us off for one day.
And the men have been kept over
hours since we turned the water on the
Big Lead. Here is the petition sir"
Johnny looked on with eager eyes,
fore, but if it was anything that would
help boy to the circus, he meant to
have one.
The man handed Mr. Huntington a
long sheet of paper, at the head of
which was written, in bold letters,
something beginning, 1--WE, the under
signed, respectfully request that we be
allowed" etc. etc. Then followed
long list of names
Mr. Hunter shook his head regret
fully
''If it were not so far away, Math-
thews, we might arrange it. But the
men would hardly be able to get back
to work before noon OF the next day, and
we must be ready to clear up by
Thursday. Tell them am sorry, but
it can't be helped this time" And Mr.
Hunter hastened off down the hill where
a heavy stream of water from an eight
inch pipe was playing. with tremen-
dOus force, on the opposite sand bank
and washing the rich gold soil down the
tunnel
Johnny seated himself on a smooth
gray rock and began to whittle of
clean, beautiful pipe-clay shavings. all
the time thinking very hard on a grand
Presently he jumped up. "Tll do it,"
he shouted. And away down the hill
he ran to his father.
The result of the conference was that
Johnny went over to the overseer's lit
tie cabin. and had long consultation
with Mr.. Matthews. And when John
ny came out, he carried large roll OF
paper. on which were written these
words: 1--WE, the undersigned, resi-
dents OF Kentucky Jim's and vicinity,
respectfully request Mr.. Montgomery
King. manager of The Greatest Show
on Earth. that he bring his circus to
this town. and we promise him here
with our hearty support
At noon the miners gathered around
the overseer's cabin, signed the paper
To a man. OF TO Big Butte drove Mr.