Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1870 — A “Gamekeeper’s” Joke. [ARTICLE]

A “Gamekeeper’s” Joke.

A friend of mine, said Barnum, Mr. James D. Johnson, lived in a fine house a quarter of a mile west of Iranistan, and as 1 owned several acres of land at the cor ner of two streets directly adjoining his homestead, Tsurrounded the ground with high pickets, and introducing a number of Rocky Mcmntain elk, reindeer and American deer, I converted it into a deer park. Strangers passing by would naturally suppose that it belonged to Johnson’s estate, and to render the illusion more complete, his son-in-law, Mr. S H. Wales, of the Scientific American , placed a sign in the park, fronting on the street, and reading: “ All persons are forbid trespassing on these grounds', or disturbing the deer. J. D. Johnson.”

I “acknowledged the corn,” and was much pleased with the joke. Johnson was delighted, and bragged considerably of having got ahead of Barnum, and the sign remained undisturbed for several days. It happened at-length that a party of friends. to visit him from New York arriving in thq evening.- Johnson told them he had got a capital joke on Barnum; he would not explain, but said . they should see it for themselves the next morning. Bright and early he led them into the street, and, after conducting them a proper distance, wheeled them around in front of the sign. To his dismay, he discovered that I had added directly under his name the words, “ Gamekeeper to PT. Barnum.” His friends, as soon as they understood the joke, enjoyed it mightily, but it was said that neighbor Johnson laughed out of “ the wrong side of his mouth. „

Thereafter Mr. Johnson was known among liis friends and acquaintances as “ Bamum’s gamekeeper.” Borne time afterward, when, I was President of the Pequonnock Hank, it was my custom every year to give a grand dinner at Iranistan to the directors, and in making preparations I used to send to certain Jriends in the West for prairie chickens and Other game, i>n one occasion a large box, marked “P. T. Barnum, BridgeportGame,” was lying in the express office, when Johnson seeing it, and espying the word “game,” said: “ Look here !” I am ‘ Bamum’s gamekeeper,’ and I’ll take Charge of this box.’ And “ take charge” of it he,,did, carrying it home and notifying me ! that it was m his possession, and that, as he was my gamekeeper, ho would “keep ” this, unless I sent him an order for a new hat. He knew very well that I would give fifty dollars rather than be deprived of the Voi ; and as he also threatehed to give a game-dinner at his own house, I speedily sent the order for the hat, acknowledged the good joke, and my own guests enjoyed the double "game.”— Struggles and Triumphs,