The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-08-31
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ShC " WoSr soi 3 Soy esOus WOa1eu, WIN
hoarse voice, and self-dependent
air, like one who had travelled a great
deal and seen much. She came into a
railroad car and, planted herself down
by the side Of timid looking + assem-
geti after lifting bis lcafpet-beg out of
the seat and dumping it upon his toes.
When the conductor came along and
asked for her fare, she said: "You
don't make no reduction for show
folks, do you 2" The conductor re-
marked that they did motif they knew
| it. As she counted out the required
amount, shesaid when herO J usband
was alive they frequently got along
on half fare, il they weren't "dead-
headed" altogether. "But,"she added
@times is different since poor George
died"
j The curiosity of the timid looking
passenger BY her side was excited,an
he ventured to inquire what business
her husband followed when alive.
"He was the Liyin' Skeleton" she
answered, with husky pride in her
voice, "and the. best one that ever
stood on two legs, if do say it."
"Was he born for r" asked the
man, after a pause. jn5ln9T n
"Born for what?" t,,o,,
'"For skeleton pr q 'ftt9ilI
FIN course he was. Cut ont for the
business at an enormous expense, as
the show bills say. He didn't bring
enough flesh into the world for a
musquito to start a meat shop with.
His joints had to be held together
with. 'siickin' plaster 10 prevent his
falliu' 20 pieces, Folks thought it
impossible to Keep the breath of-life
in sich q little heap. OF bones, but the
kid seemed to have presenlinent OF
the future there was before ihim-ap-
,peared TO, drop on what a card he
would be for side show il lie could
only live. so he woalln't) 'croak' but
held on like country mayor for
show license. His mother used pair
or candle molds as q pattern to cut
out Ills pantalopas, by until he was
fourteen years old an ordinary um-
brella cover made Ihim) very COM
Portable ,evercOat. i dopt let on that
he was one of Your George Washing
ION fellers that never told lie,i but il
he did it never helped him any; he
was so thin everybody could see right
through him. His name was George.
but they called him slim jim around
home. You have heard of slender
young nan who went to the masquer-
ade ball with his head chalked to rep
resent billiard cuei George was
that felIer." .")nls .09FIti 10
allow did you come to meet him ?"
asked the timid passenger. .
81 was going to tell ye. 1 had been
in the show business for. some years,
traveIin' with my first husband, the
Arabian Giant as he Was called, man.
agin' the show. He was considered
the best giant in the business when he
was alive. He stood seven and half
in his stockings, and weighed 632
pounds. We took up heap of money
but expenses, like him, was heavy.
lie could eat about as much as a me-
nsgerie, and l had to charter a whole
freight car to transport him from place
to place. No woman as hasn't had a
giant on her hands knows what
trouble heis. YefgI loved him, and
had tlle satisfaction ofknowiDg he was
all my own. He was a man l looked
up to good deal" she continued,
trying to choke down the rising sob,
"and-when-he-died-"
He died, did he ?r broke in the
tiInid man, really excited. Il
Yes. he died, and right at the
opening Of the State Fair, too. Some
body sent him keg OF beer. aud he
drank it all without removing the
bunghole from his lips. 'Budge' was
hislRweakuess which 1 may remark
has carried of more giants than any |
other one, thing. 1t cost all we had
takenA in that season to bury him. III
had 10 buy so many cemetery lots to
bury him in, all the real estate of that
nature doubled hr price in mejiuy. If
yIu could have seen the undertaker's
bill you would have thought there
had been battle in the .neighborhOod
and that ere 'underiaker had the job
Of bnrying the. dead on both sides"
''iou were going 10 tell me where
you met Jour second husband, the
the skeleton" iimidly suggested her
fello w traveller. Il
"Met him at the grave OF the giant,
said the show woman, with an emo
ton that did her credit. 81 was takin'
the last sad look a. my husband, pre-
paratory 10 the coffin being lowered
into the grave. By ihesslerrick FIAT had
been erected for that purpose, when
chanced 10 Look up, and there stood
the skeleton tlse other side of the cof-
fn.s Iwas prostrated with grief al
the loss of my husband and the dustin
up OF The show, and here comes this
walkib shadow right across me path
like a beam OF light-though it was
very light beam, ! am forced to say,
1t II ,shed across me in minute what
a card he would be to work the fairs.
and What a redpcdon l. could make
below presious expenses. Y on know
you Kim run a dozen fivin' skeletons
for what it costs to keep a giant"
( The tiunid man didaf know, but be
to say, 'Of course"
81 would have to get out new lot
of bills for him." continued the stout
woman i"buti reflected that might
use the giant cut to show how big he