Billboard advertising (Jan-June 1900)

ThE BILLBOARD Cent Sbows. 'A Wail from the Advance Agent. Wherever I look, and wherever I turn, in 1 whatever direction I go, : One question, one only, confronts me: "Can ycu fix me all right for the show?" The transfer man pockets his contract, re- • marking: "You won't find us slow; •■ We've got a good scene-truck 'n,' trailer. Can you fix me all right for the show?" ■ Tfce baggageman, weighing my trunks, says: > "A hundred of excess or so; What's the name of the troupe you're ahead i of? Can you fix me all right for the show?" The genial, obliging hotel clerk cries, in a ' professional glow: "If you're room doesn't suit you, I'll change ' it. Can you fix me all right for the ' show?" ' ' The porter, who brings In my trunks, says: i "Fo' de Lawd. you'se a trouper, I know; : I kin tell *em a mile oft, by golly! Kin you fix me all right* fo" de show?" The ohambermaid making the,bed, speaks up bashfully: "Me'n* my .beau . 'Cd like to take in the performance. Oan you fix us all right for the show?" The waiter-girl calls-off the menu in tones confidentially'low; 1 "Rcast veal, lamb, an* corn-beef 'n* cab- bage^-Oan you fix me all. right for the show?'" Wbile bell-boys, one after another, pipe up as they stand in a row: "Do you want any Ice-water, Mister? Kin you fix me all rigtat fur de show?" • And nights in a. feverish- slumber I wretch- edly toss to and fro, ' While-legions of specters all chorus: "Can I you fix us all right for the show?" . Kind Heavetr, will even St. Peter shout, ' wihen I pass up from below, "Say! when is the- company coming? Can jou fix me all right for the show?" I Malcolm Douglas, in Puck. The Sells' Scandal. ■|kmj Columbus, O.", June 9.—(Special.)—A motion to grant Mrs. Sells additional alimony was argued to-day before Judge Bigger. Attorney J. E. Sater said that the' depositions that the defense had brought forth in support of their charges of adultery as made in the answer and cross-petition were from perjurers, and had been paid for. He asserted that the at- torney engaged in. Kansas City was a cattle thief and had done time- in an Iowa peniten- tiary. He said three of the witnesses exam- ined in Chattanooga were shown to have rr.minal records. In -reference to the affi- davits of persons who claimed to nave seen Mr. Sells in a.questionable resort, affidavits were read which showed that in one' case the man was forty days out of the road in the matter of time. Another, who claimed to have driven him there, never had anything to drive. The man who claimed to have seen Mr. Sells in Chattanooga was proved to have been miles away, in Georgia, at tbe only time it is claimed .that Sells was in that city. Then Mr. Booth arose. Very adroitly he paved the way for reading some of the sensa- tional letters which, until to-day, had never been given to the public. Mr. Booth said that the Court had a right to bear some of the letters in order that it might better judge of the case. One signed "Harry," who, Mr. Booth explained, was Harry Lyon, read: "My Dear Mame—I must live to see my own dear sweetheart again, to have her put her arms about nay neck and kiss-as only she can kiss. Many thanks for saying, *I- love you to death and can't give you up.' " Mr. Booth opined that this went a little bit beyond the bounds usually laid down for platonic friendship. Mr. Booth said there were still other letters with details so positively revolting that he would not read them in open court. One of these had reference to a crime which it is a penitentiary offense to commit, and was merely outlined by Mr. Booth. i In Loving Memory. ; A touching and beautiful ceremony was ob- 1 served at Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, O., on the afternoon of June 8, at the conclusion of the afternoon performance of the John Robinson Show. John G. Robinson and sixty- odd, members of his show, prominent among whom were B. C. Cullen, Dan Dale, Robert Stiekney. .Mart Schuler, P. B. Wilson, Will- iam. DuttOii and wife and Charles Constan- tine, -the last two named gentlemen" being Hks of No. 1 Lodge, New York City, and many others, including Prof. Rogers* Band of thirty pieces, took street cars from the show grounds and went to the cemetery to pay a loving tribute to one of the whitest men that ever lived—Merrit F. xoung, for years treasurer of the Barnum. & Bailey Shows. Everybody in Sandusky knew Merrit, and to them It will be no surprise that his memory should live after him. Perhaps no man who was ever identified with the amusement pro- fession had achieved eo large an amount of personal friendship and esteem, and the news of his death in June, 1897, fell like a. pall wherever it was received. As the years go by, tbe memory of his good deeds, as well as his kind and genial nature, and a heart that was bigger man all creation, seems to take a firmer hold upon his old