Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-09
AUSTIN HAS A RIVAL.

and thereupon was inspired to write a
poem" that drives the negro denizens
of the levee dives mad with delight
whenever the poet" condescends to
read to them, says the Chicago Journal,
DOC" dresses we'll and is not bad
looking. He is rather small, but OF
good figure and an erect carriage that
give him an air of Importance. He was
surrounded by group OF his admirers
in saloon near Polk street the other
day, when he was asked II he was
Mr. jenkins, the poet?"
"Pll sho'ly have to plead guilty to
that, boss Whit kin | do fer you
whut's yer lay?"
Your poem is attracting great
deal of attention, and thought that
4 perhaps you would permit The Journal
to publish it."
'Whatll you have to drink? Will
4 You smoke?' inquired the hero, with a
look of satisfaction. What You
don't indulge? Well, do, boss ex-
planned the poet" as he gulped his
liquor down.
/ Then, glancing at the reflection of
his big, sparkling diamond ring in the
mirror behind the bar, he said. GAS
Brother.Shakespeare says. Speak of me
as | am
Don't compare yourself to Shakes
peare. Doc" said one of the great
mans followers. Shakespeare wasn't
in 1t wild you! You could give him Ave
minutes start an den pass him befs'
he reached the grand stand. Good
thing he died an saved himself from
defeat. Read us dat piece O. yourn
once mo, and let me die a-listenin' to
lit.n
What is the name Of your poem ?"
Mr.. Jenkins was asked.
We'll, | call it DE Carvia', he re-
piled, AN ] written it to show how
sized up wild de new poet laureate"
Then the room grew still and look
OF happy expectancy lighted up the
faces OF the crowd as the learned man
drew out his manuscript, and. with
grandiloquent sweep Of the hand, be-
gan.
Jim Johnson loved yelier girl
Until his brain began to whirl.
But Sambo Brown he loved her, too,
An out O. that a quarrel grew.
So Jimmy johnson comes to town,
A-purpose to carve Sambo Brown.
Along about de hour O. noon
He finds i'm down in Smiths saloon.
Fore Sambo knowed whut he was bout
jim Johnson drawed his razor out
An cut i'm all around de face .
All up de back an every place.
He cut i'm low, he cut inn higl.--
Clar' from his ankle to his eye.
He clipped both ears off from Sans
head
1t was sin how po' Sam bed!
He dislocated Sambo's jaw
He carved i'm to de bonel Oh, lawi
! tell you whut, 1t was a sight,
De way he slashed i'm left an right!
He spoiled Sans go-to-meetin' clothes,
He whacked de end off from Sans
nose
He cut i'm till he held his breath
He like to cut dat man to death!
When suddenly Sam turns about
An draws brand-new razor out.
An whacks Jim Johnson to de fat,
He spoiled his catch-me-q quick plug
hat
He cut his head-he cut his feet,
Ar dny hn IL IL txyr
He cut out Johnson's bestest eye
He cut his nose off-purty nigh.
He cut away his upper lip
He gave i'm many an ugly clip,
He cut his name in Johnson's cheek,
He cut i'm till he couldn't speak.
He cut de po' man jest for fun
Great Day! | thought Jim's time had
come.
But Johnson rallied bout dat time
An swore dat he'd make Sambo climb;
Den, oh! de way dem men did fight,
No man ken tell it--black er white,
Slashin one mother all to slashes
An gashin one mother all to gashes!
Dey fit until de blood an gore
pbNou hhCC hCCp all dlOuuQ tlOofs
Day fit, day fit, till all us fellers
Dat was lookin' on raised umbrellas
To keep de blood outen our faces!
| s'pose you knows how SIGH place is?
Alas! how / regrets to tell
How both at last in mince meat fell:
But in de bloody, quiverin' hash
De razors still continued to clash,
We sent around an got some glue,
An done de best dat we could do.
We tried, but, man, we tried in vain,
To make EN- stick together again.
All we could do was git broom
An sweep em both out OBJ de room.
"0ut O. sightr yelled dozen voices
at once, as the poem was concluded.
Say, Doc, that head O. youTn belongs
/ in Washington
Then several of the gang began to
wrangle for the privilege Of treatir &
the literary man. Razors were freely
drawn, but quiet was finally restored,
followed by the gurgling Of several