The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-20
THE SHADOWGRAPHER.


the newspaper offices was Charles L. Davis
He il one of tho proprietors Of the
Hustler onpa and was once the chief
man In front Of Forepaugh's circus. Hit
impeachment OF speech ia Of an unusual
kind. He will talk along as smoothly and
glibly as tho best Of them until suddenly
stopped by IA harmless little word. This
will stick in his larynx until by degrees il
is forced out through his throat to the
tongue and then by n long and circuitous
route it appears through his lips With a
chug. As may be imagined the effect on
the company is embarrassing, though all
are willing to wait patiently for Davis is a
good fellow and n famous wit.
For instance the other evening Mr.. Davis
and a few friends were in "a com
Portable corner of Col. Marks ale
house, when Davis started in to
tell u story 1t was IN experience
with Forepaugh's show when the fake
| white elephant was turned out to star
against Barnu1n's white elephant which
was creating such a furore. Davis had
special charge of the attraction and when the
show reached Utica, NJ Y, he hunted up his
old friend John Flanagan, then we'll known
throughout New York state as city edi-
tor of the Observer. The rest of the story
is told in Mr.. DAVIS words: well,
Flanagan and went down to the tent where
the elephant was alone with the keeper.
Nobody was around the tent but a few
bows. The tent was closed and asked a
boy where the keeper was. Said the boy
'he Just went inside w-w-wi-wi-.'" Here
Mr.. Davis cleared his throat and started in
again. 1.-The boy said, he has gone in the
tent wi-wi-with a-a-a-a-.'" 1t now
raising silence had worked its
way over the impatient audience,
Mr.. Davis alone was unembarrassed. He
had been there before. He never phased
but took another chew of tobacco and
started in once more. This time he got as
far as the word with and stopped again.
The articulation then became lost and the
only sign of action was the rapid movement
of Davis lips. Every one was on the
anxious seat to learn who accompanied the
keeper to the tent but all had to wait. Davis
sat there quietly struggling to complete the
and the others watching. Half an
hour passed away and the audience grew
tired. Two of them began conversing on
another subject, the third fell asleep and
the story was all hut forgotten. Still Davis
sat there with his lips moving and his eyes
on the ceiling. The minutes slipped by and
the night chemist came in to say that it was
nearly time to close. Davis shook his
head.
Finally all arose and walked out to the
door. They said good night and had
the corner when Davis shouted:
with a bucket of whitewash and two
brushes"
~
Mr.. William G. Buskett's many friends in
Helena have been greatly alarmed of late
over what was believed to be q mysterious
disappearance. He left this city in good
health some weeks ago for South Dakota,
and nothing has since been heard of him
the following poem appeared in the
Chicago News from the versatile and al
ways entertaining quill Of Mr.. Eugene
Field. As Mr.. Buskett and Mr.. Field are
friends of many years standing. we pre-
sumo that the inspiration for this clever
verse came from the r~eactionary effects of
a weeks visit in South Dakota. Mr.. Bus
kett will doubtless verify this superstition
when he returns home this week. Here is
the old, old story, SO familiar to us all:
fond Of music, l dote on a sweeter tone
Than ever the harp has uttered or ever the lutte
has known.
When | wake at five in the morning with a feel
ing in my head
Suggestive of mild excuses before ! retired to
When a small but fierce volcano vexes my sore
inside
And my throat and mouth are furred with a fur
that seemeth a buffalo hide,
How gracious those dews of solace that over my
senses fall
At the clink of the ice in the pitcher the boy
brings up the hall!
Oh, is it the gaudy ballet with features l cannot
name
That kindles in virile bosom that slow but de-
vouring fame:
Or is it the midnight supper eaten before we re-
tire
That presently by combustion setteth us all aflre?
the cup
That makes the meekest mortal anxious to
whoop things up!
Yet. what the cause soever relief, comes when we
call
Relief with that rspturous clinkety- clink that
clinkoth alike for all!
I've dreamt OF that fiery furnace that was one
vast bulk of flame.
And that / was Abed-nego swallowing in that
same;
And I've drearnt that ! was a crater possessed of
mad desire
To vomit molten lava and to snort big gobs of
fire;
Ivs dreanlt I was Roman candlee and rockets
that fixed and screamed
In short, / have dreamed the cussedest dream
that eve, Il human dreamed;
But all the red-hot fancies were scattered quicker
than wink
When tho spirit within that pitcher went tapping
its clinkety-clink.
Boy, why so slow in coming with that gracious,
saving cup?
Oh, haste thee to the succor of the man who is
burning up!
See how the ice hobs up and down, as if it wildly
strove
red-hot kitchen stove.
The piteous clinks it clinks methinks should
thrill you through and through
An erring soul is wanting drink, and he wants il
p. d. O.!
And. 10, the honest pitcher, too, falls in 30 dire a
fret
That its pallid form is presently believed with n
chilly sweat.
May blessing he showered upon the man who
first devised this drink