comrades. For this reason no circus company of any prominence that has visited Sandusky, O., since his body was consigned to its last resting place, has failed to visit the grave and give expression to their feelings of love and respect. On the arrival of the Robinson party at the grave, a few effective remarks pertinent to the occa- sion were made by Ed. C. Cullen; the band played a funeral d.rge, and the boys placed a magnificent floral piece in the shape of "The Gates Ajar," marked with the words, "Gone, But Not Forgotten." As the mournful strains . cf "Aula Lang Syne" were borne away on the breeze, there was many a tear-dimmed eye in the assemblage. "Requiscat in Pace." Fleeced. Circus day, the first in the history of Red Ledge, Mont., has come and gone, and as usual, it has left numerous suckers to mourn their financial loss and curse the officers cf the law' elected to protect the unwary and see that the State statutes against sure-thing games is not openly and wantonly infracted. The circus, or show, or Whatever it may, by courtesy, be called, which .exhibited in that city May 24 under the name and com- pany.style cf the "Great Synd.cate English- American Shows," was as rank a fake as ever collected "an aggregation cf punk per- formers and professional mountebanks be- neath a canvas. There wasn't a redeeming feature connected with 'the whole works. There was neither ring nor horses nor me- nagerie nor performers. In fact, the entire outfit is evidently traveling up and down the land for the purpose of robbing tire people without giving them the least show for their ■money. The fact that the management- dis- tributed complimentary tickets right and left, without regard to number or respect cf per- sons, serves to demonstrate that the show isn't abroad so much for the purpose of mak- ing money out of its exhibitions as It is traveling around in order to allow its grafters an opportunity .to successfully ply their ne- farious avocations. For those business men and other persons who have knowledge of sure-thing games and who lost their, money in a futile attempt to "beat a man at bis own game," this paper has no sympathy, but for those innocent country people who have not had opportunities for informing them- selves as to the crooked ways of the world, it has great compassion, and desires to enter a vigorous protest against the methods adopt- ed by tbe officers of the law in permitting tbe grafters to run their notoriously robbing games and conduct in the broad light of day a systematic scheme of highway robbery without let' or hindrance. Importance of Minor Shows. When W. C. Coup and Dan Costello came out of the West and induced P. T. Barnum to return to active show life, their unparalleled success for a time quite dwarfed competing tent exhibitions. Not only d.d their "World's Fair. On Wheel's" draw enormously, but their methods of business conspired to destroy tire smaller shows, and it was not long before Mr. Barnum had the audacity to proclaim over his signature that if the people would patronize him alone he would be the better able to supply them with all their amuse- ments. As the original Barnum show profited prodigiously, it soon became a part of their theory and practice to pay, largely on the ground that they could afford it, while their rivals could not. This policy sent up the prices of bill boards, lots and licenses to ex- orbitant figures,' to tbe injury of such stable managers as L. B. Lent, John H. Murray, Hyatt Frost, O. J. Ferguson and others. After the failure of the original Barnum HippodrGme, Mr. C. Coup undertook manage- ment on his own account, on a small scale at first and afterwards more largely but - un- successfully, being "hoist by his own petard," and- not able to compete with tbe giant shows of Barnum & Co. and Adam Forepaugh. Mr. Coup found the public wanted neither a small show nor a medium one. Wheh the "Flatfoots." Avery Smith, John J. Nathans, George F." Bailey and Lewis June, became the - managers of the Barnum Show, their agents did not endeavor to ascer- tain the highest price they could. pay for boards, lots and' -licenses. ; but it- was hard work to inaugurate an immediate reform. Adam Forepaugh once remarked to one of bis staff: "I want a contractor who knows tbe value of money and has traveled with some one: who' has been pinched for dollars." He found him in the late James A. Robinson, who had served with John O'Brien. While the great big shows of Barnum and Forepaugh slaughtered the small shows by taking the: large towns and excursioning the smaller ones, they also came to give little encouragement "to native talent. Experienced agents scoured creation for new names and new features, while the few shows en route employed but few American artists. The enormous show having arrived at tbe practical limit of size and attractions, tbe public .in :the. last few years