The New York Clipper (December 1914)

VI THE 3STEW YORK CLIPPER. December 19 KID WI LLIS, GR AFTER, A CIBCUS STOBY DV FLBTCIIEB HU1TII. Shortly before daylight the two trains of tho World Toured Shows pulled onto tho siding Just below the station at , a little logging town In Southern Arkansas. The wood-burning engines wheezed and snort- ed, puffed and Mowed, and after an hour's struggle had the cars spotted, to tbe circus traluuiartcr's satisfaction. In a short time the runs hud been placed in position, the fat horses, all harnessed and ready for tbe day's work, bad been bitched to tbe beavy wagons, and the show was on Its way to the lot. Even at tbls early hour there was a crowd on hand to watch the process of un- loading and activities had commenced In the privilege car. The cook was preparing break- fast for the "kinkers," and a few of the early risers were enjoying their morning eye- openers. , .. riottcr, the "fixer," or, more properly, the license adjuster, stepped out of tbe sleeper and walked across tho platform Into tho Iirlvllcgc car, carrying his collar, tie and 'nnama In liiR hand. He stopped and looked down the track in the direction of the town. "Snme old place," he mused. "I wonder If the same sheriff Is In this season, and If they have forgotten the time we gave 'em two venrs ago. That sheriff sure was some sore "guy, but I guess we more than evened it up afterwords/" The World Toured Shows wns one of the few that play the South year af'er year rely- ing upon graft rather than attendance to keep It moving and pny salaries. On the pre- vious visit to this place a row bad started between the gamblers and the town folks that terminated In a pitched battle. In which, after a hard light, the circus folks had come off the victors. Not. however, until the sheriff and bis deputies had been carried off by force and locked op In tho "Btlck-up" room of the privilege car, and the circus rough necks, with flic assistance of the elephants, bad (stampeded tbe mot) and kept them at a safe distance while the work of loading pro gr A?tcr taking a drink and making a bast; toilet, Flotter started up the tracks to tht station, on the way to the only hotel thi little village afforded. He hid progressed but a short distance when a man coming up from behind, Blapped him familiarly on the shoulder, exclaiming, "Hullo rlotter, how vou all this morning? Got bock to sen us once more, have you? How you all been doing this season?" .. I'-lne," answered Hotter, nt the same time doing some rapid thinking In trying to place the fellow. Hut It wns hardly Decen- nary, for his nowly made friend continued ■with: . „ . "1 suppose you all still rim a few Joints, don't you ? You remember 1 did a little work for you Inst time you wns here?" "6h yes, I remember," Plotter gracefully lied, "1 was going to call on you right after breakfast, but now that you arc here It won t be necessary. 1 don't suppose you hnvc had ?ours, come on up and cat with me, I want o find out a few things from you before we open up." , ... Over their grits, bacon and eggs, and bis- cuit, Hotter ascertained that a now sheriff was In office, but that he was "right" and could bo fixed. The town folks did not blame the show people for tho trouble two years ago but rather the sheriff, for allowing tbe gamblers to operate free-handed In and about the circus grounds. ._,_• Hotter found the sheriff Just ns Ms friend hid vouchsafed, nnd tickets for himself and family nnd n few more for his deputies and friends sworn In as deputies for tho day, gave him the privilege of opening up full blast. It wns not Hotter'B custom to show up on the lot much boforc the opening of the aide- snow, but from then eu he kept a watchful eye on everything Hint went on both Inside the tents nnd on the bIiow grounds ns well, for the show carried four outside Joints that needed constant watching, nnd he could never tell at what moment he would get a shake-down from the sheriff or some of his tln-cnn deputies. Coming out of tho City Hall he came across Kid Willis, who ran a spindle In the side show. "It's all right, Kid." he whispered; "toll the boys to go abend, but work easy until I get there. Make It a twenty-five cent game nt the Btart. This sheriff may he wrong." Promptly at ten o'clock the parado wended its way through the mala street, lined on cither side with n crowd of gaily dressed glrlB, and returned to tho show grounds, whore, after wnltlng for the crowd to gather, "Doc" Hill mounted tho bally-hoi stand In front of the kid show and made thn first opening of the day. His eloquence turned tho crowd and hundreds put up their dimes and flocked Into the tent. Tho World Toured Show this season was stronger thnn ever on graft. It had