The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-20
JOHNSON OF LEXINGTON. NY
Erect on the Boys u n Blue Grass State
Town Of the sight o. q SINK Hat.

.This is tho experience Ola New Yorker
who wore a silk hat Ia Lexington, KY:
The New Yorker WAS attending the ninth
annual conference for education in the
South. On the night Of his arrival he
started out from the Phoenix Hotel. as did
others in the visiting party. arrayed in even
ing clothes and a high hat, He was going
to attend a, reception given by a young
women's college.
As he walked down the street the name
johnson" came repeatedly to his ears.
| This man johnson seemed to be mighty
popular in Lexington that night. Every
body knew him.
about him. johnson, Johnson they
we re calling, and then they would rush
about in the dusk as though the name had
caused a good deal OF excitement.
1T might be one Of the city policemen, -
thought the New Yorker.
But that could hardly be-. for all the
grown up folks, although they smiled,
Of them even demonstrated with the boys.
They evidently thought this man johnson
frivolously by boys in the street. Appar-
emily. he was a man to be spoken OF only
The Rev Yorker was amused at the dis
oomhture OF the boys when some. Of the
men OH the street took them to task about
johnson. The New Yorker stopped on
tho street and laughed. It was 80 funny
grown UP people over the mere calling OF
The New Yorker was thinking, too, with
how much better grace the Lexington
boys took 1t than New York boys. Ho
was picturing to himself how New York
bows would have resented any interfer-
enoe with their shouting the name Of one
Of the oity's great men. Tie was thinking
what they would ha g done II anybody
had tried to stop them from shouting, for
It appeared to he a. good char cteristio
about the Kentucky boys: they evidently
took an interest in something aside from
their games.
sThfs Mr.. johnson seams to he a person
Of oonside re bic prominence here said
the New Yorker to one OF the men who had
demonstrated with a crowd Of boys. "Can
you tell me who he isf
Why yes; to be suah,. rsplied the y Hem EN-;
that'ea game the boys in these parts play.
at, Is to be regretted, sir, it certainly Is.
It is suah notifying to us sometimoo, for
we like to show the stranger every courtesy,
aThe game is. sir, for all the boys to shout
johnson whenever they see a silk hat.
The boy who fails to see the hat and shout
is the mark for the others, They hit him
hard, they do, indeed, sir
tThere now" continued the Kentuokian,
aking the New Yorker by the arm Just as
the name was shouted by a fresh GROW d Of
bows who had rounded q corner, you see
them at it. That young lad In the brown
coat didn't see the hat, and thay are punch
Fab, It is to be regretted; I am very sorry,
sir, indeed I am, blu you mustn't let that
trouble you. Down here in this country
we wear soft hate most OF the time, any
way, you know
went back into ite leather case and re-
| manned there during the rest of his stay
In Lexington. But the strange thing about
the New Workers. experience was that
members Of the New York party who wore
silk hats,
Every evening he might be seen s~trolling
| out from the hotel wearing evening clothes
and q derby. and occasionally he could be
seen leaning against a tree laughing heartily,
while ahead q group OF silk hated m,n
wonderingly watched a crowd Of skirmish-
ing youngsters.
It wasn't until the conference was over
and the visitors were leaving Lexington
that n Of the party, a New York minister,
asked casually:
did any OF you gentlemen ever hear
Of q Southern character named johnson
who was noted for wearing o high hatfs
No esponee But q few minutes later
the first New Yorker. Siding up to the man
| who had naked the question, saidi
tA-sAhske.S