The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1900-06-22
Where : Al Fala?~
QUHQUEFoR

W mar mas become OF your erstWnlle
correspondent, that loquacions Carson
Valley sucker who signs himself ..Al
Falfa?" Is he dead or sleeping?
: The people here thought when he
was writing from San Francisco that
he couldn't last long. He was broke
and terribly soured on San Francisco's
climate. And now his pen has been
silent for months. He Is probably in
San Quentin or oaarantined in China
town Il he wasn't in some pen or
other he would be guiding beer and
making a study Of the new styles in
ladies hats. He delighted in the study
OF banged up things, anyway. He
liked the ladies pretty well, too. When
ne was here he was always trying to
make a mash. and he had cheek
enough TO make mule give the side
walk That's the reason he conldn't
get job on the ranches. He was two
fresh" always commenting on men
and things and doing little work.
But al Falfa" is q philosopher.
His reflections upon facts and flow of
humor and sarcasm are original and
refreshing. would like to hear from
him again His silence is the worlds
loss and hope the poor saddened soul
will soon make his escape from the
fogs of the Pacific.
a year or two ago the writer and
al Falfa- stood on the Court House
porch in Genoa, when an amazing out
TT drew up to water its horses and dogs
al the horse trough. There were three
horses, two dogs and one man. The
nan was big. and homeiy enough TO
+. eat hay. He wore a straw hat, hick
DRY shirt and blue pants He was
parody on the fields and forests His
nose resembled wen Il had wart
in the center, and in the center Of the
wart was = bunch of hair. His eyes
were ike a pair OF boiled onions Il .
bowl Of milk His hair looked as If il
had been cropped close 70 his head by
an a5seut-minded horse He was dirty,
uneouth and shabby; bat he was as
calm as a clam. Ee had upon him a
peace that pzsseth understanding. a
tranquility unknown Of men who make
. their living by the sweat oftheir broEs.
his horses we're lame and halt and as
slatty as a chiekencOop. The dogs
were NANCY and fea-bitten-
There said al Falfz,- philoso-
phising in a self-communing voice, us
. man who Is perfectly happy He
didn't cone from anywhere he isn't
going anywhere He never goes home,
for his home Is wherever he Is. Wars
and runors Of wars have no terrors
, for him he is not troubled about the
internal revenue stamps Strikes AZ
. feet him not His roof i the sky. His
bed Is the earth Nature and he are a.
! intimate 20 twins The days bring
him no concern and the nights no sor-
; row. He Is not afraid Of robbers. for
. he has nothing 10 steal He Is not afraid
, OF swindlers, for If he was swindled oct
OF MS outfit he would be better of
! High prices and low prices are all the
, same 10 him he simply takes what
. ne wants as be goes along
He reminds me Of the sorroEiDe
, king who longed TO be happy. The
king demanded Of mis- seer what b.
should do TO be happy he was told
to get the shirt Of perfectly happy
man and wear il
But every man the king approached
in all his travels. in search of the shirt
. had a sorrow. Over mountains anC
valleys, through many lands, wandered
the king. Sometimes he saw men who
. appeared happy, bat when closely
, questioned SORROW was certain 70 b
, shown.
AT last the king turned homeward
, more filed than ever with woe L.
. was convinced that there was IoI Z
happy man alive
AS he neared his own domain, b,
| heard song The song vas so "a,
= that ne paused TO listen. He sough
:. the singer who sat on stone by th'
. way. He was perfectly radiant Of face
. Hs whole being bespoke bliss
. "'Are yoa happy?' demanded tn
!, king
. I" Perfectly, sir, said he.
. No secret sorrow?'
" None, sir
r The king Overjoyed offered the maj
: thousand gold pieces for his shirt.
"'Alas. SIR said the happy man, :
have no shirt
A And '.Al FaIfa'' PASSED calmly dow
l. the street, ike the good genius of
d summer evening, probably wonderin
/ if the fish would bite.
y It's too bad that he strayed of to tn
= slums of the city, where bad beer an
r bad company have shriyeled up til
q souls of men more righteous than hs