The National tribune., 1881-09-03

would like you to see the Wild Girl OF Sumatra.'
Then / told him that a well-known professor of
, anatomy in this State, who lived in Albany, would
be at the picture gallery at two o'clock that after
noon and he would no doubt be pleased to explain
the wonderful animal to him. When Mr. Weed
heard the name of the professor, who was his
friend, mentioned. he said that he would certainly
attend. | offered to send carriage hr him, but
he declined the of one, saying that he would
walk to the picture gallery and would be Oh time.
I made tracks as fast as possible for that profess
! sors house and told him that Mr.. Weed intended
to visit me that afternoon at two o'clock to the
| Wild Girl of Sumatra, and that it would be a
great honor to have him examine the animal in
Mr. Weeds presence. L offered to send carriage
for him. but he said it would not be required. He
would be delighted to meet Mr.. Weed, whom he
much admired. He lived in the Delavan House,
and said that he was SO close at hand that he
would be in attendance at the time fixed. He
was at the picture gallery, however, ahead of time
| and was in raptures over the little girl. He was
thus absorbed when Mr.. Weed entered The dis
tinguished journalist merely glanced at the Orang
Outang and with smile of derisiOn turned away
and looked at picture He pufed his cigar in
| an angry way and | began to edge toward the
room in the rear Suddenly heard the profes
sor say. why, Mr.. Weed I'm delighted to see
You. Then saw the professor point to the Orang-
outang and heard him gush forth with That is
| the most wonderful creature l ever saw. Charm
| ing. wonderful, my word for it, Mr.. Weed The
professor then went into minute examination
of the animal explaining with all the enthusiasm
| of an accomplished snatOmist that it was one OF
the wonders of the earth. MarvelOus' said Mr.
Weed as the little girl took seat at small ta-
BILE and began to eat cold rice pudding with
spoon from dish; 'marvelous!' and he surveyed
her with such astonishment that l was almost
paralyzed Both Mr. Weed and the professor
shook me warmly by the hand and they patted
the little girl from Sumatra on the head and took
their departure. The next day almost column
appeared in the Erening Journal about my girl.
The article was evidently written by Mr. Weed
himself, and the popularity of the Wild Girl of
Sumatra arose in the public estimation about 500
per cent. For week took in about $500 day.
| had made arrangements to go to Syracuse and
the fame of my wonderful curiosity had preceded
me. The hall which l had engaged was crowded
in the afternoons and evenings and my receipts
rose to about $500 a day. l always believed In
Barnum's way Of doing things and when went
to a city or town took rooms at the best hotel,
had the finest coach | could secure, and had an
advertising wagon that was gorgeous. | invited
the most learned men in the place to see the wild
girl and at once put myself upon footing with
the aristOcracy.
4 had twelve different costly dresses for the
orang-outang," continued Mr.. Graves, "and neat
fitting shoes and fancy stockings. The principal
of the high school i'll Syracuse came to and
said that his pupils were very anxious to see the
Wild Girl OF Sumatra in the school-house. | was
asked What l would charge to exhibit her there,
and, feeling that [ should knock of something for
the cause Of education said that l would show
her for 500. The principal said that the fee was
a little too high, and offered me S75 That sum
| accepted after the principal had told me that
the school was not rich one. | attired the lit
tie girl in her best clothes, and entering a coach
was driven to the school-hOuse. The street was
crowded with people when arrived there. When |
| got out OF the coach with Millie-that was my
girls name-on my arm | had as much as could /
do to force my way through the crowd. AHllie |
wore her cloak and hood and looked as wise as 4 |
on the platform, and was calm and interesting as |
ever we went the receipts We're large and Hay |
worth and myself coined money. In one city a !
crowd got around my partner i'll the hotel late at !
night and We're talking about the Wild Girl of |
Sumatra. Hayworth told them at that time she |
WAS asleep in the same bed with myself This |
seemed to amuse them immensely, and few in |
the crowd begged him to permit them to look |
into my bedroom and see for themselves. True
to a shOwman'S instincts, he trifled with their
feelings by saying that it was impossible, that the
girl never liked TO be disturbed in her dreams
and that was regular raging wildcat if my rest |
was broken. At length, after they had each of
fered him So to witness the Orang- -outang sleeping
in the same bed with me, he took the money and
they nOiselessly crept up TO my room. When the
door was opened they saw the Wild Girl of Su-
matra and myself i'll bed. She, with her black
head resting on the white pillow close to the wall
and |, half awake on the outside, was Il scene that
caused them to break forth into uncomfortable
laughter Their sides shook until the house
and, OF course, the girl and myself sat
up in bed, and, rubbing eyes, looked at them
Poor thing! she died on my hands after two years
and was accorded decent burial. | shall never
forget the kind manner in which she ALWAYS
treated me. | never saw her mad but once |
used to watch her all the time, but one day Hay
worth's wife said to me: Graves, why don't you
90 down to the dining room and oct q good din