The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-08-19


HEARD OF"
w.nt to keep Il to hit the crowd with
tonirht. | 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,
and along about Z o'clock I'll hev the
FIRE bells rung and the horns footed.
Tell 'em it's big thing. pap; tell 'em
IFS sunthin that's bound to jump this
town over ten rail fence and make
city lots wuth a thousand dollars
apiece
There was a good deal of excitement
around town that afternoon, and when
night came the crowd at the postottice
Sas as big as the time when war was
declared as'in Spain. Most of 'em
thought Bill Lapham was goin to de-
elar war agin Mexico or Canada. and
II egery0ody was lookin pale when Dea-
] con Spooner called the meetin to order
and said:
Sons of freedom. we hev gathered
here tonight to hear some remarks
from our esteemed feller townsman,
William Lapham. and we kin take it
! that chem remarks will go beyand
geese and gosIin's. Make your pint,
Bill"
"My pint is this" says Bill as he
draws 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.
amt sayin who it'll be, but the gold
en- opportunity fur which Jericho has
sighed is at hand. When the newly
elected official takes the oath of Of
fee, he will De 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 a
pint already " When he refers to the
turmoil of campaign, it's not only high
Town language, but strong pint. Go
ahead Bill"
That escort will not only do the pres
dent proud" continued Bill, but
every man in it will be mentioned by
all the papers in the United States
They'll speak of his wife and children
and town aud home, and he'll be big
man fur the rest of his life. He kin be
/ elected sheriff without opposition. and
II any one runs ag'in him fur the legis
lature they'll be showed under. What
I'm here tonight fur is to ask the ques
tons: Why not organize the jericho
Guards? And why shouldn't the
Jericho Guards be that escort|
There was yellin and whoopin ful
the next five minits, but when the dea
con could make himself heard be said
Its pint, gentlemeu-siX or sever
pints I've read all the speeches eve
delivered by Henry Clay or DAME
Webster, and both of 'em put together
never made the p'ints our Bill Laphan
mas. Bein l hev the floor, I'll say
iayor the idea. Yes. sir. I'm with /
heart and soul. l want my name t
20 down fust fur the Jericho Guards
and I'm even willin to sacrifice mysel
and be captain of the company. Sposil
we hear from Abner Jones on the sub
ject."
s'pOse it's known in this town tha
my great grandfather was killed at th
Dattle of Monmouth" says Abner
oe gets off the counter. though [ ain
ofaggin about it. I'll jest say tina
I'm willin to die fur my country an
ume I'm called upon. and if Pm electe
captain Of the Jericho Guards l.
promise that no invader shall set foe
90 these shores and live for five mil
It's"
Ihar's pint in that" says the des
eon as he looks bit put out. "Whe
mans willin to die fur his country
'lats pint in his favor. but of cours
we want to hear from other patriots
now is it with you. Moses Plumber
Does any man here doubt that II
Wuiin to die fur American" asks Mose
Is ne draws himself up. "My grea
grandfather didn't die at Monmouth
Dut the blood of them seven uncles
Mine that fell durin the civil war nov
~ my veins, and my watchWoro