The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
SMITHS OF SMITHVELE.
A Lawyers Discoveries while Looking Up
TITLES in Missouri.

Funny letter ! got from hom to-day
said a man who lives twenty-fo'r days Of
the month in New York and spenIs Sundays
on the golf links.
my sister writes that two menwere cam
didates in the old town for justice Of the
peace, Both are named Smith.
THE election was a tie. Theyare going
to decide the question by a pie biting con-
test. The man who can cover the most
crust is to take the office.
the Smith family always figure in thess
things. In a joke or any bit of Elton the
name is always made use OF bCause 1t
easy. But this is a real case. |
know both lei
Il know a smith story that beatsit hands
down." said his friend. Il wac OFT in Misc
souri, last summer looking up some titles.
My lawyer said we must go to a snail town
about thirty miles from the county seat
to obtain necessary informatbn.
The name Of the town is Smi.hville.
When we got there we put up al the Smith
Hotel. The landlords name il Smith. No
relation of the town, he said He went
there long after it was named
After dinner my lawyer said we were to
call at IN store of a man who could give
us a number Of pointers. The merchant
was introduced as Frank Smith. He said
at once that he was no kin Of the mar who
kept the hotel. That seemed 10 be a Joke
in the town, still it was a lac
I'VE got down to business and after a
number Of notes had been taken we cams
to a hiatus. Frank Smith said he would
have to pass. But he added. if you go
out to Squire Lewis Smiths farm. about
four miles. he can tell you Just what you
want to know
Il was so interested in my business that
/ had lost the chain Of condolences in names
until the merchant ran in with his stock
joke, that Squire Smith was no relation Of
his. 1t was late when we got back to the
hotel.
Landlord Smith was in the office waiting
to show us up. My lawyer asked him the
most direct route TO Squire Smiths place,
saying we wanted to go there early the newt
morning.
You'll have to hire a rig sad the land
lord. They call it four mile but its higher
eight the way you have to go. There was
a higher way, but the big rain a few weeks
& washed away the bridge orer smith :
fork; which was the nigh cut to Squire
Smiths
I'VE left it to the landlord TO provide us
with rig and driver. The next mor?'rs
a wagon awaited us and We %stairer.
The driver was a colored man. Aiter We
had got under way my lawyer began q1a'
zing the driver.
"Do you live in Smithville? asked me
lawyer.
was bawn.'
Were you ever a slave?'
mo, sab. Nah ole fatha wuz But his
ole mastah, ledge Owen Smith, done make
him free hefo' he died.
What is your name?'
NAH fatha wus named 'Lonzo Smith,
an when / wus bawn he named me 70 hs
ole mastah, But de ole mastah WIS lIvIr
an everybody got TO calm me Nigga Smfl'
and everybody knows me by dat name
After we had seen Squire Smith a0c
had transacted our business, my lawye'
told him how | had beef having fun VIII
the Smith family, and that we had cen
driven to his place by Nigga Smith. me
Squire was a jolly old fellow. fond Of apple
jack and a joke.
He didn't tell you the truth as 20 his
name said the Squire. He works for a
miller in town and people call him Nigga
smith to distinguish him from MS ooss'
who is a white man, and whose maize $
Jim Smith
AS We babe the Squire good-by, he said
to u driver: =,
You can get back to town quicker and
have a better road for these gentlemen
If you go through the pasture and drive
across the Smith ford
And that is how VIC got back to Smith
Vile"