The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-04-08
THEAD. SIGN PAINTER
ONE OF THEM RELATES CHAPTERS
FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.


FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.
BOW He Managed to Advertise on the
Walls of Fort Sumter-When tho Bees
Objected-Let Farmer Blow His Steam
OT-The Oblising Steamboatman.
The experience Of sign painter at
Fort Sumter makes diverting story:
"You see, got a darby to take me
over from Charleston In one Of those lit
tie boats that they sail down there closer
to the wind than anything l ever saw
before. The fort was unoccupied except
by an old soldier, who showed me all
over the place. Have drink, corporal?'
said to him after awhile. No objec.
tions, said he, and we walked and talk
ed little further. Pretty lonesome
here, eh. sergeant?' Very, indeed, an
swered the old duck, warming to me as
! brevetted him grade higher every
two or three minutes.
"'Ah, said I, it's tough old biz,
she army, amt it, lieutenant? Faith.
and it is, upon me life, said he.
"Well, I brought my flask out again
and pressed it upon him. Now, look
here, captain said I, you dom mind
me painting sign around the old fort,
do your Not bit, my son. Paint as
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 1 left Charleston in
hurry. Nearly as bad was the time was
painting on a beehive. l was walking
along the railway track with my pots
and brushes and saw the hive, which
was in Al position. bound to be seen by
everybody in the trains. stole up to it
and slathed on the paint, taking care
not to make much noise. Buz-z-z! One
little fellow came to look at me. then
another, then another and then 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 the hive upset
my can of turpentine, and not one be.
in the crowd would listen to a word Of
reason. I was laid up for week or two
after that, but 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 off with the paints, and it amt in
cumbent upon me now"
He added this with complacent and !
pregnant glance at his massive watch |
chain and jeweled 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 a field near by hollered out: Hi ! Git
away from that var fencep let on not
to hear him. You git now!' the old /
man shouted once more, but dabbed
and dabbed away as industriously as
ever. You won't, won't yer?' said he,
and then he came for me with a pitch
fork in his hands. Folks in Maryland
are generally pretty much In earnest
when they are mad, but l didn't move
an inch. He'd have lifted me like
piece of toast if had, and instead Of a
toast it would have been roast for me.
II looked as mild and innocent as ]
could, shaped out the letters and held
my head back now and then as if to
study the effect. Don't you like it?'
said as he got up to me. Well, be 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 ism It SAFE The pitchfork /
did not look salubrious, but held tc |
my work, and as I was finishing it he |
began to cool off and at the same time |
to take an interest in the sign. Got
family?' sad l. Yes, said he. Young
ans, 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 Of the
bad effect ON your children. But I'll
paint it out. No, leave it on, stranger;
I like it, he answered, and we went
over to the house together, which proves
that when mans blowing off it's best
not to sit on the safety valve. /
81 went up the Mississippi with old .
Captain feathers in the Natchez, with .
her smokestacks painted crimson to
signify that they would be burned red
hot before she would be passed. and at
the first landing set to work on all the
rocks. The old captain was immensely
tickled with the idea. Look at the
darned Yankp he cried to the passen-
gers. How long before you start, CAPT.
shouted I. Well wait till you get
through, he answered, and he did the
same thing at every other landing. But
the newspapers have made such an out
cry against the dissertation Of nature, as
thor call IL that q la1u forhiddino Il