Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-03
SMALLPOX SCARE.
John Quill Listens to Member 0
Local Health Board.
And Gives the Public Some More Very
Good Stories.

danger. lie Sdlu Ill the course or nj:
remarks:
I'VE run across some pretty funn.
things in our travels. Why, only tn,
other day there was an incident happened
| over in the western part of the State
| that would have made a fortune fol
| Charlie Hoyt had he been alive to heal
| about it,
Several smallpox cases had appeared ii
one of the large cities of the State. Tn,
| authorities had taken prompt measure,
to stamp it out by removing some of ths
patients to the pest house and auaran.
timing the others. A red flag had beer
| placed in front of one of the houses
| where smallpox had visited. a sort O;
an anarchists banner. warning the pub
| lie to keep away from the house. AS ar
| extra precautiOn a special policeman was
| stationed just inside the door,
| But in spite of all this the UNEXPECTED
4 happened. A Hebrew who was out buy.
| ing old rubbers and rags came down the
| street and saw the red flag. No sooner
was his eye focused on it than a visior
of goods being sold way down below cost
floated before him.
lie thought it was an auction and he
W nted to get there before the auctioneer
sung cut third and last call, and sold to
Mr.. So and So He quickened his pace
and with arms flying like a windmill he
approached the house. He didn't stop to
wonder at the absence of the crowd In
fron. Of the house. If he did he thought
they were all inside. gathering in the
| bargains; SO he lifted the latch and bolt
cd in.
THE house was apparently deserted
no auctioneer perched on table, bark
ing at an assembled multitude met his
gaze. He was somewhat surprised and
did not grasp the situation but he didn't
propose to retire without some trophy of
the battle. So he made a megaphone of
his hands and made the rafters ring with
the old war cry. old Rags; Old Rubbers
The sound had hardly left his lips before
vision appeared to him from one of the
side rooms in the shape of a blue-coated
policeman who said in no uncertain tones,
You come with me-.
THE poor hebrew was non-p.ussed He
couldn't imagine for the life of him what
lie had one that the police should want
Lin so he started in to explain to the
guardian of the neace in his broken He
brew dialect that he vas an honest man
and he wouldn't rob man of a pin The
policeman said. Never mind what you
wouldn't do, You come with me over to
the station. You are liable to become a
guest of the city for some little time al
though you may not have the freedom
of the city extended to you on gold
plate by the mayor in the same manner
that Prince Henry did in New York, bu,
you will be its guest all the same
with considerable grumbling on the
Hebrews part and some show of author
ity on the part of the policeman the pro-
cession started, the policeman leading
the way and our Jerusalem rag merchant
bringing up the rear At the station he
was turned over to a special man VINO
had charge of all suspects. BY this time
he got it pretty well through his head
what the trouble was and when he real
lied that he had been in a house where
they had smallpox he commenced to
dance a two-step to rag-time music. His
brother was sent for and arrived on the
scene and the situation was explained to
him and he was told to buy his brother
a suit of clothes as quick as the Lord
would let him.
1.-The Hebrew was Invested of his raj
ment, not enough left on him for identifi-
cation and all his belongings including
his bag of old rags and rubbers We're
placed in the fiery furnace in the base
ment good thorough bath was the
next thing he involuntarily INDUCED in.
the first one he had had evidently taken
since Lee surrendered at Appomattox,
back in the GO. Then came the doctor
with his vaccine and the Hebrew was
allowed to depart changed man.
"The next time any one puts out an
auction flag and expects crowd they no
need to hold any reserved seat for him
for he won't be there-not unless he
sheds his memory of which there is no
imme date danger.
But this is but one of the many sides
of the smallpox scare The story reminds
me somewhat of the adventures that be-
fell a friend of mine who was visiting for
| a day or so in the western part of the
State where they had a few cases of
smallpox-just enough to be in fashion
| He had occasion while there to make a
| business call upon well-known firm.
|
| occupant was a new clerk, fresher than
| new paint and smarter than fresh burn
/ where the skin was off. This future Ma
poIeon of finance was perched up on u
I high stool trying to look as if he knew
something My friend who by the way
is not a travelling fashion plate inquired
If the proprietor was in.
".No,' said the youthful prodigy. real
Quick and sharp. 'aint in. T" My friend
said. 4 guess will take seat and wal:
for him. supposing he was out at lunch
or In one of the noighboring offices.
".Alright, said the boy. So my friend
camped picked up a paper and com
menced to read. After a while it com
.menced to dawn upon him that the bust
ness man was gone sometime, so layin:
the paper down he turned to the swee
cherub and said, How long before yo,
expect Mr.. Brown in ;,
.sThe boy put on an idiotic grin as II h
was about to say something real smar
and said. Not before Saturday. he is on
of town..
INV friend grasped the situation a
: once and concluded here was an oppor
, unity not to be mislaid or lost to Civ
This fresh duckling a little lesson in po
uteness that would last him for some
time So he said:
80 didn't care to see him particularly
y was Just over at the doctors Office op
: i,.,ta m see what he thought the frOubl