Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-27
THE AID. SIGNPAINTER
ONE OF THEM RELATES CHAPTERS
FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.

1--WE VI ITEM nGIAbES CHAPTERS
FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.
How He Managed 10 Advertise on thu
Walls OF Fort Sumter-wheu the Zee,
Ohjected-Let Farmer Blow His Steam,
OR-The Oblieins Steamboatman.
tbs experience of a sign painter a.
Fort Sumter makes o diverting story:
You see, got a darby to take me
ever from Charleston in ore Of those lie.
tie boats tina. they sail down there closer
20 the wild than ANYTHING l ever saw
before The fort was auoccupied excep,
hy az old soldier. who showed ne all
over the place Have drink curpc.al7'
said TO MIN after awhile. No oblec.
tons. said lie. and we walked and talk
ed little further. Pretty lonesome
here. eh. se-geants' Very. indeed, AN
swered the old duck. warming tc me az
I brevetted him a grade higher every
two or three minutes.
All. said I, it's a tough old biz,
the army, AMT it. lieuteaant:' Faith,
and it is. upon me life. said he.
We'll. I brought my flask out again
and pressed it upon him Now. look
here. captain said I. you don't mind
me painting q sign around the old fort.
do you:' Not bit, my SON. Paint IS
much as ye place. he answered quite
willingly. and away went to work.
finishing the lettering before shutdown.
THAT little business nearly got me
into trouble. and left Charleston in 4
hurry. Nearly as bad was the time was
painting on beehive. was walking
along the railway track with my pots
and brushes and saw the hive, which
was ia Al position. bound to be seen by
everybody il the trains. I stole up to it
and slathed on the paint. taking care
not to make much noise Buzz-zl Ono
little fellow came TO look at me, then
another. then another and then a score
or more all at once. They didn't seem
TO object-in fact, seemed to admire the
richness Of the coloring-but in singing
my leg over the top Of tho hive upset
my can of turpentine. and not one bee
in the crowd would listen to word Of
reason. Twas laid up for week or two
after that. but I can't be quiet long. 1t
amt in me to be still I'm an out and
out Yankee. and it warns my heart to
be of with the paints, and it amt in,
cuInbent upon me now"
He added this with q complacent and
pregnant glance at his massive watch
chain and jewcled sleeve buttons, which
indicated no little prosperity.
when anybody gets his back up at
me. just let him blow his steam off,
and then talk to him." he continued
Down in Maryland one day I was
painting fence. and fellow working
in field near by hollered out: Hi! Git
away from that var fencel' let on not
to hear him. You git nowi' the old
mar shouted once more, but I dabbed
and cabbed away as industriously as
ever. 'YOu won't. WON'T yer7' said he.
and then he came for me with pitch
fork in his hands. Folks in Maryland
are generally pretty much in earnest
when they are mad. but didn't move
an inch. He'd have lifted me like q
piece of toast if had. and instead of o
toast 1t would have been q roast for me.
Il looked as mild and innocent as I
could. shaped out the letters and held
my head back now and then as il to
study the effect. Don't you like it?'
said l as he got up to me- Well. he met
me with some high seasoned expostu.
lations; but. as I told you. never In
terfere with man when he's blowing
off steam: it isn't safe The pitchferk
did not look salubrious. but held to
my work. and as was finishing it he
began to cool off and at the same time
tc take an interest IL the sign Got a
familyS said I Yes. said he. Young
uns. too. maybe Yes. said he again
Well. now. said I. amt you ashamed
OF yourself to let your temper get the
better Of you in this way, Think o! the
bad effect on your children But II!
paint it out No leave it or. stranger;
! like it.. he answered. and we went
over tc the house together. which proves
that when a mans blowing off it's best
not to sit on the safety valve.
Il went mp the Mississippi with old
Captain feathers III the Natchez. with
her smokestacks painted crimson to
signify that they woald be burned red
hot before she would he passed. and at
the first landing ] set tc work nn all the
rocks. The old captain was immensely
tickled with the idea Look OF the
darned Yank!' he cried 10 the passen.
gers. How long before you start. capG
shouted l. Well wait till you get
through. he answered. and he did tho
same thing at every other landing. But
the newspapers have made such an out.
cry against the dissertation Of nature. as
they cal! 1t. that law forbiddirg it
has been passed in some of the states,
and. on the whole. rock painting is dis
by our patrons. who think It
spoils the sale Of their articles Chi.
cago Times Herald.
FULFILLED In Time. |