Smyth Interview

0050.0823

SMYTH INTERVIEWS CRANBROOK ED. – F.J. Smyth, of Moyie Leader Fame, Seeks Exclusive Interview at Sandpoint, Idaho.

Sandpoint, Idaho, Sept. 20. – Fred J. Smyth, formerly editor of the Moyie Leader, when that city was in a flourishing condition, and who was famous for his red vests and neckties, similar to the brand worn by Mayor Taylor of Vancouver, strolled over to the Spokane International station last evening and interviewed “Charlie Ed” in his private car, en route to California after spending his holidays in and around “Beautiful Cranbrook.” The elephant was munching hay, and between copious mouthfuls his every gesture seemed to imply that he had been right royally treated. “As near as I can read the mind of an elephant, his message to me was this,” writes Mr. Smyth; “If California has anything on Cranbrook it sure has got to go some.”

“But why did you select Cranbrook as a place for deserting the “big top”? I asked.

“Well, you see, it was just this way; coming west, all we heard was Cranbrook, and the ‘banana belt,’ and we couldn’t resist the temptation to take a look for ourselves. Yes, we found the bananas, but the jungles around Cranbrook sure have those of the Euphrates or the Punjab beaten a city block.:”

“But your escapade has cost the Sells-Floto circus a lot of money,” I ventured.

“It certainly has that,” he shot back, as he flapped his ear and drove away a pestering fly. “Why this trip alone runs into many thousands of dollars, and would you believe it, with all the extra room in this car, the C.P.R. agent at Cranbrook had the nerve to charge excess baggage on my trunk. Then at Eastport, the customs officer gave me a thorough going over – he was looking for ivory, I suspect.”

“So they caught you near Moyie,” the reporter queried. “I operated a paper there at one time.” “Yes, I heard all about it in my travels around Moyie. I also heard a lot of other things about you, which are a credit to you, your tie and vest, and the inhabitants of Moyie.”