has showed a readiness ~to patronize a smaller show at a lesser price-of admission—a state or affairs which' augurs well for the American arena. The minor show is the hope of the future tent show. .The minor show in the past has produced the Sells and the Ringlings, and out of the rings .of the smaller.shows will, come the performers of the future. The small show is also the educator of the coming man- ager afad tbe coming advance man, and it is a hopeful Indication that one is not obliged to be many times a millionaire—on the bills —to exhibit under a white tent. CHARLES H. DAY. Whitneyville, Conn., May 28. Gossip. W. W. Cole and wife sailed for Europe June 6. V W. E. Franklin was a "Billboard" caller - June 9. Ed M. Burk is sick again at the Wayne Hotel, Detroit, Mich. Coc Colvin has four fine performing ele- phants on the way to America. J. N. Vedder is business manager of Denny's big vaudeville show under canvas. Geo. Aiken's address will be - care ' of the Bristol Hotel, Cincinnati, for the next four weeks. W. O. Shipley, 108 Brown street, Amerlcus, Ga., will shortly put out the largest minstrel show (under canvas) in the world. Van Amburg & Gallagher's circus bas been on the road five weeks and is doing good -business. They carry sixty five people, all told. The Gentry Show No. 3 reports good busi- ness in the east: 75 ponies, 100 dogs, 25 monkeys, 4 elephants and one zebra are car- ried. Geo. W. Fursman has bought the minstrel outfit of Primrose & Dockstader, and will continue tbe show under canvas, as Furs- man's Minstrels. A rumor last week had it that Pawnee Bill had sold his entire show to the Strobridge Litho Co. The rumor could neither be con- firmed ncr refuted. J- F. Fagan, Doc Colvin, E. H. McCoy, Jack Holland, Punch Wheeler and Ralph Peckham visited the Robinson Shows at South Bend, Ind., Decoration Day. John Griffen is working with Wm. Pow- ley at the Turkish Theater, Coney Island. The show they give is simply fierce, but Ora- tor Shea's openings are worth traveling miles to hear. Elton Bros.' Show and Rice & Davis' Big United Shows took in Tarre, Pa., the same day. Both shows did a good business. Rice & Davis' show is heading toward Ohio. J. A. Jones, its. manager, is a hustler, conse- quently a good season should follow. The Robinson Shows had a fine day's busi- ness at Titusville, Pa.. June 8. The usual rain paid the show a visit, but they came in flocks and crowds anyway. Evidently the people of those parts are not afraid of the wet if there is a good time in store. Ringling Brothers business at Cleveland, O., bordered on the phenomenal. It was al- most the largest in the history of the show. An unfortunate accident marred the rejoic- ing. A collision between a trolley car and the pole wagon resulted in the death of the driver of the latter. Wallace gets his long-looked .for hack at the Terrell Bros, in Flint, Muskegon and Saginaw. Last year, it is alleged, Terrell Bros.—then owners of the bill boards in Paducah—held up tbe Wallace shows for a matter of some $90. This old score Mr. Wal- lace now promises to settle. Dick Hunter left the Sells-Gray shows and - joined the advance of Gollmar Bros. The change resulted in Basil McHenry being thrown out of a position. McHenry has been doing some first-class work and will make a good man for any show in need of a good contracting agent. He can be addressed in care of "The Billboard." Send us your routes: we keep them secret and only print them seven days in advance. The first accident to the Ed. F. Davis shows occurred the night of June 6. The performance had just started when some one cried out that the seats were falling. There were 300 people on ten lengths of reserved seats, and only four were hurt. Wbile mov- ing from the lot at Kensington a valuable circus horse was killed by a live wire. The John Robinson Show, it is said. Is going to make California. This means an- other fight for Ringling Brothers, who are certainly getting scrapping enough to satisfy almost any one. It is said that the Robin- son show will go over the Santa Fe route. Ringlings, of course, have a shut-out con- tract with the Southern Pacific. This secures Northern California for them absolutely. Robinson is looking for agents and prepar- ing for the battle. The outcome will be watched with interest. Harrison Bros, have had to order another (larger) tent in order to accommodate the crowds who attend the night houses. It is wedge shaped, one end bejng a 100-foot round top and the other (tbe stage end) a 75-foot round top. The middle pieces are cut so as to join the two different sized tops perfectly. The canvas is parafined by a new process and the lacings are lapped so as to make the top absolutely water proof. Bon- dercbuten, of Philadelphia, is building it. It is not onlv a novelty, but a very Ingen- ious device as well. Hugb Harrison says business is very good. Appreciated. To