Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1880 — Geveror "Blue Jeans" Williams. [ARTICLE]

Geveror "Blue Jeans" Williams.

'lji—i HtraM. - A 1 Hi* quaint, countrified apjtearanee made the Governor a centre of attraoUon wherever he appeared in public during hi* residence at the state capH tal, and his innocence afforded no end of amazement to the urlwin populace. One evening he escorted two female friends to the theatre to “Romeo and Juliet” played. He bought admission tickets, but neglected to get those with seat coupons attached. With the most ingenuous air hte surveyed the rows of empty chairs awaiting oceupants, and selecting three of the best, seated himself and his party therein. Presently the person who had reserved the seats entered, and the Governor was obliged by an usher to surrender his plaee. By this time the body of the hall had filled, so he coolly took possession of a proscenium box: but soon the box-renter appeared and ousted him again. Then the old gentleman waxed wroth, and, taking his ladies in train, marched out of the theatre, loudly avowing his disgust with “these pesky new-iangled notions” about reserved seats. On another occasiou Mr. Williams attended a spiritualistic exhibition Sven by Anna Eva Fay, and was seated as one of the Investigators on the part of the audience. cheerfully mounted the stage; tied the medium in the rope tricks with an effort of strength that drew perspiration from every pore: sat in the cabinet with Miss Fay and let the spirits put a bucket over his head; lent his prized blue coat and waistcoat to be used in the manifestations, standing meanwhile in his shirt sleeves under the full glare of the footlights; and, when the snow was over, stuffed a large quid es tobacco into the side of his cheek and assured the spectators that he couldn’t “see any hocus-pocus about this thing.”