The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-09

nv came out, he carried a large roll OF
paper, on which were written these
words: I'VE, 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 overscers cabin, signed the paper
to man. Off to Big Butte drove Mr.
Hunter in the afternoon, with very
much excited boy by his side. Ofcourse
all the Big Butte men wrote their
names on the petition with great enthu-
iasm. Several begged to sign twice,
but johnny would not allow that. Even
Ching Wan Lang and Hop Skip Hi, the
propretors of the Chinese laundry.
signed it, when they were made - un-
derstand that circus was like the big
gest kind of a 'devil-driving. The
list grew and grew. Every man, wo-
man and child who would promise to
support Mr.. Montgomery Kings grand
show was allowed to write his name on
the great paper. Johnny had busy
day, and was scarcely through when
his father was ready for the homeward
drive.
Tomorrow l shall go to Jobs
Creek and Silverville. and the next day
Yuba Pond and Slim Bills" said
Johnny. Don't you think he will
come for all these names. father?"
Mr.. Hunter would not commit him
self. but he did make it in the way OF
business to drive over to the creek next
day, and Johnny and his petition went
along, too.
Johnny walked about the town on air
for the next few days. He haunted tho
small post-office which was kept in one
side of the only grocery store in the
settlement, and was always on hand
when the big ten-mule team brought In
the mailbag.
At last the letter came-the first TINT
Johnny had ever received. 1t was a
big, business-like looking letter in a
light buff envelope, and it was directed
to master Johnny Hunter, Kentucky
Jim's, Sligo County, California" On
one end there was some printing If
not called for in ten days. return TO
Mr.. Montgomery King, Palace Hotel.
San Francisco CAL" Letters being
such new experience. Johnny very
naturally read the outside through
carefully before he opened the envel-
ope.
His hand trembled with excitement
as he unfolded the sheet and read:
MASTER JOHNNY HUNTER-Dedr SIR Yours
of tne 18th inst. received, and contents noted
1t gives me pleasure to inform you that have
J a single date free in your vicinity next week,
and will be glad to visit Kentucky Jim's with
the circus on Friday. l send my agent with
posters tomorrow.
VERY truly,
MONTGOMERY KING.
'San Francisco, Cal, May IL, 49,
, "Hu,ray! The circus is coming"
yelled Johnny. and he rushed down the
street giving the Sioux war-whoop with
all the strength of pair of very
healthy lungs as he went. Do you
, know what the Sioux war-whoop lisp II
not, can tell you that it is about the
most horrible sound that ever issued
from the mouth of white man, or an
Indian either, and your mothers are to
be congratulated if you do not know
. how to make it.
All the small boys of the settlement
. came rushing after Johnny, and helped
him shout, and such jolliflcation had
never been heard in Kentucky Jim's
since the discovery of the great Placer
:, Lode.
You can be sure every boy in town
4 was out to meet the agent next day,
= and offer advice as to the best methods
9 of posting bills, and that each boy was
fairly wild as the gay red and greer
and yellow pictures were attached tC
: the cabins and fences and rocks an(
: trees by the wayside.
real circus was to those boys, to sa.
!, nothing of the fathers and mothers
. for they all WENT and how the grant
procession was met anywhere from tw
~ to five miles from town, by all the boy
and dogs in the vicinity; and how the,
n laughed and cheered and enjoyed tn
elephants and ponies and giratfeS AM
10 lions and parrots and monkeys
~ can not begin to describe TO yo
!, what day of excitement it was in tina
A. little place. | happened to be ther
- on q summer vacation. and as watch
ed the people on their way to the bi
tent. it seemed as il all the inhabitant
a. of California must have come up t
a Kentucky Jim's to see the circus.
70 And Mr. Montg omery King sent 70
Johnny Hunter and complimented hir
n on his enterprise and perseverance
~ and said that he shouldn't be surprise
. if he took him into partnership som
p. day.
no But. although Johnny thought Nj
n Montgomery King such " vonderf,
man, and the circus the most magnii
i. cent spectacle in the world, yet h
doubted very much whether he woul
h. ever become travelling Snowman. :
"a Helen Marshall North, in Christia
,k Union.
nd While tearing down an old chin
by ney in Nyack. N. Y. lately, the wor
ut mon were astonished tn find imhadd.