The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-18

learned recently that he had hidden
himself away at 1872 East Thirteenth
street to let his life dribble out as 1t
enty-four years old. without anything
in particular of this worlds goods.
Big Bilr'-nobody has eve called
him anything else-is going where in
his day he has sent many another a
Devere has many friends In Salt
Lake City. Many a time he has APP
peared here In Hoyt's "A Black Sheep"
as the editor Of an Arizona paper.
Who that has seer it does not remem-
Der big Bits" laughing song, In
which he made the audience laugh
with him? Who has not recalled with
a smile the improved aerial cash
carrier on a wire utilized to bring
him whiskey from the bar in the next
room. Who has not recalled Devere
himself and the humor of his very
appearance? Otis Harlan was os-
tensibly the star of "A Black Sheep"
and the sheriff was a vastly minor
part, but bib Biz brought to it
such a naturally rough pe-sonality
that the real actor was completely
sutshone..
On many occasions Devere has been
entertained here. Scarcely once has he
passed through Salt Lake without par
ticipating in an Elk's smoker. which
would be arranged in his honor, but In
which he would do the greater part
~ <Io rt1r<af,;r~ LSx,or~yhNAxr orn.Is,6
here has heard him recite his poems.
notably "Walk!"-that extremely
expressive story Of the wasted fortune.
his ensuing remorse of his ~self-inficted
punishment of walking behind a wa
gon. while he ~soliloquized. From this.
the height of absurdity, Devere would
begin his 1.-TWO Little Busted Shoes"
and not only his audience, but he him
self, would try to keep down a big
hard lump that wanted to come up In
the throat. For these poems, no mat
ter how crude and lacking I'm tech
nique, represented the actual expert
ences during a life spent for little
west. and Devere read them with a
certain sincerely hat was not learn
ed In an ~elocution class.
His 1.-TWO Little Busted Shoes re-
lates an experience when at a stage
station far out west he opened his
trunk and discovered a memento plac-
ed there by his wife to remind him of
''the kid" The crowd Of miners Is
looking on.
And as each fellow cranes his neck,
the first thing that he views
Is two tiny little stockings n two
little busted shoes.
Right there on the top they rested and
in fancy seemed to say
Now. papa. don't forget US when
you're wandering far away"
Not a flippant word was ventured, not
a sound was spoken loud.
AS a flood of golden sunshine poured
it's glory DER the crowd.
Could an old and master painter touch
ed his palette's varied hues
He'd a gathered inspiration from those
little busted shoes.
I said they were not hab men. and I
meant just what I say.
And I hope that I nay meet them all
upon some future day.
May meet them where no memories
may conjure up the blues.
With the little ones around them
wearing httle busted shoes.
900
Again Devere struck a sympathetic
chord-more SO when he himself read
it-in the story of the girl who. tired
of ploddin' round the farm" decided to
go to the city. He says:
You're just like our mother. Mandy.
and most allus hev yer way
Speakin' bout yer mother. the mornin
tibet she died
I went in the big front bed room. and
knelt down by her side:
an / asked the good Lord to spare her
an to leave her fer me to love.
But I reckon He kinder needed her in
the mansion up above.
She lowed she thought twas better
fer her to go than stay
All yer JEST like yer iuothSfr nAdiuys
and most allus hev yer way.
She said that the good Lord willed 1t.
an she sad. Ills will be DONE"
Then she asked me to shove the ur-
tains back an let in the warm
bright sun,
SOFT she could lock at the dear green
fields whar she had passed her life
Ever since the day old Parson had
pronounced us man and wife.
An she told me to guard an protect
you. an to cherish you every day
But you're jest like yer mother. Man
dy, an most allus hev your way.
OF course, you'll be happier, Mandy, in
your bright new city home.
And you'll larn to forget your poor OH
dad that's sorrowin' all alone.
You'll meet up with companions who'll
be more to your mind,