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Show GOT HIS SOBRIQUET EARLY "Honest John" Kelly Proved His Right to the Title Long Before Manhood. There have been many stories about the manner in which "Honest John" Kelly, the ex-umpire, first got his nickname. nick-name. Mr. Kelly himself, according to a New York letter, holds that it came to him naturally, for even as a small boy the purity of his soul shone through his face. "I think the first time I was ever called 'Honest John' was when I was quite a youngster," said Kelly. "A man engaged as an ambulatory salesman of tinware observed ob-served the ingenious countenance I presented to the world and hailed me. 'You look honest, boy," said he. 'What might your name be?' 'John,' said I, quite simply. 'John' just like that. 'Then hold my horse while I go in the saloon and get a drink,' said he. And so I held his horse while he went In the saloon and got a drink. But this was on lower Ninth avenue, in a day when the avenue's honors went to the man who could clean the most cops in a given time. By and by the gang came along and beheld that wagon full of tinware. The peddler was detained within by a sore thirst, and they took the tinware. And then they came back and took the cushions cush-ions off the wagon. Eventually, becoming be-coming daring, they unhitched the wagon and took it away. True to my trust, I stood therej holding the horse. And by and by the peddler came out of the saloon and sized up the situation. situa-tion. 'Well,' said he warmly, 'you're Honest John, all right. You saved the horse.' " |