tbe Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—In the last Issue of "The Bill- board" you had among the features of the Lemen Bros.' Show, Edna, tbe champion lady somersault rider of the world. You will please make the correction that she is not with Lemen Bros., but is the principal feature of tbe William Sells & Gray's Circus, doing her act twice dally. It is a remarkably fine act and gives great satisfaction everywhere. It was the talk of Nashville last week. I am pleased to see a new circus paper in tbe field, and "Tbe Billboard" certainly gives reliable news, and you have taken a good stand' in requiring agents and managers In reporting items to tell tbe truth In giving size . hi canvas, number of peopie employed, and tbe correct route. I look for it every week. I took tbe bint you made a few weeks ago, and inquired at every news stand, and book store in different towns for "The Billboard," and every"agent and bill poster should do the same. 1 have my men both'on No. 1 car and with Second Brigade educated to ask for "The Billboard." I wish you every success. Yours truly. E. L. BRANNAN, Gen'l Agt. Sells & Gray Shows. A New Trust. A corporation has just been formed in Charleston, W. Va., to control the trained wild animal market of this country, if not, indeed, of the world. The charter of the com- pany was filed a few days ago in that c.ty, and Frank Bostock seems to be at the head of the thing, as the company will be known as the Frank C. Bostock Wild Animal Im- porting and Exhibition' Company. Bostock practically controls the trained wild animal market of the United States to-day, and his brcttrcr that of England. There are large interests in> this line in Germany and France, and it is proposed to consolidate most of these. Wilson Writes. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Among the visitors to the Ten Big last week which I failed to mention in my rag-time ar- ticle of yesterday, were Col. Pat Fagan, of the Forepaugh-Sells Sbow, wife and baby, at La Porte. At South Bend, Dr. Colvin, Ed. Mc- Coy; Punch Wheeler, McCoy and Calvin's right bower; Barton, Mr. Holland of Rusco, Holland, and Mr. Ralph Peckham, of the Ringling Shaw. "Punch" was the spokes- man, with the assistance of Harry G. Som- iriers. of the Auditorium in South Bend, and also Will Davis, lieutenant at tbe Columbia that was and tbe Illinois that is to be, stated. 'Gentlemen- -This is The show. We are pleased -beyond expectation. Have been all the way through) from front door to cook- house; "even ran in the races,' and your hos- pitality is like your parade and show—Great. and use alt capital letters in spelling it. ■ F. B. WILSON, Press Agent Robinson's Shows. Circus Routes. BARLOW SHOWS—Gilboa, O., June 13; Rawson, 0.. June 1,4. BARNUM & BAILEY'S CIRCUS-Berlin, Germany, May 28 to June 24. BUCKSKIN BILL'S WILD WEST—Big Rapids. Mich.. June 14: Alma. Mich.. June 15: Saginaw, Mich.. June 18; Flint, Mich.. June 18: Monroe, June ML BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST—Augusta. Me.. June 13; Portland, Me.. June It; Roches- ter. N. H.. June 15; Nashua. N. H... June 16. DAVIS'. ED. F., SHOW—Chicago, 111., in- definitely. DOCK'S, S., KEYSTONE SHOWS—Madi- son, Va., June 13; Wolftown, Va., June 14; Seville, Va., June 15. . DOWNIB'S, ANDREW, RAILROAD SHOW —Buffalo, N. Y., June 10 to 16. FOREPAUGH-SELL'S SHOW—Syracuse, N. Y.. June 13; Rochester, N. Y., June 14: Buf- falo, N. Y., June 15; Conneaut, N. Y., June 16: Cleveland. O.. June 18:' Fremont. O.. June 19. GENTRY'S SHOW NO. 3—Passaic. N. Y.. June 13; Middletown, N. Y., June 14: Pough- keepsie, N. Y., June 15, 16: Hartford, Conn- June 18. 19. 20. ' - ~> ' GOLLMAR BROS.' SHOWS—Granite Falls, Minn... June 13; Cottonwood, Minn., June 14; Echo, Minn.. June 15; Redwood Falls. Minn- June 16; Springfield, Minn., June 18; Lam- berton, Minn., June IS;' Wlndom, " Minn- June 20. '.'"."* HARRIS' NICKEL PLATE SHOWS—Bay City, Mich.. June 13; Lansing. June 14: Ann Arbor. June 15; Albion. June 16: Battle Creek. June 18: Kalamazoo, June 19: Nlles. June 20. KENNEDY BROS.' HIPPODROME CIR- CUS—Boston, Mass., indefinitely. NEW ENGLAND CARNIVAL CO.—Ma- rion. Ind., June 11 to 16; St. Paul, Minn- June 18 to 29 PAWNEE BILL'S WILD WEST—Latrole, Pa- June 13; Mt. Pleasant. Pa., June 14; Connellsville, Pa., June 15; Uniontown, Pa- June 16. RICE'S DOG AND PONY SHOW—Cleve- land, O.. June 4 to 16. RINGLING BROS.' SHOWS—Lansing, O., June 14. SAUTELLE'S. SIG- SHOW.—Horrlngton. Conn- June 13; Collinsvllle, Conn- June 14. STEWART FAMILY'S SHOWS—Mills Corners, June 13; Balbeck, J line 14; Penu- vllle, June 15; Red Key, June 16. SUN BROS.' RAILROAD SHOWS—Staun- ton, Va- June M.