Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-10
TRUE STORY OF SAMSON.
Life of One of the Worlds Most Noted
Athletes, Who Never Wrote
for NewspaperS.

From the Washington Democrat.
| want 10 Join in the theological discus
sion that is going on and as | can think Of
no more prominent character | Will add a
few facts about Samson that may helI
clear up matters somewhat. Theological
discussions are all the fashion just now
Indeed, they are like the poor, always with
us. A preacher Is not Il success and can't
draw a good salary unless he turns up his
nose five OF six feet at the Bible.
In order to earn his salary well, in these
times, preacher has to pick flaws in the
Bible and every once in while kick a
hole into the sacred volume about eleven
feet square. II Is a great boon and COM
fort TO poor, distressed, sorFoWing be-
lever to learn that all of the Bible Is not
inspired and who wrote the Book of Job,
and whether the whale swallowed Jonah,
or whether it was good wine made out OF
water.
II makes so much difference TO have all
those technicalities cleared up and ciphered
out and il makes the Christians life ons
glad, glorious picnic.
To return to Samson, he was precocious
youth and was engaged 10 travel with
circus as a lion tanner. One day right after
they got in from the parade the main lion
(they had only one in his circus. as they
We're just starting OUT became unruiy and
insisted on taking chew of tobacco out OF
one of the ShoWmenS hip pockets. Samson
arrived just in the nick of time and, takir
the lion by the submaxillary, broke 1t of.
Samson was good hand to have around
show. He was really the whole show
himself good deal of the time. One day
just as bit Of pleasantly he tied the tails
of Il lot of foxes together and turned them
loose, Mr.. Johnson" and they started a
prairie fire that burned off all the crops ir
Western Nebraska. He was great mirth
provoker, Samson was. He wouldn't go to
Sunday school much. however, and maybe
that is what got him into trouble. He in,
sisted on travelling with the circus, al
though his folks objected a great deal But
he was wayward and had Il head of his
own. His father needed him at home on
the farm; as he was good stout hand
and could easily have earned $40 a mont h
and board, wet or dry.
He was something of a pugilist in his
day, but living before the days of news
papers and football, he never acquired the
reputation he otherwise would have DONE
While travelling with the circus tanning
lions. and keeping the Philistines from
crawling under the canvas by swiping them
on the heads with the jawbone of an ass.
ne iet ms hair grow nice and long. He was
getting ready to start Buffalo Bills wild
West show, but meantime he got stuck ON
the leading bareback rider DeiiIah. A rivaj
Snowman hired her to cut off the golden
nair hanging down his back and Samson
was a gone gosling. But he said nothing
He afterward has his eyes put out nv
some coWardly rival. but he bided his time
ana one day Just as the show was begin
Tha,, lrinS tne grand entry he had his revenge.
town In Oklahoma Samson was stand
ing, leaning against the center pole anil
lnst as the entire crowd was loudly laugh
ing at ore OF the clowns jokes which he
had dug out of the ark. Samson spit on
ms hands and gave the center pole n
hoist which sent the whole tent sprawliag.
and there fell at that time more than "a
people who had paid their way into the
circus, and they never asked for tbair
money back. Thus ended the life of ona
OF the most noted athletes the world has
known.. and yet he never wrote word for
the newspapers.