The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-07-17
THE PUPPET-sHOW.

Many years ago, when resident in
New York, and writing somewhat fOT
the press, l was waited on one evening
by sallOw, hOlloW-Cheeked, dark-eyed,
dark-haired man, in a thread-bare gar
ment, who glided out Of the penumbra
of my dim room into the full rays Of the
candle, like a midnight phantom. The
figure bowed, and handed me card on
which was printed, in capital letters,
'ZaiOnczek."
1 Iglanced fom the card to my visitor.
His deep-set eyes we're fixed upon me
wistfully.
"Will you take a seat Mr.. -."
"Zaionczek. I have called on yOu,"
said the stranger, speaking dramatically,
but with a marked TeutOniC accent, "be'
cause have found out that you weTJ
connected with the press, and I wish tC
solicit your assistance. 1 have just con-
pleted a work that has occupied my
whole life. I am now 90. VIII you do !
me the honor to visit my exhibition
room? Yours will be the first human
eyes, besides my own, to enjoy sight
Of my wonderful work"
NV curiosity was now fairly excited.
I threw my cloak around me, dOnned
my cap, and babe the stranger lead on.
lie glided noiselessly down the stairs,
and out before me into the busy street;
swiftly and dextrOusly he threaded the
crowd along Chatham street, pausing, at
last, before q twO-stOry brick building,
which he entered by a narrow passage
way. / felt a cold, Clammy hand grasp
mine, and was led, with many gentle
caution, up q flight Of steps, through a
doorway, and into a hall of tOlerable
size furnished with benches, as l per-
ceived by the dull, red glare Of an old
cast-irOn stove. My guide kindled q
match by touching it to the door Of the
stove, and applied it to the gas-burner.
A dazzling Jet of flame leaped out, and
| then l saw before me sC-t Of prOscen-
Ium, Tudely painted IN trescO, framing a
small curtain of green Daize. Behind
| this Eleusinian drapeEy my strange
| friend, after seeing me seated, dIsap-
peared.
After a while the curtain rose, display
| ing a miniature ring, covered with saw
| dust, and ligbL ted by half dozen little
lusters. A little tinkling band, all un-
seen, discOursed a popular overture.
| Then a small gate was thrown open, and
one, two, three, four horses, about six
inches high, ridden by ladies and gentle
men of appropriate size, bounded into
the ring. They swept round the circle,
and then drawing up in line before
me, saluted with their tiny rldlng-WElps.
| The band struck up new air, and away
dashed the little equestrians. Various
evOlutions they performed most credita-
/ blv, and then dashed out swiftly, one
after another, vanishing into the stables
whence they had appeared. 1t was truly
wonderful. Then came a clown, with
| boisterOus cha hap actually uttered
by his own little lungs; and riding
master, who ran after the little clown,
and cracked his little whip about his
! legs; and a beautiful little lady, on
little piebald pony, who performed eN-
| traOrdinary feats, indeed. There was
| tightTOpe dancer, and a performance on
| the slackrOpe; and then a little pyrO-
teChnist came forward and threw up
some little rockets, and then the curtain
fell. ,-I
ZaiOnczek appeared at length, and
was lavish of my praises, and told MN
I thought the exhibition would succeed
to a charm. His wan cheek flushed with
the rosy hue of pleasure.
Il think I shall succeed" said he.
"The little folks for whom 1 have labOred
CANNOT ldll 10 10 DC GllCAltllLtCNJ ttlAS- 80
great folks must certainly acknowledge
my mechanical genius. We shall Int
New York; we shall please Boston; We |
shall charm Philadelphia; We shall
electrify the Houses Of Congress; we |
shall fascinate New Orleans. We shall
play before Queen Victoria and LOUIS
Philippe, and the Emperor Of Russia,
and then, my friend"
"What then % /
"Then, sir, I shall buy some pleasant
place; and I shall set down with these
little people and enjoy myself"
'Then you have no familyP
mo familyI Oh, L understand you, |
sir. I have no wife-but these are my I
children. Miss CRlina, the youngest, IS
hree days old. I finished her last
Wednesday-it was only sCrewing on .
her legs. The riding master was little /
rheumatic tO-night-didn'ty you notice 1t, |
sir? I'll oil his joints before I 60 to bed
but they'll be all right by Monday,
when we open.
This singular being had expended
nearly all his means in bringing lis
puppets to perfection, and had little to