two men at work on the outside on tho sixty cent ticket box, and In tbe side show four games of chance, two spindles, a pick-out nnd a beo hive. Besides this, there was tho big Joint and an Inside enndv stand whore "short-cake" was disposed of. In the menagerlo were two more Joints, nnd four connection men took caro that no "soft" of big denomination got away from them. Four big, husky natives, full of corn liquor nnd Mush with money, stopped in front of lho Kid's lolnt nnd, after watching two of tho "shllls*' win n good sized bankroll, de- rided lo tnke n hand In separating the Kid from his dough. It took tho Kid JtlBt about fifteen minutes to clonn them, nnd then, Just ns It looked ns If a light would bo the out- come, Plotter appeared on tho scene with the sheriff at his side. "Gambling, wns you." he replied to their nngrv protests that they had been robbed. 'Und lost yonr kale, eh? If you had won vou wouldn't have snld a word. Serves you 'right, I'm glad von lost. Oct out of hero and don't try nnd stnrt nnything or I'll hnve you pinched. You've got no kick coming." The four men moved toward the entrance, but one of them lingered behind to give the Kid n parting shot. "I'm going out to raise some more monev anil when I come back I m going to clcmn you up, you hear me? If I don't, I'm gnlnir to clean nn the Joint and rlenn It up right." He pulled a 45 from his hip pocket ns lie finished nnd shook It under the Kid's nose. The Kid, used to this sort of thing, only answered. "Oh, go to h—I," nnd went on with the game. "Don't cuss me, I don't nllnw no man to cuss me." roared the native, nnd he started back townrd 1lie Joint, but the sheriff again Interfered and led him outside, .lust before the doors of Hie big show opened the four returned and again paid their way Into the side show. They had boon drinking more com liquor and wcro In rtn ugly mood, bent on making trouble. Hotter, henrlng their tnlk rnn ncrosR from the main entrance and told tho beys lo closo up. Tho Kid was working way down near tho blnff-off curtain, nnd wns Just In the art of taking up his spindle when Hie four stopped him, Plotter endeavored to persuade Hipm to gn Into Ihc li'g show but soon snw It wns useless to n'gue with thiim. lie looked at the Kid. and receiving I reassuring noil, told him to go nl.rad. They played wildly and the Kid let tl.om win for several tlnv.'s, the little piece of cardboard Just barely creeping over tho I'lns onto the winning numbers. Then ho switched and In a few minutes hnd them gf.'ng end nenrlv all In. Just as he gathered In their Inst dollar, the ringleader of the rang pulled his gun and flrcd point blank at the kid. He -was anticipating thin move, nnd his gat always laid under the table resdy for Instant use. Tho moment the lender pulled he hail his gin In hnnd and fired nlmnit nt the same Inst.int. Without wait- ing to see. the result of his rhot the Kid tore under the sldewall and across the lot to the men's dressing room In the big top. The moment he entered *veryon> knew the meaning of bis presence, and a Joey threw him a down suit and a box of make-up. Be- fore even Plotter or tbe sheriff cnnld reach tht lent bo was sitting quietly sod uncon- cerned on a trunk, awaiting tbe bngle call for the entry Plotter came Into tbe dress- ing room leaving the sberll and the deputies to hold the crowd In check. "It's a bad nutter Kid," be said. "I am afraid you croaked blm and you ain't got any sbow to make your get away. The sheriff can hold tbe crowd all right and you bad better go along with him. I'll do all I can to spring you, and, at any rate, we won't let the mob get you." The Kid gave himself up to tbe sheriff, and although tbe Injured man's friends at- tempted to take tbe law Into their own hands be was safely lodged la Jail. The "Governor" and Plotter knowing full well what It would mean, for the Kid if he was tried after tbe sbow had left town, finally persuaded the sheriff to give him an Im- mediate bearing, and it was arranged that It should occur at two o'clock. Tbe after- noon performance was given to a small at- tendance, for the court house and yard was filled with an excited shouting mob. Feeling ran high against the Kid and the show folks In general. Tbe prosecuting attorney, a young man of fire eating propensities, opened the case. He cited briefly the circumstance* that led up to the shooting, naturally plac- ing all the blame upon the prisoner, whom ho branded as a gambler, a coward, and a common thief. A man wltb no heart, he de- clared him to be, and by nature a cold blooded murderer. He referred to tbe previous trouble the show bad Id town, but carefully nvolded any reference to the part the ex- bherlff played In It. In conclusion, be