Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1892 — The Mary Ann Jenkins’ Cargo. [ARTICLE]

The Mary Ann Jenkins’ Cargo.

Here’s one of the latest told in com nection with Joseph Jefferson when he was a barn-stormer under the management of Sol Smith: The “show” stranded in a Mississippi town. Luckily it was in the summer time, and the river was full of flatboats plying to and fro with produce and live stock. It was the case of going the whole hog or none, so Sol Smith, who was an eloquent old actor, finally prevailed on the skipper, who was going down the river with a load of hogs, to give the actors free transportation. It may be imagined that the trip was not enjoyably spent in such unsavory company, but actors were not as particular in those days as they are now. One evening the flatboat passed a palatial steamer, her deck filled with elegantly dressed Southern ladies and gentlemen. The captain hailed ths skipper of the flatboat: “What boat is that?” “The Mary Ann Jenkins, of Bummersport.” “And what kind of a cargo have you got on board?” “Ob, not much of a one—only hogs and actors.”— St. Louis Republic.