The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-31
Private John Aliens Latest Stories,

Private John Allen of Tupelo, Miss, a
member of the government commission
of the st. Louis Exposition, did not fig
ure to any great extent in the ceremonies
of dedication of that enterprise, but ne
was there all right, for several good
stories of his invention or experience have
been brought back to Washington. 1t
was at a little dinner given to Alexander
Dockery, Governor of Missouri, that Al.
len flashed some wit at the expense of the
guest of the evening.
81 met an old farmer out on the grounds
today" remarked Allen, "and he seemed
to be very we'll informed about affairs
pertaining to Missouri. Finally we got 10
talking about the Doodle stories of the
Missouri legislature and the fact that the
name of Lieut.. Gov. Lee became involved
in them.
81 am glad that my old friend Dock
cry is not mixed up in any of these
things, said 1.
'Oh, you needn't have any fear on shat
score, replied the old farmer; 'Dockery
was always mighty clever in covering up
his tracks
"Then," continued Allen "the discussion
turned on the Governor here and the sue
cess he had achieved.
He had war record to start with or
he could not have got along in Missouri.
said.
"'Well, remarked the old farmer,
Doclery didn't have much of war rec
ord. To'ard the end of the war he Joined
a company of home guards with the
stipulation that the company was not to
go out of the county unless the enemy
came in
At another time Private Allen told n
story of Tupelo. "The wife of a shrewd
old darby of my town died not long ago."
he said, ''and in making arrangements for
the funeral the old fellow went to the
ticket agent and inquired the cost of a
round trip ticket to Birmingham and also
a round-trip ticket for a corpse.
:" You want round trip ticket for your
self, but you want ticket only one way
for the corpse said the agent.
"'See heah boss said the darkey, I
knows what Use about and what I want
My old Sal done had lot O. kin folks at
Birmingham and dey all wants ter see
her befo she's buried Now, I ak you de
cost OBJ dem tickets case / wants ter fin
out if it'll be cheaper TO me ter take old
Sal up ter Birmingham and back an it'll
be ter feed a lot Of dem Alabamy niggers
fer week dat'll come ter de funeral"
what are you doing for the EXPOSE
tion?" was a query addressed to the Pri-
yate by friend
mot so very much" answered Allen,
"and some of my best efforts miscarry. I
went down to Arkansas to get the legis-
ature to make an appropriation for an
exhibit When I arrived at Little Rock a
sort of reception was rendered me by for
mer residents of Mississippi a great many
having come across the river into that
State Well, the next day they got the
two houses together in joint session 50
that l would not have to make the speech
twice I remarked upon the gratitude I
felt for the honor done me the night be
fore and said that while / appreciated It,,
[ could not, as loyal Mississippian, but
regret that so many of her sons had left
her to become residents of Arkansas.
Mississippi / said, is great State, with
many resources and capable of the high.
est development I am sure if these for
mer residents Of that Commonwealth now
living in Arkansas had remained in Mis-
sissippi and stood trial they would have
been acquitted by the jury 1t seems"
continued Allen, with a show of regret,
chat there was a county treasurer who
had defeaulted in Mississippi and a sheriff
that had got away after making a big
sale who were members of the legislature,
and they took my remarks personally. On
account of their efforts the appropriation
was not what we expected"