called upon tbe Court to Inflict the maximum pen- city. The doctor who had dressed the wounds was pat on the stand by the defease. He testified that fortunately the wound was not a serious one, and tbat tbe bullet only lore away a little flesh of the victim's loft fort arm. In all probability he would be well In a week or two at the moat Tbe Judge seemed to be In sympathy wltb tbe victim, and It wus evident from bis questions to tbe prosecuting attorney that he did not care to take the responsibility of rendering a verdict and would rather pass It on to a higher court The lawyer for the Kid. fearful that this would be tbe case, asked permission to call one more witness, and to tbe surprise of the Court and the crowd assembled In the court room, called his brother lawyer and Plotter's friend to tbe stand. On being sworn, he asked permission to tell a story, and "while It had no bearing on the case in hand, It concerned the prisoner," he said, and should be allowed as evidence. The Judge assented, and tbe lawyer began. Before he had talked a minute the noisy court room was hushed and everyone, from Judge to spectator, was listening with almost breath- less interest "Two years ago," he began, "this same show played this town, and this same man was hero with It, doing Just what be was to-d'iy. Now, I don't uphold graft, or claim the circus people were In the right when they were here before, but the circus people had valuable property to protect, and when they saw It was In danger they did what you or I would have done under the snme circumstances. They protected It, by force, yes, but that force, to my mind, was Justifiable. "It was some time before the necessary orders could be secured to pull the train out of town, and I was one of tbe local officials that rode down to tbe Junction to prevent, If possible, any further trouble. We pulled up on tbe siding below the mill and found out we would Be there at least an hour. Hiding on tbe platform with me was my friend, Plotter, the legal adjuster of tbe show nnd the defendant here to-day. Across from the privilege car stood a small shack. Standing In the door was a poor woman, almost In rags, while Ave small, half-clad children played In tbe yard and along tho track. I don't need to tell you here wbo th>i woman was or what was the cause of her condition. You know the story as well as I. You know tbat from the tune her husband was Bent away to do five years for shooting up a no-count neighbor you all never knew or cared what became of her or her children. Gentlemen, what I saw that evening was enough to convince me that a showman, and especially a circus man, yes, even a grafter. a robber, a would-be murderer, as you call film, has more of the milk of kindness cours- ing through his blood than any of us here to-day. What I saw tbat night proved con- clusively to me tbat the man you now brand as n gambler and common thief was as much of a man as you or I. I stood by the side df tbe privilege car as the cook threw out tho leavings of a meal Just served, and I saw those children devour those miserable scraps as eagerly as a ravenous wolf. Gentlemen. It wnB a pathetic scene, and one I shall never forget. I saw tbe man you now have on trial seize my friend Plotter by tbe arm and almost force him across the tracks to th- door of tho poor woman's shack. I heard her toll htm all of her pitiful story, and I saw him act, and act quickly. I saw him rush Into the car and hustle everyone of his crowd of 'grafters,' you call them, out onto the track. I saw him draw a roll of bills from bis pocket and drop a five-dollar note into his bat. I beard him tell them the woman's story, and saw him point to the poor little tots still busy devouring those scraps of bread and meat. " 'Boys,'" ho said, 'you all have got to do something to help tbat woman out. There Isn't one of you but what can spare the money and there ain't any of you but what havo plenty of It on you. So come across.' "And, gentlemen, they did come across, from the Governor down to tbe lowest candy butcher. And, gentlemen, the women helped, too. They dug up drosses for the woman, underwear and stockings, and shoes and clothing for the little onas. They made that poor woman tbe happiest mortal In the wbolo State of Arkansas that night. "I saw this same defendant hand her the money and the women with the show carry the clothes across to the shack. I snw a hnppy, smiling woman emerge a little later clothed like a human being. I saw this man you now want to convict, at the risk of his life, go up to the Tillage, ind return wltb the company wagon loaded with pro- visions. I stayed with the train until It pulled out and I saw a woman with tears of gratitude streaming down her