The National tribune., 1881-09-03
OLD GRAVES, THE SNOWMAN.


Now you're talking sense" said j. A. Graves,
or "Old Graves" as he is known to showmen In
this country and i'll Europe, when a Times reporter
yesterday suggested that the Orang-Outang was a
wonderful animal. Wonderful" resumed the
aged but yet sprightly Snowman, " is no term far
reaching enough TO express the sagaclty and learn
ing of that may say, tellow-creature. You Will
pardon my show of affection for them as a class,
because my recollections of them are all pleasant
and of the most endearing kind. They are more
faithful and honest than men or women, and be-
sides have helped me out of many a scrape when
wanted money badly. quit the show business
two years ago and retired to quiet life, merely
floating through life, as ii Were with my corn and
bunion waters, but / am half inclined at times
10 90 into business again with an orang-Outang
and make some money | am now seventy-One
years of age-a pretty old boy" perhaps-but
am full of life and fun. Years ago Hayworth,
who was a partner of mine, and myself had
show where the Howard House, in Chatham street,
now stands, and where now have rooms. We
were showing snakes and had a fine Orang-outang.
Although | have handled hundreds of snakes
don't fancy talking about them, but the orang-
outang always has place in my mind. l talked
about the missing link long before Darwin ever
thought of it, and have an idea that can explain
in my common, homely manner more about what
Is now called Darwinism than the author himself
I used to deliver a lecture when exhibited an
orang -outang, and / always challenged the physl-
clans and professors of anatomy to prove TO me
that was wrong when | claimed that the Orang-
outang was the missing link. am, and have
always been, open TO conviction, but have failed
TO find any man who could successfully dispute
the point with me- / would claim that the for
nation of al orang-outang exactly similar to
the human form divine, with the exception, OF
the caudal appendage l have made the orang-
Outang stand forth in many cities and towns as
the greatest curiosity of the age, and can do it
again. What do you say to that, Brunnell?"
asked the veteran Snowman, who first met Brun-
nell when he was peddling candy in circus in
1852. The stalwart Snowman Of to-day replied
that he had no doubt that Graves could do what
he said.
"Well, as l was saying" began the veteran
again, Hayworth and [ We're in the show busi-
ness in Chatham street, and when we sold our
snakes felt that we ought not TO part with that
orang-outang That little girl mean the young
Orang-outang-had found place in my heart.
Hayworth was taken sick and our funds were
getting very low 1 was dOwnhearted myself,
and Hayworth and talked over our future pros
poets while he lay in bed deathly sick. l sug-
geSted that / should go TO Albany and discover a
place if possible where we might show the little
girl. Hayworth told me to go ahead. When |
reached Albany it was terribly cold, the snow be-
ing three feet deep. / began to skate around that
wonderful city, climbing up that never to be-
forgotten hill, and sliding down on my back in
search of place. l saw man standing in front
of picture gallery rubbing his ears l asked
him whether business was good. He said that it
was very bad. | told him / would like to have
the use of his gallery in which to exhibit the
Wild Girl of Sumatra for a few days. He opened
his eyes in astonishment and his hair began to
bristle up in alarm. He showed me his gallery
and said that he would be compelled 10 take the
carpets and pictures out, and that would call for
considerable work. | told him that was just
what | didn't want him to do. Leave the car
pets and pictures where they are, | said, and
what Will you charge day for the use of the |
gallery?' Twenty five dollars answered the !
man, no doubt expecting me to fall in t;.inting
fit III take it, | said quickly | had only a
dollar in my pocket. In fact that was all the
money had in the world. / returned to New |
York to get the little girl. When told Hay-
worth what | had done he threw up his hands /
and cried, You've ruined me; you've ruined me- |
/ replied i'll the negative rs calmly as [ could /
under the circumstances. The next day the /
Orang-Outang and myself the way to /
Albany | had her neatly and hecomingly attred /
She wore shoes and stockings pantalettes white /
skirt and silk dress, and had a hood and cloak !
which she put on when going into the street to |
ride in a coach. When had placed her safely In |
the picture gallery looked after my signs and |
advertisements. | put an advertisement in the /
Albany KRickerbOcker calling attention TO the fact
that the most wonderful curiosity in the known
world, the Wild Girl Of Sumatra, had arrived in
Albany, and would hold leyees at the picture
gallery which was i'll Main street think. | also
put an advertisement in the Albany EreniRg Jour
ssdi of which Mr.. ThuTlOw Weed was then the
editor. | tried TO get notice III that paper, but
the city editor wouldn't Oblge me, saying that
my Wild Girl Of Sumatra was some Orang-Outang
wild girl was the pure, unaduterated missing
link, but he said he had no time to listen to lee
tureS upon rats and monkeys On the first day
Of the show took in $40 and felt satisfied that
1 would be successful in my venture.
"On the day following / called at the office of
the Eoe0ing Journal and requested the honor of an
interview with Mr. ThurloW Weed was rather