The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-07-27
JOHN SMITHS
YEAR

VI read paragraph few days ago
to the effect that this would be great
year for John Smith," said the travel
Ing man who was fixing up the cards
in game In the smoker. 1T didn't
appeal to me.
"As most Of you know, that's my
name. I am not ashamed Of Il, but
don't mind saying that would like
to trade II OF until that jamestown
AFFAIR 10 over.
III we could have . set Of expert
huinorists to get up the Jokes condi'
tons might be NOR .olerable; but for
everybody you meet to take shy at
the family patronymic IL tiresome.
MY house thought 1t would be
good card to have me on the ground
the day the show opened at Norfolk.
! arrived the night before and put up
at q convenient hotel When wrote
my name on the register the torture
began.
You're the first on the ground!'
exclaimed the clerk, who was evident.
ly raw one. l confess, however, that
didn't take his meaning OF the bat.
"'Of course you wan. the best In
the house, continued the mushroom,
with smirk on his face. Then he
hammered 1t in. The Smith family
has the right Of way here he con.
tinued. and specially John
Ordinarily I'm pretty quick on the
| trigger, but the wretch kept ahead OF
me. Before / could unlimber he
handed out another.
"'Well give you the Pocshontas
chamber, John-pardon-Mr. Smith.
Front!'
Before the belihop made the plate
| was at the bat. won't delay the
game. gentlemen, by quoting my own
words, but when was through the
excresence behind the counter was
sneaking away as II he had sQuatted
ON the hot end of an evicted hornet.
In spite Of apologies by the landlord
walked out Of that tavern and put up
at boarding house where they don't
keep books.
THE next day I dropped in at tie
telegraph once and asked II there was
anything for John Smith. The man
looked at me as fellow looks at hat
on the sidewalk ON April /. Quicker
than you get your cards I showed him
my watch containing my picture and
name, and then threw down q bundle
Of old letters to clinch the identifca.
ton.
81 am John Smith, / said, with the
words UNDERSIGNED, and I don't want
any ftfhny business
THE man at the window handed out
four wires to my address and said in
a quiet way that was rather soothing:
~ reckon you are John Smith all
right, but don't go round here with
the idee that you're the only one. The
twelfth went out Jest ahead of YOU
Il thought II was time for me to dc
the funny stunt. Seeing that I had
anticipated trouble, said:
Then I'm No. 49,
"As was going out heard the mar
at the window say, You're liable to be
20 before you're much older
I'll owe that fellow one until
meet him again. ! am not the only
one of the name that Is lodging 1t
either.
"The last night ! was in the towr
l went to the Office of hotel. It wal
crowded. While was sitting ant
smoking an Office boy with Telegram
pushed his way through the jam, call
ing out, Smith, John Smith! Smith
John Smith,
Nobody responded. The boy tool
the telegram back to the clerk, whit
looked over at the line of occupied
chairs along the wall, and called out:
whats the matter with you Smiths
over there? know at least hal
: dozen of you are of that name, an,
here's a telegram for one of you
What are you afraid Off
mot a man in the line moved
Later on In the evening after the mol
had scattered ] sneaked up to tn
clerk and asked him II anybody ha,
claimed the message.
I. YES he snorted. The messag
9 has been read by six different Smiths
Maybe you're the right one. I hop
So
Il took 1t. II was for me. l apollo
gized for my part of the trouble.
said in a meek sort of way that
wasn't to blame for my name.
Course not snapped the tire
clerk. but II you Smiths would onl
get together and mark yourselves 4
= some way II 'ulG save a whole IL
of trouble In this hotel
! Il left that town the next morning
: and ] shall be travelling away from |
!, as long as the exposition lasts. An