- TAYLOR'S F. J. SHOWS—New Virginia, la— June 13. WELSH BROS.' RAILROAD SHOWS— Newton, N. J- June 13; Hackettstown. N. J., June 14; Washington, N. J- June 15; East Stroudsburg, Pa., June 16. WALLACE SHOWS—Newport. Vt- June 13; St. Albans, 14: Malone, N. Y- 15; Og- densburg, 16; Flattsburg, 18; Tlconderago, 19: Troy, 20. WELSH BROS.' WAGON SHOW—Mee- hopany, Pa., June 13; Laceyvllle, Pa- June 14; Wyaluslng, Pa., June 15; New Albany, Pa., June 16, THE BILLBOARD Jaguar Mangles a Woman. Mme. Louise Morelli, who exhibits a quartet of trained jaguars with Bostock's Show, was badly clawed and bitten last week in Newark by a new jaguar which she was attempting to train. Tbe animal knocked her down, and she expressed a belief that it would have killed her but for tbe Interference of Matthew Johnson, an elephant trainer and superin- tendent of the menagerie, who. beat it into submission. Mme. Morelli had let the jag- uar into tbe big steel performing cage so that it might become acquainted with its mates and become somewhat subdued, as It had been In captivity less than a year. She put tbe four through some simple tricks, and then induced the stranger to Jump over a stick. She then began petting tbe animal, and opened the spring door to send them all tack to their cages. The new arrival was the last one to leave the arena, and as it placed its fore feet on the Inclined board it suddenly turned on ber. Sbe lasbed it with tbe whip and ordered it back. The force of its spring turned Mme. Morelli half way around, so that its sharp claws sank through her jacket into her back and side. Struggling to retain her balance and all tbe time lashing the brute over the face with the rawhide whip, the woman was forced to the ground, 'rho animal landed on ber, holding her down with its forefeet on her shoulders. Twice It sank its long, sharp teeth and claws into her back, inflicting ugly wounds, and when the claws were withdrawn blood and flesh fol- lowed. In the animal tent were s.everal men who saw the affair. Jobnson was" the first to act. He ran to the arena, entered by a spring door, and, with heavy whip uplifted, sprang at tbe jaguar. The brute saw him coming, lifted its bead, and then, with a savage growl, slunk back and entered the cage with the others. As soon as Johnson had driven the brute away. Mme. Morelli was carried half fainting, to her wagon, and Dr. H J F Wall ha user was summoned. The wounds were bound, up. but it is thought that the trainer will not be able to exhibit her "pets" for some days. Mme. Morelli -bears on her aims and shouldrs the scars left by previous •-•ncounters with wild animals.. Whiting Allen's Pedigree. Whiting Allen, in advance of Forepaugh- Sells Bros., on a visit to New Haven, ob- tained from Professor Dexter, of Yale Col- lege, some very Interesting facte relative to Mr. Allen's New England ancestors.' Proces- sor Dexter's work In Yale devotes three pages to Rev. John Searle, Yale, 1797, who was Mr. Allen's great-grandfather. Mr. Searle, by his scholarly mind, greatly Inter- ested the famous Jonathan Edwards, who personally encouraged and promoted Mr. Searle's investigations in the realms Of theo- logical research. President Stiles, of Yale classed Mr. Searle as a very learned divine and thorough theologian. Mr. Searle was pastor of a church In Litchfield, and after-, ward pastor of the Stoneham Congregational Church. At Stoneham he married a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Dunbar, of that town. He held other pastorates, and died at the age of sixty-seven. Whiting Allen Is a graduate of Oh'o Wes— leyan University class of .'73. On his matern- al ancestral side he is descended in the ninth generation from Richard Hubbel). who came here from England In 1645. and on the Allen side he Is descended from Samuel Allen, who caTOorer with the Pilgrims in 1620. Samuel Allen's oldest daughter married Lieutenant Joslah Standlsh. son of the famous Captain Miles Standlsh. One of his direct descend- ants married Mary Alden. daughter of Joseph Alden. who was a son of John Alden and the famous Priscllla. Hence Mr. Allen's ances- try goes back in direct line to two of the most famous names of our early New Eng- land days.and associated him In ancestral de- tails with Plymouth Rock and the Mavfiower. Mr. Allen's home State Is Ohio, and his fath- er was valedlctor'an of the first class «hat graduated from Ohio Wesleyan Universltv. which was In 1848. His parents removed to Onto from Vermont. The Elenhxnt—Profess'onal life would not be no bad If It were not for the long jumps. Tbe Kaniraroo—Oh, I don't mind them.