face, sur- rounded by her brood of chickens, stand by bcr broken-down fence and wave farewell to her benefactors. The last I saw of the defendant, be was standing on tho rear plat- form of the train us It gathered headway, waving his hat at the happy family." Then, pointing dramatically nt the prisoner, with a volco shaking with emotion, be con- cluded by saying: "There sits the man who did more real good, more real good in a place it wns needed, than most of us have ever done. He took the man's monoy because ho practically forced him to. No one asked him lo play. No one urged him to come back and try to clean up on the game. When he lost tho second time be sought revenge In an attempt at cold-blooded murder. Only by a quick draw on the part of tho prisoner is he alive nt tbls moment. Gentlemen, the prisoner may bo all you claim him to be, but I say he Is n man, n better man than any of his accusers, a Utile belter man right now thnn most of us In tills court room today." As he sat down, for au Instant, deep si- lence reigned, nnd then the crowd to a man ?rooted his plea with spontaneous applause, t was useless for the officials to rap fpr order. His story had touched the heart of THE HODERlf METHODS OF A CIRCUS. BT BILLS CUBTJS. (Halter Mechanic of the Sells-Floto and Buffalo Bill, Mmielf.) There l« one thing In the circus business which is worth more than anything else, worth more than the billing, worth more than tbe name, north more than even tbe circus itself, whan tbe whole analysis comes and the matter Is studied from every angle. That one tblng is Time. Did you ever stop to figure it out? Did you ever stop to think what good all tbe bill- ing would be, what good the advance would tern of the circus In general la no greater than tbe loyalty of the common canvasmen and drivers. But thanks to those beings, their loyalty Is great I believe no one except Mr. Bailey ever has given these men half the credit doe them. In rain and in hall, In storm and In calm, hi sunshine and under tbe lowering clouds they work and struggle on. undergoing fatigue, sleeplessness^ every discomfort and pain—and why? Not for the money they wilt gain, for It is practically nothing. Not for glory. Not for the sake of praise—but Just for the sake of their love of their wandering life. Just because tbls great, hulking city of canvas and steel and stat-.es and ropes and seats and railroad trains represents to them something which they love and revere nnd sacrifice for day after day. But with even these faithful men con- ditions con be Improved. Their work can be stead of loading the canvas one section at a time, two are loaded at once, saving also Un- lacing and unlacing of half the canvas. In tbe wettest weather only thirty seconds is needed to load sections ot canvas 60 by 17u of regulation duck upon this drum, and with- out even any wear on the canvas. More than that Instead of forty men doing the work only three are required. The capacity of tbe two drums on the Sells-Floto Circus is 05,000 square feet of canvas. There Is another place in the handling of the Bella-Floto Circus where mechanics count for much—the seating capacity and seating arrangements. On the Sells-Floto Circus tbe teats are absolutely safe. They nre anchored to themselves by cables, which make tbcm secure In all sorts ot soil, and does away with the labor of driving and pull- ing stakes, eliminating the toeplns. lie, what good tbe executive staff would be— or any other part of the circus would be— If the show could not get from town to town In time to make the stands, If parades were lost day after day, If performances were "blown," to use circus parlance, and If the dates could not be kept? It would mean a great deal, wouldn't It? It would mean the death ot the circus—and so tbat Is why I say that the saving of time is the most im- portant thing about a tent show. And following out that thought. I believe that the time will come when motor tractors will handle much of tho hauling of tbe cir- cus, traveling from the trains to the lots, with great strings of wagons trailing be- hind tbcm. Not that tbe horse will be abolished, for year after year, the horse is becoming more and more of an exhibition feature. However, I believe tbat In the com- ing years the horses of the show will only haul the first loads to the lot, nnd then pre- pare for tbe parade, while the tractors do tbe rest of the work. In fact, all through the circus the me- chanics are changing. Ever there Is—at least there should be—a seeking for the better way of handling the great city of spangles and sawdust. The old systems are dying. The old system of circus movement Is like a wagon which Is no greater than the width of Its tiros. The much overrated