Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-09-20

GIVE STRUCK THE BIGGEST IDEA EVER
HEARD or. "
want TO keep it to hit the crowd with
tonight. | want the biggest, bustineSt
crowd to gather here tonight that the
town of Jericho has ever seen. Give
every man notice as he drops in today,
ard along about oclocl, III hey the
fire bells rung and the horns footed.
Tell EN- it's big thing, pap; tell 'em
it's sunthin that's bound to jump this
town over a ten rail fence and make
city lots with a thousand dollars
apiece
There was good deal Of excitement
around town that afternoon. and when
night came the crowd at the p0stoice
was as big as the time when war was
declared aG'in Spain. Most Of EN-
thought Bill Lapham was goin to de-
clar war ag'in Mexico or Canada, and
everybody was lookin pale when Dea-
con Spooner called the meetin to order
and said:
"Sons OF freedom. we hey gathered
here tonight to hear some remarks
from our esteemed Teller toYnsman,
William Lapham, and we kin take 1t
that them remarks will 90 beyand
geese and goslin's. Make your pint,
Bill"
MY pint is this" says Bill as be
draws a long breath and steps out TO
git room. we ar now in the midst
of the turmoil of n political cam
paign. Somebody is goin to be elected.
l amt sayin who it'll be, but the gold
en- opportunity fur which Jericho mas
sighed is at hand. When the newly
elected official takes the oath Of Of
fee, he Will bc escorted to and fro
That's k'rect,' says Deacon Spooner
as Bill pauses fur breath. "The speak
er amt through yit, but he's made
pint already When he refers to the
turmoil of campaign, it's not only high
flown language, but a strong pint Go
ahead, Bill"
THAT escort will not only do the pres
ldent proud" continued Bill, but
every man in 1t will be mentioned by
all the papers in the United States
They'll speak of his wife and children
and town and home, and he'll be a big
man fur the rest Of his life He kin be
elected sheriff without opposition, ana
if any one runs ag'in him fur the legls.
lature they'll be showed under what
I'm here tonight fur Is to ask the ques-
lions Why not organize the jericho
Guards? And why shouldn't tue
Jericho Guards be that escorty'
There was yelln and whoopn tur
the next five minits, but when the dea'
con could make himself heard be said.
Its a pint gentlemen-siX or seven
p'ints. I've read all the speeches ever
delivered by Henry Clay or panlel
Webster, and both of EN- put together
never made the p'ints our Bill Lapham
has. Bein | hey the floor, I'll say
favor the idea. Yes, sir, I'm Win
heart and soul. want my name 2
20 down fust fur the Jericho GUARDS,
and I'm even willin 10 sacrifice myself
and be captain Of the company. ; posiA
we hear from Ahner Jones on the SUD
ject'
Il s'pose It's known In this town tla'
my reat-grandfather was killed 81 lhe
battle Of Monmouth says Abner =
he gets of the counter, though am
bragein about II. I'll jest say 'aAs
I'm willin 10 die fur my country any
time I'm called upon and il I'm elec.el
captain of the Jericho Guards
promise that no invader shal So ioos
on these shores and live Tor I've MIN.
It's"
"Thar's a pint In that" says the d,e.
con as he looks a bit put out. a.l
a mans willin TO die FUR his coubl4'
that's pint ia his favor bur 81 course
we want to hear from other patrols
How IS 1t with you. Moses Plumpe
Does any man here doubt that ! =
willlu to die fur American asks Moss
as he draws himself up. "My sFea'
grandfather didn't die at Monmolll.
but the blood of them seven uncies =
mine that fell durin the civil war lows
in my veins, and my watclWoti