Cape Breton's Magazine

On the Boston Post Tour "The Posf tour • led by state troop? ers and met everywhere by hun? dreds of people • included lunch? eons, visits to schools and places of work, speeches in city squares, and civic receptions at several Boston suburban town halls. John? ny visited Charlestown Prison, was escorted to a boxing match, and played umpire as the first pitch was thrown to open the National Baseball League season. For two days, his itinerary was printed on the newspaper's front page." er, and he was certainly not acting like | one' More than one passer-by also re- state troopers lead the two-day parade as Johnny and his family tour Boston. His mother and ft marked on Johnny s sneakers, which ,her are beside the second car. Johnny is alone In the first car. he had pu.rchased at the co-operative store in Sydney Mines for 98 cents. The noon starting time was approach? ing, and Johnny was excited. At five feet six-and-a-half inches and 133 pounds, he was declared fit to run. He remembers feeling "on top of the world." "Number 14" wore a white jer? sey featuring a red maple leaf and the superimposed letters "NS." As the field of 96 runners gathered at the starting line, Johnny managed to position himself next to the two run? ners he respected the most • Stenroos and DeMar. With his father giving him last-minute advice, Johnny received a big good-luck kiss and fresh handker? chief from his mother, who said, step? ping to the sidelines, "See you at the finish line." Everyone present was taken aback to see a middle-aged woman at the start? ing line of a race then entered solely by men. "Hey, kid, do you expect to win?" came a wisecracking voice from the midst of the runners. "Well, Pa says I can run a bit," Johnny offered. T??,v,i. -,K ', * tt, v. * I -r. Johnny Miles and his entourage during the Boston Post tour. The group includes a cousin from Th.nk.ng about his father smalm- Sydney Mines and a piper. structions to "stay with the leaders and do your best for Nova Scotia and Cape Breton," Johnny recalled the scene at the Sydney Mines railway station. Mayor Mike Dwyer had shak? en Johnny's hand and advised sol? emnly, "Johnny, when you get to Bos- Friday, April 23, 1926, Milton, Mass. Johnny meets Giri Scouts. Mrs. Hel? en van Shagler of Troop 10, Dor? chester, intro? duced the 19 scouts in her command • one had a basketball and Johnny wrote his name and address on n. She said, "Now we'll win the next game." Quality Cameras Building, corner George & Dorchester Streets, PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK TO.