The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-26
TEASING THE LION,
An Enthusiastic Omahan Creates
Sensation i'm Canada.

James G. Hannison of the Willard Hotels
executive staff has just returned from a
three weeks trip through Canada. July
4th found him in Toronto, the queen city Of
Ontario. of course, amid an entire absence
of anything whatever in the way of cele
bration. But "Jim." as he is best known
in Omaha, is not the sort of an American to
let such day as the Fourth of July pass
unnoticed, nc matter where upon this big
round world it may find him.
And so Jim decided to give the Canueks a
little taste Of his true-blue American Fourth
of-Julyism.
On the afternoon of the 81 he secured
the town and actually succeeded in finding
some fireworks. lie bought round dozen
packages of small firecrackeIs and ten great
caDnon-crackers, together with gross of
devil-Snatchers, buZzard- jumpers, Chinese
cyclones, etc But he could not find an
American flag at store anywhere in the
entire city Like all the rest of his true
American brothers, he was keenly im-
pressed with the fact that Fourth of July
without the old stars and stripes occupying
a front seat would seem little else than
base mockery.
happy thought struck him. There was
a United States Consul in Toronto. Ger
tainly there was. Uncle Samuel keeps
such individuals lying around pretty thick
uuutT every SKY anu III cfcIf CiilHC' oil
visited the American consulate and found
our country's representative perfect
bird-of the perfect American eagel order
who received him in great style.
I'm here on business, said Jim. "Have
YOU got an extra yard or two OF the star
spangled banner"
You may just stake your life on that"
replied the Consul, and produced beauti-
full silk flag six feet long which he had Just
received from the department at Washing
ton to replace an old one that had been
singing its song of American freedom, love,
order and law under English skies, and to
the tune of English breeZes for many long
year.
"Wel, l want to borrow it to shake in
the faces Of these subjects OF Johnnie Bull
Tomorrow" said jim.
Take it. and don't let 'em bluff you."
said the Consul.
When Jim reached the hotel that even
ing, his arms full of fireworks and flag, an
old professor who taught in medical col
lege near by remarked:
ut may be all right for you to shoot off
those Chinese fireworks, young man, but
excuse me if | remark that you better keep
that flag out of sight!'
Jim'S surprise at this was simply over
powering. 1t was the first time he had ever
heard the flag of his country insulted. His
blood began to boil so hard that the steam
from it blurred his sight. Before he could
reply another old-time Johnnie Bull edged
up and exclaimed
THAT'S so. young chap-thats so. No
American flag will be allowed to flirt before
our noses tomorrow, above all days!
Jim became wild, out he kept his wild
ness under his vest and thought he wouldn't
make monkey of himself by knocking
down the gray-headed cockneys. Keeping
his mouth shut Jim passed on up to his
room and deposited his precious burden be-
hind lock and key aud then revisited the
American Consul.
See here" said he, twill l be apt to
bring war or disgrace on our country if
carry out my little programme OF celebrat-
ing the Fourth?"
"They don't like it a bit-these English
men," replied the Consul, but let me tell
you this thing. that if you want to celebrate
the Fourth of July tomorrow, celebrate it,
and if one thread of that flag is touched by
an Englishman the insult will be resented
by the American Government"
The god of day was just Snuffing ont the
stars Fourth of July morning when jim
awoke, flew to the top of the no tel with his
flag, cannon and fire-crackerS and COM
menced business. His first move was to
quietly run up the stars ana stripes upon
fine tall flagstaff, which he found on the
hotel. AS she spread out to the breeze Jim
touched off a giant fire-cracker. Next he
yelled Three cheers for the stars and
stripes
Upon hearing the first report some sleepy
pouceman Dad caught the luea Jnat tnere
was an explosion and fire, and up he ran and
turned in a fire alarm.
That did settle it. Luck favored Jim's
celebration beyond his widest anticipa-
ti0ns.
1t was not until half the people in the
city had rushed in the streets that the cause
of the alarm became known. And when
they looked up and discovered the Ameri-
can tlag-well, there was regular panic
But Jim didn't let their predicament
worry him for minute, but kept on BOOM
ing off his great firecrackerS and yelling
three cheers for America" with OCCASION
ally a stanZa Of The Red, White and
Blue"
Why didn't they come up and stop him?
Jim had been too cute for them. He had
locked the trap-door after getting upon the
roof. Before he had finished the celebration
1t had been reported out through the crowd
that he was very influential citizen of
America and one who had power with the
American Consul. So. by the time his fire.
works were all gone the crowds had aban-
doned their idea of doing him any violence
and allowed him to go his way the recipient
of nothing worse than their scowls.
One thing is very sure! Jim gave the En-
glish of that city such taste of American
independence as they will remember long
after the youngest has lived to see Queen
Victoria succeeded by form of govern
ment counterpart of that to which Jim
claims enthusiastic allegiance.-Omalra Bee.