The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-02
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and girls there is a glamour about life in a
,"show" of any kind that tempts them strongly
and fills them with longing that nothing
else quite satisfies. 1t is useless to say that
it is a foolish, idle dream, for the pain is
real, and the envy of the fellows in spangles
and tights is genuine. Yet, if these warm
hearted, hungry eyed little men and misses
could only know half of the misery en-
dured by the favored little ones who
"go with the show the envy. would quickly
change to the profoundest pity. Take the
case of little Gertie Newsome, only thirteen
years old, and who for five years has been
travelling all over the country as s'Cir-
cassian girl" Her home was in Delawafe,
though her father and mother did not live
together, and each was very poor. A show
man spied her and offered to make her for
tune, send her to school and write to her
mother weekly concerning her if she would
only let her go. The wretched woman did
so, though but few weeks elapsed
until the man who took Gertie
ceased writing, and she never heard Of her
again. Last Monday the little wanderer,
driven to desperation, ran off from the show
at Cincinnati, and was picked up by. the
police and sent to an orphans home. Her
own story is so pathetic, yet so evidently hon
est withal, that it may well be reproduced
here:
ttMy right name is Gertie Newsome, and
was born in st. Georges, Delaware. am now
thirteen years old, and have been travelling
over the country for the past five years as
Circassian girl While on exhibition / was
known as Mile Zulu, and sometimes as Ger
tie Craig. have been travelling with man
named John H.. Craig, who is also known
under the stage name of Powers. When /
was eight years old Craig, the Snowman came
to st. Georges and gave an exhibition Of his
show, with a little girl whom he called the
Circassian girl | don't know how he got ac-
quainted with my mother but he told her he
wanted to take me with him and place me on
exhibition @
'TMy mother was poor and had to workhard
to support us children, and after receiving the
promise from Craig that he would send me to
school and write 30 her about me often, my
him, and remained five or six weeks, not doing
anything when the girl he had with him, as a
Circassian girl ran away, and he told me he
was going to make Circassian girl out Of me-
It, only took a few days to prepare me for ex-
hibition, which was done by combing my hair
straight up and down. and keeping it that way
with hair-pins. He also put something on my
hair, and in q few days itwa stiff and straight
and made me look like genuine Circassian
girl The long hair pins remained in my hair,
and were so tight that it hurt my skull and
made my head ache terribly, but it was no use
to complain. When asked by the people where
was born would tell them in Circassia, and
Craig told me other things to say when people
would ask questions Of me. Every winter we
would go to Craigs house, at Danville, Ind,
and remain there until the next spring. when
we would 60 on exhibition again. Craig owns
property at Danyille, and while there, during |
the winter. | would comb my hair down and |
work in the kitchen. During all the time we
were at Danville only went to school four |
weeks, which is all the schooling ever had,
and cannot read or write.
Craig often made me go on the stage and
sing, and sometimes | would take parts in
plays. He also made me charm snakes before
the public. | did not like this, but had to do |
it. Once snake thirteen feet long bit me on |
the arm, and while in Chicago Craig got
new snake nine feet long had it wrapped
around me one night, and it bit me in the
face, spreading its mouth so much that the
upper teeth bit me in the forehead and the
lower ones under my chin. Here the girl
showed a scar on her arm, the marks Of
snake bite, and those on the forehead and
under the chin we're plainly visible, not hav-
ing yet healed. The snakes were SO heavy
could hardly lift them When was bit the
second time, refused to have anything to do
with any more snakes, as the third time is a
charm, and l did not care how much Craig
kicked
'The snakes were not poisonous although
he told the people they were. They were the
common club snakes, with big knot on top
Of the head. Craig never gave me any money.
He had lot of little books printed with some
stuff he made up, and called it my history. /
sold these, and also my photographs, and he
told the people that all the money j received
from the sale Of the books and photographs he
gave to me, but he kept the money himself,
and never gave me cent. / have made a
good deal Of money for him, but he would
hardly ever give me nickel when asked for
some money to buy peanuts. He whipped me
several times, and once, when could not
nance jig, he struck me on the arm with q
stick. Here is the scar yet
There is enough in this simple recital, we
think, to cure all boys and girls Of the desire
to go with any show, however tempting It
may appear, and it will also serve to open their
eyes to the real condition of the little folks
who appear from time to time before the foot
lights and in the cheaper museums Of the
land. s
LLoYD's English newspaper, the organ Of