sys- mado easier, quicker—even the wagons of the circus can be made to haul double what tbey hauled in older days. I believe wagons of the Sells-Floto & Buffalo Bill Circus have, proved tbls. Tbey have proved also that It Is not the high, slender wheel which counts, but the low. wide tired one. The high wheels are In the shop most of the time, while the low wheels can stand nea r iy any condition of road or mud. Then, too, tbe front gears of wagons can- not be built too heavy. It is these which haul everything. Tbey should also be cut out and built so as to tilt slightly up Instead of down. If they are not built with a raise to them it will be the horse tbat bolds them up throughout the entire trip. Day by day the time of tbe motor-man- aged circus approaches nearer. The Sells- Floto Circus, pioneering, now uses motor power in raising Its centre poles and tents. All nt once tbe big top goes Into the air, sent there by the power of a motor. Not only tbat. but before the tent goes up the poles have been raised by tbe same power. A hoisting drum raises the poles, raises the tent", lowers the poles, and then carries the entire weight of the canvas when the show is over at night, and the power which gov- erns it is that power whlcb soon will run many branches of tbe circus—gasoline. Not only is time saved, but exertion. In- And so It Is thac every day at least an hour Is gained on this show through Its me- chanical features—and gained with twenty- five canvesmen less than would be required en any other show this size which did not possess the labor saving devices which this one does. More—when tbe last day comes and the "big top" Is ready to travel toward the shed which will house it for tho Winter, It looks as good as It did the Spring before. And there Is still another feature—a canvas- man knows that when be works with ma- chinery to aid him, lie knows he Is to hare easier work than on any other show, big or Httle- The answer to It all Is that the heart breaking task of raising canvas Is ac- complished throngh the power of motors In- stead of by the straining and struggling muscles and forms of men. And so, if you would have a lesson In what It means to save time, and If you would bave a lesson In tbe mechanics of a big show, make a point next season to see the Sells-Floto Circus and Buffalo Bill fhim- self 1. and watch it from the time It unloaJs until the front doors open. And then remem- ber, too, my prediction, that the day of mechanics In the dicus is Just coming Into Its own, that In the years to come there will be many more contrivances, many more fea- tures of motors and mechanics than are even dreamed of to-day. his bearers and there was no animosity In tho hearts of Judge, prosecuting attorney, or the townfolks against the prisoner. At the suggestion of the presecutlng attorney the Kid was allowed to enter a plea of self- defense, and the Judge Imposed only a nom- inal One. The Kid. Plotter and the lawyer left the court room together and walked across town to the cars. In view of the day's happenings tbe "Governor" decided It wns best to give no night show, and by six o'clock the two show trains were loaded and ready to pull cut. "What I want to know," said the Kid. as we stood on the platform of tbe privilege car watching tbe town fade away in the distance, "is bow that lawyer framed up that dope about tbe woman and her kids. It's all new to me." "Kid," .said Plotter, "that lawyer Is a friend of mine, and besides, I let him win a roll off the beehive tbls morning." "Oh, I see." said the Kid. "You're all to the good, I'll slip you some extra kale for tbat. Come In and have a drink." [Nots. —This story applies to the circus of long ago, most of the actors In It arc dead.— Ed.) THE INSIDE OF THE SIDE SHOW, BT WILLIAM J. BILLIAB. ("Tho Talkative Trickster," Inside Lecturer urttlt Barnum <£ Bailey for the pott, seven years.) The Inside of tbe side sbow Is without any question the most democratic place on earth; there is no distinction, no reserved places. Just an Intermingling of all that goes to make up the population of a community; "rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief meet here on terms of equality, and If It is a good "opening" the tent 1b soon packed and Jammed wltb tbe most heterogeneous audi- ence ever assembled. What a study to look over that sea ot faces I It Is different from the theatre stage, for hero one is right among tbcm, almost catching their whispered criti- cisms. And, strange as it may seem, the bettor class, the better dressed, the more Intelligent, pay the most attention to the lecturer, and, stranger still, believe every word be utters, whether he makes tbe giant two feet taller than ho really is, or the fat