— Baltimore American. I Major Mite. Major Mite, the midget who Is attracting so much attention in the Norris & Rowe con- cert, is an interesting charucter. Tbe Major is the smallest midget ever known, bis height being but 30 inchta, and his weight from 25 to 30 pounds. Although his person is so remarkably small, yet his mind is fully up to the average, and he can converse intelligently on any topic of the day. The Major will be twenty-four years old next August. He was born In New Zealand, his parents being pco- p,e ,°i ordinary size. Ho has three brothers and five sisters, and all of them aro of av- erage size. Major Mite was equal to the average in size when an infant. But he stopped growing when about three years old. and has not grown any since. He bas never had to shave, but fuzz Is making its appear- ance on his upper lip. The Major has been an extensive traveler. He spent some time In- South Africa, going rrom Cape Town to Johannesburg, and Is fa- miliar with all that country. While in South Africa, the Major met President Kruger, Dr. Jameson, Cecil Rhodes and all the other big guns. Including Barney Barnato, the former .ft A ' rl <-'''n Croesus, who since committed suicide. While evidently he is a British aympathiier. Major Mite refuses to express ■ouch of an opinion ot toe Boers, except to say that he doesn't "go very much on them." He 'speaks very highly of President Kruger, however. From South Africa, Major Mite went to England', where he remained about eighteen months. He then came to America, and traveled in Canada and the United States. He went back to England, where he remained two years, "doing" the music halls and vaudeville houses throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Fifteen months ago the Major came back to the United States, and has since been playing vaudeville engage- ments. He is a fine singer and something of a "Josher." He played* an engagement ot twenty-three weeks at the Chutes in San Francisco. This is the longest vaudeville en- gagement known in San Francisco, and shows hew popular the Major is in. the Bay City. He bas been with- Norris & Rowe about a month, and says that he likes it very much. He travels alone, and looks after his business affairs entirely without assistance. The Major has a gocd business bead, and knows how to look after his own interests. He bas a fiery charger all his own which be rides in the street parade cf the show when he feels so disposed'. Frequently he does not appear because he does not want to. The Major is an Elk, having joined Eugene Ledge, No. 357, last week. He presided at a social session- of Portland (Ore.) .Lodge not long ago, and was presented with an elk's tcoth, bandscmely mounted in gold, by members cf the ledge. The Major is proud of tbe token, and weara it on his watch chain. Tom Thumb, who was the best-known midget in this country prior to Major Mite, was much- larger, being 41 inches high. His weight was several times as great as that cf the Major. The Juvenile Circus. The juvenile circus is now much in vogue, says the Anaconda (Mont.) Standard. For two or three days preparations were in pro- gress for a great show on tbe vacant lot east of Dr. G. T. McCuIlough's residence. The boys collected a creditable menagerie and had a circus that was pronounced by those who saw it to be all that was advertised, which is more than can be said of any other tent show that ever appeared here. Another juvenile show that spread its canvas on the north side did not have such a good record. The show itself was all right, but its pro- prietors were out of luck. Their menagerie consisted of a caged coyote and a pen of rabbits. During tbe intermission between the afternoon and evening performances the coyote broke out of his cage and ate up the rabbits. After he had devoured the rest of the menagerie the coyote struck out for the hills and tbe backbone of the show was broken. John H. Martin, last season's business manager of the No. 2 "Zaza" Company, has gone to Cody, Wyo., to live on "Buffalo Bill's" Tanch. at that place, for the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Perley sailed for Eng- land. June 2. on the Pennsylvania, of the Atlantic Transport Line. Wbile in London Mr. Perley will arrange for the appearance of Alice Nielsen and her company there next spring. Merited Praise. This is what the Roanoke (Vt.) .Evening World has to say of the Harris Nickel Plate Shows: "The Harris Nickel Plate Show, the best popular-priced circus on the road, and' always a favorite in Roanoke, arrived this morning, and pitched its tents on Jefferson street. At 10:30 the parade took place, and was a most creditable affair, witnessed by great crowds all along the street. The tent was filled at 2 o'clock when tbe show opened, and the verdict of all is that it is better than ever, and worth; double the money. Harris makes a specialty of trained horses and po- nies, and has the veteran Dan Costellv. horse trainer, with the show. The performance opened with the "lay-down" entry, a special- ty done by no other show. There were fortv- four acts in all, two going on simultaneously in the big ten ring. They include Elsa St. Leon, the champion hurdle rider: the St. Leon family, the great acrobats, six in num- ber; the Conklings, the champion contortion- ists. There were a number of daring trapeze acts. Capers, trained horses, and a good