The herald., 1893-10-02
KLoKKE.s BIG PUMPKIN.


That pithy saying of the poet, "all is
vanity" had most perfect application
week before last. About that time
everybody in the chamber of commerce
had had their sectional pride and en-
thusiasm aroused by the advent OF a
monstrous pumpkin weighing 5l4
pounds, that was exhibited in this city
q short time previous to being shipped
to Chicago.
From the moment that the pumpkin
appeared 1t became the center for sight
seers. John Out-of-town's 20-pound
sweet potato, raised without irrigation,
was back number. The pumpkin was
to the potato as is the corps de ballet to
the skirt dance.
All OF the attendants at the hall
watched it with romantic devotion and
never lost an opportunity to expatiate
upon the wonder. The hall was daily
crowded with people of all ages and
nationalities eager to see the great and
only squash in the country.
Among those whose enthusiasm was
aroused to fever pitch WAS Mr.. E. T. O.
Klokke, one of the directors of the
chamber. He talked nothing but
pumpkins from early morn until dewy
eve. 1t was grand, it was lonely, mag
nifcent; and just to think, it was
grown in Southern California. In TACT,
it was the largest, perhaps, in the world.
Mr.. Klokke WAS never happy unless
surrounded by q crowd OF people who
were listening to him expiate upon the
genus Of squash produced in this sec
tion. He told everyone he could see all
81 -
him the soubriquet of Pumpkin"
Klokke. But this made no difference.
All Mr.. Klokke asked was to have them
view his protege. They could joke him
| all day, but he would etill talk pump
kin, and even as he did his heart would
swell with true Southern California
pride that would have caused any real
| estate dealer in boom times to turn
green with envy and hatred.
| Finally the SAD occasion arrived when
the pumpkin was to be sent to Chicago
where Mr.. Frank Wiggins would have
an opportunity to spread and wax elo-
quent over the resources and 314-pound
pumpkins of Southern California.
1t was indeed sorxowful moment to
MIR. Klokke and all those employed at
the chamber as they clustered about the
big squash on the day of its deportation
for Chicago and watched the six express
men tenderly lift the chamber treasure
and deposit it on its bed of straw at the
bottom of sawed-of hogshead.
| Mr.. Klokke and the minor mourners
| reflected that their pride was to be
taken from their gaze forever, and that
cold, sightseeing public in Chicago
would perhaps not appreciate the pro.
duct OF California soil. A wreath ol
pampas plumes was placed upon the
! pet, and with one accord Mr.. Klokke
and the others present turned away as
| it was being taken from the hall and
began examining some large cucumbers
just sent in by Mr.. John Wayback, to
try to hide their sorrowful and fearful
eyes.
the memory of that pumpkin even
though it WAS gone. He still continued
to boom it. Finally, however, the fata
day arrived when his idol must be
broken and fall in shattered bits from
the pedestal of iriidescent fame The
news came in letter from Frank Wig.
gins, the last person from whom such
information would have been antici-
pated. He stated that while Mr.. Klokke'a
pumpkin was very large, Canada had
sent one the day he wrote outweighing
the California phenom 100 pounds. This
information caused great dismay at the
chamber and for while none dared to
acquaint Mr.. Klokke with the terrible
news. Finally the matter was gently
brouched to him. He was revived after
some trouble and Immediately requested
as last favor that when he is at the
chamber of commerce the picture of the
large pumpkin be turned the other way.
wartime shinpIasters Just Redeemed.
During war times the municipality of
Albany issued on its own credit fraction
al currency redeemable on demand at the
city treasurer's or chamberlain's Office.
Most of the fat money was redeemed
within the five Years subsequent to the
end of the war, and during the seventies
the chamberlain would be called upon to
change few coins. 1t was believed that
all had been taken up.
Yesterday, however, Chamberlain Hills
was visited by two young ladies who
showed him quantity of the currency
issued in 1869 and asked him what it was
worth To the chamberlain's questions
as to how it had come into their possess
sion the elder replied that in looking
over the effects of relative lately de-
ceased it was found stored away in an
old box along with many war curios.
Mr.. Hills promptly handed over the
counter in good bills the face value of
the money, between $25 and $50.
A singular coincidence connected with
the transaction was that Chamberlain
Hills himself paid out the currency re-
deemed yesterday to the original owner
over 80 years ago.-Albany Journal.
Worlds Fair Box Parties.
Nearly every train that goes out of this
city for Chicago has several ''box par
ties" on board. These are entirely diff
ferent from the box parties at theaters,