boy weigh two hundred pounds more than he docs. The others are skeptics. They are continually expecting to be stung by some- body or something around the circus, espe- cially In the side allow. Some, I really be- lieve, go looking for It. "Where are the games, gop durn it?" is asked me nearly every day. I tell thorn that we have no games, and also no dancing girls. They are a little disgusted and bewil- dered, perhaps, to think that there Is no way for them tc lose their money, but borne at night they all agree "that it was the cleanest show that ever came to these parts." A remarkable tblng about tbe side show Is that Its drawing power has not been Im- paired by the moving picture or ten cent vaudeville, nnd as a matter of fact our price of admission has been raised from ten to fifteen cents tho last two years. The personnel of the eldo show remains practically the same ns it wns In Its ln- clplency, midgets, giants, skeletons, fat men or woman, etc. A snake charmer is ns necessary ns the lurid paintings or banners nrc out In front. And the questions she is asked: "You keep them on ice, don't you?" "Their teeth are pulled out, aren't they?" "I wouldn't touch one of those borrld things for worlds." Acts have been tried in Bide shows, but the public is in a hurry and freaks Interest them most. There nre, however, one or two acts that can hold a side show audience, such as sword swallowing, etc. In mv own personal opinion Trlncess Wee Wee, the little colored woman, Is the best "freak" attraction In America to-day. both In her entortntnlng nnd drawing powers. It Is rntnowhat n difficult task to write ot the peculiarities of the freaks, for the reason that, having been with them in such close proximity for years, one loses one's sense of perspective and becomes iq used to their Idiosyncrasies that particularly Interesting things they do and say frequently pass un- noticed. Some of them, particularly midgets, are highly Intelligent and possess a keen sense of humor, as witness Capt. Jack Harnett's reply to the lady who asked him "If be was always as small as that." "No," replied Jack, without as much as a smile, "I used to be as big as tbe professor, but I got married and settled down." The lecturing on tbe different attractions has changed somewhat since the old davs when "Sunday School Smith" or "Old Hutchison" could talk on a fat boy for thirty minutes. "Brevity Is the soul of wit" and we have adapted ourselves accordingly. Many well known names appear In the list of those who bave presided over tbe des- tinies of the Inside of the side sbow and lectured on tbe freaks since Mr. Barnum woke up one bright morning and decided that America wanted blru to start a circus. Frank Uffuer, who discovered Lucia Zarette and Jo Jo, the dog faced boy; "(Sunday School Smith," "Hager and Heashaw," George Ar- lington, who managed 'lLaJoo" and the original Aztecs: Frank Morris, Old Hutchi- son. Doc Langdoc, Charlie Bell, Jim Mc- Nulty, etc. Taking care of the Inside of the side show of to-Jay has its perplexities and troubles galore. The Inside man must be something of a diplomat Freaks are human, only more bo than most people; they make friends and enemies among themselves, and are very pronounced In their Uke3 and dislikes. Tbe midget will fall out wltb the giant and tbey won't speak for weeks; the fat ladv becomes disgusted with tbe man with the phenomenal memory, who, by the way. often forgets to put his collar on or comb his hair. Then again, the side show manager of to-day. such as Clyde Ingalls, believes In in- cessant ballyhoolng. Every street car tbat approaches the lot—blng—out with the snake charmer Just as she was about to be intro- duced, nnd people bad been waiting a while to see her perform. Then, again, the colored band plays almost without cessation all day long, and whnt with lecturing, dodging the bnnd and balljhoos, climbing up and down Udders. Jostling through the crowd, answer- ing during the day hundreds of questions, mostly foo'lsh. I have never yet felt that I needed to carry a hammock or a reclining chair. One point tbat I wish to impress upon the reader Is the genuineness of the freak department Tbe side show and the circus business In general has long since outlived the reputed statement of Mr. Barnum "that the American public liked to bo humbugged." I doubt that Mr. Barnum ever made this statement, for if he did his commercial policy, and that of his great contemporary, Mr Bailey, and successors, the Mngllng Brothers, bave certainly belled his words, for perhaps In no other branch of show busi- ness have such stupendous efforts been made to olease the public. The side show attrac- tions arc obtained and chosen with as much care as the acts for the