clown. It is an all right show. Clem Kerr is the press agent, and a clevfr. courteous To the Editor of "The Billboard:" De Wolfe Wrong. Dear Sir—For the benefit of Mr. Fred C. Do Wolfe, author cf the article, "The Gmit American Circus." in the May number of The Junior Munsey." kindly give space to the statement that he is wrong in saying that the Fcrepaugh people were the first to put on the spectacle of the "Queen cf Sh-^ba." Ho is mistaken, and entirely so, as it was the John Robinson Show which originated the above, and. indeed, we were the first show or circus to introduce the spectacular feat- ure. Several other sins of commission occur; for example, he claims there are but two fifty-cent shows in existence—the Forepaugh & Sells and the Ringling Bros. Shows. As an bumble attache of an institution that ac- knowledges no peers, arid one which was in existence long before Mr. De Wolfe or either of the other straws named were born, kindly allow me to say In your most circus of all papers that the John Robinson Show is a fifty-cent or big show. I close by adding for -the benefit of- Mr. De Wolfe, that it is human to err, but divine to forgive. Truly yours, F. B. WILSON, Press Agent John Robinson Sbows, Chas. Day's Literary Work. Charles H. Day, "the old circus man," is a busy person these days. His circus story. "Hi Van Ainburgh, Elephant Performer and Lion Tamer," which has made such a hit in "Golden Hours," is to be followed at once by another tale of circus life. The first in- stallment appears June 16. The title of the new yarn is "Herr Driesbach, tbe Lion King and His Young and Old Friends; their Thril- ling Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs." The time of the tale is 1846. and the action takes place, in Cincinnati and Connersville, Ind. Besides being an interesting story for young and old, it has a particular value as a correct picture of the tent show business of that day. Hyatt Frost, so many years of the old Van Amburgh show, is the hero, and among the other characters introduced are Raymond and Waring, the substantial old time managers: "A. Hunt their manager, and Albert Townsend, the most famous ele- phant performer ot his day, still living at tbe age of 82. Made A Hit. The Wallace shows seem to have made a hit at Scranton, Pa. The Scranton Repub- lican devotes half a column to singing the praises of the Wallace aggregation. It has this to say of the performance: "The performance opened with a concert by Branson's band, the programme embrac- ing such numbers as Sousa's 'Man Behind the Gun' and Suppe's 'Wanderer's Hope.' The brilliant introductory pageant of ani- mals and actors followed, after which was an artistic living picture exhibition, many historic masterpieces of art being shown. Then followed one of the cleanest and best circus programmes ever given in the park, including Horace Webb on revolving ladder and trapeze, performing elephant, pony, boar hound and monkey, by Herr Hercken- rolt; feats of dental strength, by Miss Inez Palmer: feats of contortion, the Maritz Sis- ters; double contortion act in midair. Earl sisters; - bareback equestrainism. Miss Blanche Reed; bareback riding. Miss Olgy Reed; the Stirk family, daring bicycle rid- ers: the high wires, Hotu Wara, Nell sisters and Winnie Sweeney; bicycle riding on tight wire. Mile. French; wire evolutions. Delia Nelson; revolving ball on spiral. Mile. French: bareback ridins, William Melrose and Fred .Ledgett. In addition to the above there were also 28 features, the performance concluding with a thrilling chariot race be- tween Mile. Inez and Fred Ledgett." Between 9.000 and 10.000 people who saw the show fully agree with the "Republican." Stole A March. Ono day in 1892, the French Government received intimation that Germany had de- cided to hold a World's Exposition in 1900. The wily French Ministers saw at a glance an excellent opportunity for a peaceful vic- tory over their Teutonic neighbors and rivals. To secure this victory, an announcement had to be made that very day. M. Picard, a suc- cessful engineer and a native of Lorraine, who had taken part in the siege of Metz, was asked if be could at once prepare a program for a World's Fair to be held in Paris in 1000. The extraordinary grasp of this modest and ' rather timid-looking man can be estimated from the fact that between 10 o'clock and noon he had a plan formulated and ready fcr publication. He had been among the con- quered at Metz. but it was now his time to vanquish his former victors. The splendid edifices, outlined in the brief period of two hours, with their clock towers, tbeir domes and their minarets, covering 112 acres and giving ample space to almost 100.000 exhibit- ors, took eight years to build, and are, in truth, a splendid monument to the genius and resourcefulness of M. Picard. The French Government has decorated him