JOHNSON'S JOKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9979, 3 May 1911, Page 3

JOHNSON'S JOKE.

Jack Johnson lias got his smile back (says a message to the Sydney Sun from New York).

When, last Sunday, lie came out of the county goal, iv which he had been incarcerated for ten days for exceeding the speed limit in his motor-car, a crowd of people were waiting gates, and Johnson, in a speech, announced that he would have a surprise for them in the course of a day or two.

Yesterday the surprise materialised

In broad daylight, but with all lamps turning, and wearing his most golden grin, the big negro drove through the town in a fine new DO--h.p. Pan hard car, that lie had specially Docght for the occasion.

The patrolmen had got word of his visit, and were out watching for iiuii, several "traps" having been prepared.

But Johnson lias been bitten too many rimes, and yesterday he got back on his persecutors.

Driving as slowly as he possibly could, almost at a crawling pacn. auri precedea by a man carrying a red Sag, the automobile proceeded through the mam-stre.t, Johnson meanwhile tooting the horn with great glee and ringing a nig bell. All the people were out lining the wayside, and there were shrieks of laughter at tho champion's practical joke, and the discomfiture of the police.

Afterwards Johnson stated that lie had got tlu> big new car for the particular benefit ot The police around that part.

"It cau gr> faster than this," he said, suffawiug hugely, "and next time 1 go through, I'll go so fast that they'll hardly see me."

SAN FRANCISCO. Saturday. Johnson lias been tailing some of his gaol experiences to the newspapers.

The crowning indignity, he says, was wlieu hn was put to clean out the stables and groom fourteen iior.es used by the mounted patrolmen.

He acids .hat California has lost all charms for him, aud that lie will muse haste to Hhiladflphia. where he wis! try half-a-dozen rounds with Jack O'Brien.

"But I feel so palsied as a result of tiie prisou treatment," fays the fighting black, "that I shall not he surprised if he turns the tables."