OLD JOHN BROWN IN BROADWAY "BLACK YOUR BOOTS, SIR?

" In front of one of the photographic galleries in Broadway hangs a large life-life colored photograph of Walt. Whitman, the eccentric poet. Now, Walter is a man of huge proportions, with bronzed features and strong muscular development, and is somewhat notorious for his total disregard of elegant costuming in fact, Walt. generally presents a decidedly rough exterior, favoring the idea of border-life. Two ragged little boot-blacks, smoking their stumps of cigars with all the vigor of old smokers, were passing up Broadway a day or two since, when one of them chanced to spy Walt. Whitman in all his photographic loveliness. A brilliant idea instantly flashed across the brain of the young bootblack, ever watching his chance to earn a few pennies; so, stepping suddenly in front of the photograph, he extemporized the following scene: Boot-black No. 1 to Boot-black No. 2 Oh, Davy! look er 'ere! 'Ere's a picter of Old John Ossalwatamie Brown! Boot-black No. 2 What! Old Brown what had a little Injun? No. 1 No, zer blaster fool! Hits Old Kansas Brown what's tried to run orf with all Gov. Wise's Virginnny niggers, and got cotched at it, and is going to be hung next week at 9 o'clock. Passers-by stop to see pictures of John Brown; crowd begins to form and constantly increases. Inquiring Republican to Boot-black No. 1 Are you positive, little boy, that this is a picture of Old John Brown? No. 1 Why, yes I is. Didn't I jest her the feller say so what hung it up? Having secured a sufficient crowd by this time, the urchin thinks to improve his opportunity. No. 1 to various persons Black yer boots, Sir? Shine up; only five cents! Black yer boot, Sir; black yer boots? Some one who knows Walt. Whitman explains the joke, and the crowd disperse, laughing at the ruse of the boot-blacks, who have managed to secure a customer or two by passing Walt. Whitman off for Osawatomie Brown. "Old John Brown in Broadway Black Your Boots, Sir?" New-York daily tribune, November 11, 1859, 7.