Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-13
BEAT AT HIS OWN GAME.
A Circus Advance Agent with 400.
900 Feet of Cheek,
Meets His Ma tch When He Strikes
Newspaper Man. ....

AosSeiu@J aitcEuSeu uaPpcr llttle
man, with two ounce cane and a hall
pound diamond pin, came into the
Chronicle office. and asked if the amuse
| mont reporter was in. When tbs man
he sought was pointed out. the stranger
graspsd him warmly by the hand, re-
marking:
Delighted to meet you, sir; really
am. I've heard of you at every place
I've stspped on my way from New
York. had such curiosity to see you
that got off at Reno, and took run
up. But really had expected to find a
much older man. considering the mag
| nitcent dramatic and circus criticisms
given by you. All OF our boys told me
to be sure and see you if l didn't get
aboard of uything else in the town.
An said the reporter, blushing in
fsur colors, am glad to see you. May
inquire your name?' .....
'Woll, here's my card said the little
man, handing out piece of pastsboard
about five inches square-Ciarence De-
Lacy Slocum, agent of tho Sebastian
Aenagerle. This is by lar the hugest
combination OF gigantic clrcusses ever
put on the road. We started about five
years ago in = small way, with not over
100000 feet Of canvas. only nine tents,
and scarcely 1,500 animals, but we grad
ually absorbed all the small-iry shows.
They'd 20 into bankruptcy along the
route. and we would buy their outfits
Sebastian, our owner, is the most sym
pathetic man on earth. He'd buy their
little shows and pay double price, Just
to hslp the poor devils along. Money's
Of no account to him. He's travelling
simply for pleasure and desire to see
the great west ....... -.....
'Fd like to know him. remarked the
reporter. "' -sf
oh, he knows you-that is. by rspu-
tatisn. He has your picture set in a
frame that cost HIM over 500. lie was
saying to mo one night that whenever
business was dull he just took look at
that phiz of yours, and it always made
him feel As happy as if he was obliged
to turn 500 people away at the door,
How came him to get hold Of my
picture! ''F.
%, he begged it of DeMurska, Mod
Jeska or Clara Morris-l forget which.
She hated like thunder to part with 1t,
but you see he had once loaned the great
actress in Paris to buy wardrobe and
some Jewelry for new piece, and as
the debt was never cancelled she could
not well refuse. But l just came in to
give you a little information against our
show. l always like to give man all
the points when know he possesses the
talent to handle them in the right style
some fellows down at Reno and Carson
tried to pump me, but didn't propose
to let description of my show be man
gled up by such writer's Beside, Sc
bastiau telsEraphed me from New Y ork,
last night. not to let anybody but you
get aboard of the grand description.
Just mention four miles of cages con-
tanning Wild beasts, with twelve varis-
lies OF elephants. and recently discov-
cred monster from Africa, called the
Jabberwock. which weighs three thou
sand pounds
'Indeed!
Yes. sir. And man like YOU with a
fine descriptive ability and inexhausta.
bic command of language, which has
made you famous in two continents
now many columns do you want?'
Oh. rs many as you please?'
When will the show be here?'
'?erhaps not for two months /; it takes
'NSA - iohS litlC W move Ine animals
hat our progress across the country is
Slow
Just SO. Well, our fgurrs for big
like yours are $50 column,
cash down, and 80 per cent. of the gross
'scelpts, If the show is a success
Isn't it steep?' said he?
1T would be. perhaps, tor small
PROVINCIAL journal like the New York
Jun or the London Times, but we circu.
ate such mammeth edition that the
rice is comparatively trifling. Four
een freight cars come up svery day
With paper for our edition, which Is
worked off on five Walter presses.
lshtning geared. Our expense for .
team alone, sir, IS $4,000 day. We
ave more carriers than you can pack .
your largest tent. Our eastern cir
uiation has been increasing at the rate :
i 1000 day for two years past. Bv
imply cutting down the size of the pa
'sr an si ghth OF an inch. our proprietor ,
AS saved money enough to build four {
choOl houses, worth $40 600 escb and