Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-27

4 staring us IuulllL|1ll9 III w" l"f~Ne
One day the death chamber was M
vaded with unusual activity, Iney
1yhiteWashed the wallis. They painted
the door. washed the skSitEhts anu
gave the cuspfdors their annual clean
Ing Then the veterans knew whA'
was about TO happen
The governor was coming 20 make ms
annual Inspection.
This is an event, and events we're OF
tremendous Importance 10 us we
made the most OF them, as the very
hungry devOur their crust slowly, tRuI
4; may seem the more. z
But this was all new TO benjamin.
His curiosity knew 40 bounds We
should have respected his unpuF'luhf
able thirst for knowledge but IL va
100 good an opportunity for us to miss,
In reply 10 his innumerabIe questions !
regret to admit that lied most loVlalS
to him. And Benjamin, poor black
silly BAnjamin believed me, or pfe-
tended that he did
held private conversation WIN tue
keeper. The keeper having wink"d al
me. asked so that Benjamin cou1-
hear him: ,,z, AZ.
II don't know ] replied pesOahtiE'
don't bother me. I'm busy -r
But Benjamin was not busy he
called the keeper over to his cell
whats this about an address Mr'
Keeper 49,.
The Keeper explained at length that
when the governor came ant" the dva1n
chamber one of the men always HtuN
n speech OF welcome.
,cWhat for?" Benjamin asked
The keeper looked as though sen
Ignorance OF the regular happen lnss
in that enlightened place, was y
brkach of the remainder OF the state
laws ,,,a
all hear and enjoy the Joke, then tllg
governor always lets that man 90
WHAT Benjamin's shout set us
shaking With merrtment tie p'lt~
dons him, For sure -
Always"
vent.
After awhile Ben asked me il was
going 10 make the speech | assnr-
"a him that / had no such inten'ioh
had not tIme 10 bother with the
governor, T did not like him. 49,,
Then Ben thought long while. we
waited for devalopln ents with as much
patience ms We could muster.
Presently BENJAMIN spoke MT
Roland" he called.
Well said /. with the usual dig
nifty which the mayor OF the death
chamber possesses in abun Dance
'What do YOU want2'
The governors first name is Sem
jarnin, same as mime
Ben handed out this important IN
formation with great impresSlVeneSa-
THAT'S So" agreed.
Then Benjamin came out into the
open and wanted to know if he might
speak the address OF welcome 1n't Ap-
peal for clemency himself, OF course
we had known he would do this but
/ was very serious in considering IT. l
uretended to favor our italian neigh
Dor. shorty" who could not utter
one word OF English. l affected to
believe that a speech in the Italian
tongue would have more effect upon
the state executive. Benjamin, how
eyer. brought forth voluble and I'M
deniable arguments in his own favor,
so L reluctantly consented.
Now, when Benjamin attempted
| anything, he did il with his whole
| heart and soul. His nature was as in-
| tense as his color, More cannot be
| said. In this spirit Ben prepared his
| address of welcome TO the governor
| II was the seven lahors of Hercules
| combined 'rl,0..-' 80 ',rd borrowed
| my dictionary, I was totally unp
| pared for IA. s4e-. upon any
| understan ding as greeted me when
| Ben rehearsed his completed effort.
1t began "Puissant and suspicious
Potentate. Dear Sir" And there was
hardly 4 word in the whole two hours
T, peroration which I could understand,
Besides this. there was Ben's rem
derlng. READING / should have said,
| OF the masterpiece. 1t sounded like
| an amateur ventriloquist at charity
concert 1t would have drawn screams
from It stuffed owl.
.FineI Fine! Great Out OF
sight,' we all shouted. unanimous
that the governor would be overcome
With delight.
Then came further rehearsals of
this Grafton. and We learned Signals.
where 10 applaud, and cry. Heart
Hear"
The great day finally dawned, as
great days have a way of doing, If
ono only waits long enough. The gov
clnor and his stan entered the death
chamber The great man looked not
oyerhappy. As he passed along and