The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19
JOHN SMITHS YEAR.
Honor, Glory and Jokes for the Bearers Of
the Name, Especially at Jamestown.

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Honor, Glory and Jokes for the Bearers Of
the Name, Especially at jamestown.
Il read a paragraph a few days g to
the effect that this would be a great year
for John Smith, said the travelling man
who was fixing up the cards in a game in
the smoker. 1T didn't appeal to me.
As most OF you know, that's my name.
1 am not ashamed OF it, but don't mind
saying that l would like TO trade it of until
that jamestown affair is over.
IF we could have a set OF expert HUI
morists to get up the Jokes conditions
might he more tolerable: but for every
body you meet TO take a shy at the family
patronymic Is tiresome.
my house thought it would he a good
card to nave me on the ground the day
the show opened at Norfolk. / arrived
the night before and put up at a convenient
hotel. When | wrote my name On the
register the torture began.
You're the first on the groundl' ey-
claimed the clerk, who was evidently a
raw one. / confess, however. that ] didn't
take his meaning of the bat.
-'of course you want the best in the
horse, continued the mushroom, with a
smirk on his face. Then he hammered
il ip. The Smith family has the right of
way here he continued, and specially
John
Ordinarily I'm pretty quick on the
trigger, but the wretch Kept ahead OF me.
Before | could unlimher he handed out
another
We'll give you the Pocahontas cham
Der. John-pardoE--Mr. Smith. 'FRONT.'
BEFORE the bellhop made the Ilate ]
was at the bat. | won { delay the game,
gentlemen. by quoting my W words,
but when I was through the eIcrescence
AZ il he had sIuatted m the hot end Of All
evicted hornet. In spite Of apologies 10y
the landlord | walked out Of that tavern
and put un at a boarding house where
they don't keep hooks.
The ne 1t day | dropped in at the tele-
graph Office and asked il there was any
thing for John Smith. The man looked
at me as a fellow looks at a hat on the side
walk on April /. Quicker than you get
your cards I showed him my watch con-
threw down a bundle Of old letters to clinch
the Identification.
4 am Johu smith [ said, with the
words UNDERSIGNED, and ! don't want any
funny business,
-The man at the window handed out four
wires to my address and said in a quiet way
that was rather soothing:
al reckon you are JOIN smith all right,
but don't go round here with the idee that
you're the only one. The twelfth vent out
Jest ahead Of you
Il thought il was time for me 10 do the
funny stunt Seeing that had anticipated
trouble | said:
'"Then I'm No. 49,
"As ! was going out | heard the man at
the window say, You're liable TO be %
before you're much Older
"l1l " that fellow one until ] meet him
again. | am not the only one OF the name
hat Is lodging it, either.
The last night | was in the town | went
TO the Office OF a hotel: 1t was crowded.
While l was sitting and smoking an office
boy with a telegram pushed his way through
the jam, calling out, Smith, John SMITH
Smith, John Smith
Nobody responded. The boy took the
telegram back 10 the clerk. who looked over
at the line OF occupied chairs along the wall,
and called out:
What's the matter with you Smiths over
there? | know at least a half dozen Of you
are OF that name, and here's a telegram for
one OF you. What are you afraid Off
Not a man in the line moved. Later on
in the evening after the mob had scattered
] sneaked up TO the clerk and asked him IL
ANYBODY had claimed the message.
"'Yes,' he snorted. The message has
been read by six different Smiths. Maybe
the right one | hope 80
Il 90. II. 1t was for me: ~apologized
for my part Of the trouble. ! said In a meek
sort OF way that ! wasn't to blame for my
Course not, snapped the tired clerk, |
but IL you Smiths would only get together
and mark yourselves In some way IL would
n whole lot Of trouble in this hotel
Il left that town the next morning, and !
shall be travelling away from IL as long az
exposition lasts. And I've burnt up
all my cards