big show. The genuine character of the attractions pre- sented In the side show have done much to correct the erroneous Impression that this department of the circus has anything to do with fakes or humbug. Of course there Is a phase of human na- ture that believes nothing, and the "knocker" will always live. "Now, ladles and gents, glva me your kind rltentlon. Yon will be entertained here first with Woolfscale's Minstrels. "Over here next please, we have one of nature's strangest phenomena, Col. Eddie Mnsher. knovn as the skeleton dude. Born In Louisville. Ky., twentv-four years ago, and weighs nearly thirty-eight pounds. Physicians Jiavc never yet been able to determine the renron for his lack of muscular development. He cnJoy9 the very best of health, eats heartily. |p a well educated. Interesting little chnp. *No. mam, he is not padded: that Ii M<i own shape, all of It.' He Is so thin when he Is In a bathtub he Is scared to death to pull the nlng out. He Is the only man In th.; world that can turn a double flln-flap Inside a gas pipe without hitting the sides. "While you arc recovering, direct your attention to tbe next platform, where we have the President of the Beef Trust Jack Wilson, born In Chicago. He bad to' born In a big place. Weighs six hundred and twenty ponads, known as the lady's idol No. ladles, be Is not married, but he lives in hopes. When he does get married his wife will bsve to make love to him section by section. When be wants to take a batb be pours a cup of water Into tbe tub; by the time he gets In the water Is up around his neck. Now, If you folks in front will kindly step back three or four feet you will be able to see his face I "On the next platform Miss Maxlne will exhibit her pet snakes. Hock pythons from Egypt, boa constrictor from South Africa, anacondas from South America—tbe next snake the lady will sbow you Is so large, so heavy, that It Is a physical Impossibility for her to lift It entirely out of the box. It Is a monster African boa constrictor, twenty-one feet In length, twenty-two Inches In circum- ference. The bite ot tbat snake is not poisonous. They kill their prey by crushing or constriction. This snake is plenty large enough to coil itself around tbe lady and crush ber to death In less time that It takes to tell. "We have next tbe remarkable German giantess, Frau Brunhllde, born In Berlin, weighs three hundred nnd twenty-five rounds, stands eight feet one, is eighteen years old, and still growing. She Is the tallest, biggest girl tbat ever lived, and U going to be a mighty big girl when she grows up. "By ber side tbe biggest man, from the biggest State in the Union, Capt Jim Torver, the Texas cowboy giant. Twenty- four years old, weighs nearly four hundred pounds, stands eight feet two. He is a whopper I "On the next stage we have tbe oldest living freak, the first attraction ever ex- hibited by the late Mr. Barnum, Old Zip, the original Barnum's 'Wbat Is It? He was llrst exhibited by the late Mr. Barnum at the old Ann Street Museum, in New York City, nvor flftv years ago. He is now about sixty- five years old. He came originally from tho Jungles of Africa, from a wild cannibalistic tribe known as tbe "Tree Dwellers." Has been exhibited all over the entire world, has become somewhat civilized and quite a clever mimic. 'V)n this stage two of the world's most remarkable men. In fact, I might say « couple unprecedented In the world's history. 'Capt. Jack Barnett and his son Herbert. The Captain is thirty-nine years old, and weighs but twenty-eight pounds. His son. Herbert la nineteen years old and weighs but sixteen poinds. Herbert says he Is sick or this giddy circus life. Is going to get married and settle down. Now girls, there is n fine chance for you right there. Just picture him In the middle of the night walking up and down the door with a baby in his arms. Welt. It is all right to laugh, they used to laugh at his father Just the same way when be got married. "Now If you will all direct your attention here, please, we have the smallest dot or speck of humanity that God Almighty ever placed upon this earth to live. Little Princes' Wee Wee.' She Is twenty-one years old. and weighs exactly nine pounds Perfectly formed, bright, smart, intelligent and I might say an intellectual Uttlc woman, pos- sessed of every faculty the same as you are. You can go away confident that you nave seen the smallest human being this world has ever known. "Wo will conclude the side show exhibition with n remarkable performance by 'Miss CM'- ford,' the wonderful sword swallowcr. » you came In late, remain for the next show. This way out for the big sbow." IINOTICE W bm W iring Adv ertlBementa to THE CLIPPER, alao wire remittance.