Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1907-02-14

blank DREW VALENTINES. BARD WROTE
VALENTINE POEMS.
funny pictures My managers call me
the lightning artist Are you a light
ming poet7"
We'll you know J got my reputation
/ by writing a column OF verses every
day for newspaper"
Sure. Now. listen. Here's the big
gest notion store In town. Wen see
the merchant-how's this for a big no
ton land give him a corner"
"A whatl This store is already on a
corner"
on, say Shake the kinks out OF
your Intellect Bard. Wen give this
corner store merchant corner on val
entines"
"A-cOrneT-on yalentinesT'
''Yes-pOet's corner, so TO speak. See7
You write the poetry IN draw the pic
lures. See the possibilitles7 You and
] don't cut much OF a figure down In
the big cities, but W here we're celeb
rites Notice how the people are
standing out here in the snowstorm to
get look at usf"
That's due TO your long hair"
"WeIl sign these valentines, some
Of them" the chalk talker continued,
disregarding the poets thrust "Mr.
Merchant viii advertise the thing in
the newspapers. and wen make more
money out Of il than we could get out
Of dozen platform dates Seer
At last the poet saw, with the aid Of
the funny man.
The conspirators entered the store.
Half an hour later they emerged, each
carrying a tripllcate copy OF contract
which assured him n third share in the
profits Of the venture The merchant
was to serve az press agent, do the
paid advertising. keep mum as to the
contract and let them do the rest.
-Four busy nights and days followed
for Messrs. Bard and Blank in their
rooms at the hotel. Blank drew val
entines and Bard wrote valentine
poems by the hundreds.
BY the morning Of Feb. IL the whole
town was aware and agog. II was an
event. an epoch. The two daily papers
carrying full page advertisements, We'd
with each other in giving free news
space to the novel experiment.
"The celebrated poet and artist" edi-
torially remarked one of the papers.
have kindly consented 10 see that this
town, in spite of the distressing storm,
shall not go valentineless. Art and
genius come to the aid OF love. They
are indeed our friends in need"
When the funny man In moments
respite from the poets terrific labors
glanced at this squib he doubled up
with laughter.
1--WE are indeed in need" he said
softly, but they don't know il, and If
Mr.. Merchant keeps his agreement
they won't"
As the valentines fell like autumn
leaves from pen and pencil they We're
displayed in the big show windows.
The sale was like bargain rush. To-
ward the last the autograph valentines
were auctioned off. The bidding was
most spirited. One of the poets most
touching quatrains, written and signed
In exactly two minutes. on big sheet,
with a red heart drawn and signed by
the chalk talker In thirty seconds, was
knocked down to the towns most eligi-
BILE bachelor for $50. A 'comic" which
hit the fancy Of the new postmaster
because he perceived that II would
"hit' his late hated rival went for
$3.50.
And a train got In the day after ST.
Valentines! AS poet and chalk talker
paid their bills from the S271.10 which
each received as his share OF the pro-
ceeds from this nefarious scheme the
funny man came out boldly from tenn
porary retirement and murmured soft.
ly:
20 poesy, what crimes are commit
ted In thy namew