The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-08-28
smiled encouragement at me from

smiled announcement at me from
various quarters.
In his introduction, the chairman
also spoke of a Frank NJ. Brown, who
had been my competitor in bicycle ra-
cling days. l. could not pick him out
anywhere but at the mention OF his
name he waved his hand to me from
way down the room and / knew he
business man, who defeated me at Sa-
co way back in 1889.
The chairman did such a splendid
lob In his introduction hat | won
dered for a time II he could be talk
ing about me but 1t seems he was and
when I got up to talk, my timidity
entirely vanished. At any rate, |
wandered on, told a story or two and
finally came to the Indian club part
of 1t. This went well enough and
In the last part of the juggling pro-
gram | took pains to drop n OF
the hardwood clubs rafting on the
floor. This was to give the impress
sion that my work with them was a
little uncertain and also to make 1t
clear that II they hit anybody some
thing serious would result.
then changed to another pair in
preparation for the grand finale. One
of this pair was Of curse a stuffed
club, but they perfectly resembled
the others l had been using mt
think no one noted the difference.
My victim was to be A. l.. T. Cum
mings of Portland, secretary OF the
Maine Chamber of Commerce and
Agricultural League. After going
through a few motions / swung
around 80 as to get him within range
and brought the stuffed ! down
with a good substantial whack on the
top of his head. At the same mo-
ment / dropped the other n on the
floor to intensity the impression al
ready created that these clubs were
capable of inficting a serious wound.
Mr.. Cummings vas equipped with
a rubber bulb filled with a red solu-
ton. AS a man would naturally do
when bifed on the top of his head, he
staggered to his Geet, put up the
handkerchief in which the bulb was
concealed and expelled the liquid on
the tor of his Uranium. He did his
part to perfection. The amount OF
gore produced could hardly have
resulted had l had a sledge ham
mer instead of IN Indian club
and pounded his head to a pulp.
1t oozed up between his fingers, ran
down wei his face and dropped from
the chin onto the shirt front. In a
moment all was panic. There hap
pened to be two Y. M. c. A. workers
nearby, skilled In first aid treatment.
Each got under an arm In the most
approved style and steadied Mr.. Cum
mings down the length of that long
room and took him out into the cor
ridor. They did their part so we'll
that | supposed they must have beer
onto the whole matter and coached
for the Job. This 1t seems was not
at all the case. When they reached
the corridor Mr.. Cummings commenc-
ed to laugh and even then he had to
put up an argument to make them
understand he really was not hurt.
OF course, I had staged the best
horror-struck and remorseful atti-
tude | knew how. A Portland broth
err came to my side full of sympathy.
Said he, ut is dreadful but do not
feel too bad about 1t. Perhaps you
had better sit down" ! thought ne
TOO must have been posted and was
doing this for general effect but IL
seems he was entirely sincere.
l had had in readiness a speciaI
edition of the Observation-Disclosures
with glaring headlines telling abou
the accident" with spirit and detail
At the proper moment a bunch Of
Portland newsboys came In with these
and commenced to distribute them
SO preoccupied were the members
present that at first they paid very
little attention to the papers. One
by one. however. they commenced &c
read them and then OF course the
denouement took place. Laughter ant
conversation very rapidly took the
place of gloom. Mr.. Cummings theI
returned, his face not entirely cleaI
of the red solution. and shook hands
with me. showing that at least there
was no resentment on his part.
The luncheon was supposed to bt
over at 1890 and | had planned tC
take the 1880 train for home. a
taxi was in waiting and | had NJ
doubt that in twenty minutes coult
make the Union station. There wal
so much going on and so many PEG
pie to speak to, however, that was
reluctant to leave. In fact, coult
not have done so without rudeness
so | let the train go and accepted
w. H. Cummings invitation to com
along In his machine later In the aft
ernoon.
In the hour or two which thu
had at my disposal, | accepted al
invitation from Henry F. Merrill t.
Visit the" Maine State Pier, whicl
was very interesting and enjoyable
In - Mr.. -Merrill's Office at the Ram
McA1lister pier, he told me of tn
many previous stunts which ha'
been pulled off at Portland Rotar,
all very interesting and impressive
| have every reason for thanking m
Portland brothers for the opportunl
ty to meet with them, for listenin
! with patient attention to my CONVEX
salon fand for their many expression