with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, but tho populace is seemingly oblivious of his J. W. Dow, Proprietor of the Tri-CJty Intro- duction Co., Davenport, la. merits, it is, in this connection, worthy x remark that since the inception of the pro- ject, eight years,_ago, twelve different Minis-! ters of Commerce have occupied seats ii the French Cabinets. No country on earth* Turkey not excepted, can show such a record of political mutability. This extraordinary lack of political stability does not, strange to say. interfere with the industrial and com- mercial prosperity of the nation. Wild Animals. Ernest Saton-Tihompson. author of "Wile Animals I Have Known" and "The Biography of a Grizzly," in writing about confined am- nvals, in the Century Magazine, says: "It ii a common saying among keepers tnat, aver- aging one animal with another, a menager.i a.'ust be renewed every three years. Yet know of one manager who kept most of hi ain..mals (those of Woodward's Gardens " FranciEco) alive, healthy and bappy from uh lesinniirg or his time to the end, sixteen yean later, when- the establishment was broken ui and tbe animals were ordered to be shot ii their cages. The great secret- of his success he tells me. was- caring fcr their minds a* well as tbeir bodies. It is a well-known fac that liens and many other animals in trav- eling circuses aie healthier and live longei tban those in ordinary menageries. The grea 'd.in'ag; of the circus .s the constant chang. cf scene—the varied excitement that give animals something to think about, and keej them from torpid habits and mental morbid ness. Connellsville, Pa., Gatherings. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Business has been very dull foil the last two weeks, but I have had severe' inquir.es and have been advised of ship' ments of matter soon. I intend to sell out however, and my reason for sellingc out. L-i that tbe woik of distributing Is too hard fot' me, for 1 am past 62 years of age. I con' aider my franchise valuable to a young man' who can steadily increase his business witl a little energy, r have 18 regular advertisers! and a few floating ones, also some local business. 1 ours very truly, ' _ „ ,„ „ WM. CLOWES. Connellsville, Pa., June 9, 1900. Weekly List of Distributors. ARKANSAS. Conway—J. F. Clark, Box 92. Ft. Smith—J. F. Clark. „ t , ILLINOIS Chicago—John At Clough, 42 River st Pekin—Standard Bill Posting Co. Rockport—Tookie Lyceum, S. Cook, mgr IMIIIANA. Marion—John L. Wood. 920 S. Branson St. „ ,. IOWA. Burlington—A. B. Dreler. 1211 Summer street Sioux City—A. B. Beall. =i™«-t .^ NKBRASKA. , Fremont—M. M. Irwin. „ NKW YORK. -m Canandaigua—Wm. F. Mosher, 98 Chapin stE MasSACHi SKI'TS. Brockton—John V. Carter, 288 Belmont st CANADA A. F. Morris, manager, 10 Lefeuvre Block Vancouver, B. C. Montreal—C. J. T. Thomas. Box 1129 Weekly Lis^of Bill Posters. ILLINOIS. Pekin—Standard Bill Posting Co Rockport—Tookie Lyceum, S. Cook, mgr K»NS*S. Atchison"—City Bill Posting Co. NRBKASK'. Fremont—M. M. Irwin. Broken Brie- V-Bracs. i*-J Mr. Major, the famo-s cement man,of Vev \'o k explains some very interesting fads abou- Majors Crmci't. t The multitudes who use this standard article know that ii i«manv hundred p»r cent b tte than other cetno t> for which similar cla nisar. made hut a great raanv do not know whv Thi _ „, simple reason is ihat Mr. Major uses the bes* i "' maieiiats ever discovered and ether manufacl iff Ft turers do not u«ethem because they are too ex. pensive and do < ot allow larj.e profits Mi i*s M?jor tells ust'at oneoi the elements of hi ™ cement c->-ts $; 75 a pound and another com| S2 65 a gallon, whi'ea large share of the so cal etj ceme..ts and liqi id glue upon the market arr nothing m re. than sixteen <-eut glue, dii-solvet in wat r or citric acid alid in some casM a tete? slightly in color and cdor by the addition 01 cheap ard u<ele*s matciia s. 1 Major's cement retails at fifteen cents W tweuty-five cents a b. ttle and when a dealr tries to sell a substitute you can depend upon i- that his only object is to m .ke lir^er pi of it. I The profit on .-lajoi'a cement is as much a- an- 1 dealer ought tomakeonanv cement. And thisi- doubly true in view of the fact that each dealt-, ects his share of the benefit of Mr. Major'sadvet Using which now amountstooverjioooamoi.il 1 throughout the country. Established in 18-6. Insist on having Major's..' Don't accept an off-hand advice from a druggist _.^ If you are ?t all handy (ami you will he lit eh! | to find that you area eooddt-al more so than yoi | imagine) you can rep lir vour rubber boots an!"" family shoes ai d any other rubber and leather articles, with Major's Rubber Cement and witl Major's Leather Cement. And you will be surprised at how many dollar, a vear vou will thus save if your druggist can't supply you, it will be fori wattled by mail; either kind. Free of postage mm mm-i r.