The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-30
sOSsrROsrrsEs 10 ORDER

Pssass - tie NprtUs Trade - msraasas,
Alligator BsSs, and Dsubls B.bsss.
"what Is wanted p said the artisan, add
Ing daub Of glue to the dorsal I'm Of the mer-
maid. rs something they can put on the can
vas that will draw folks In. Tho eide shows are
getting ready ~ start out They have thair fat
women. abnos. Brazilian apes. big snakes. and
that sort Of thing. but they won't draw. Folks
will stop and look at the canvas. say that they
have seen snakes. monkeys. and fat women
enough. and will pass on. But II the side show
can hang out q mermaid or seq serpent or an
alligator boy folks will pay their dimes and stop
right In. Usually they find that the monkeys
alone are worth the price OF admission. and
they are not disposed to Ind fault because the
mermaid 10 not alive. But II some one docs md
fault the side-show man says 70 him;
Look u here. young Teller. Dive s'poss that
II Tda got hold Of that mermaid before she
died I'd bs shown her up country here for ten
cents head3 No. sir; you'd have to come to
the city to sec her. and pay yer dollar"
Cutting a three.cornsred piece out OF tho
goldfish akin and neatly drawing down around
the papisr.mach6 body Of the mermaid. the
artisan went on: II used TO DO In the magic
and picking them from beneath his kneepanl.
hut sS. nsG sSs' pubs any as pSS6o
How came YOU q go Into th ,, m Il! "a
well. over in Brooklyn. one day. saw ~ .
show window one OF thsso Japanese mermaids.
a ss sSs ssx van % sas
JAMS scald get 5000 70, msr%sias c could
Manufacture them proftably nt those figures"
Here the artisan gave the msrmsds tai, an
Ana This III m me- ."e lie said made to Mt
some expensive canya. that Western 7, man has
1t was rough pencil sketch Of mermaid
sporting in he ocean; and 9 lasso descending
the ship from which the boat came. The scene
Fsss!ic "a sss ~,
make the curlosiiies "a. At the canvs. that I. to
81 displayed outside. IN that way the sights
For what Is the chief demand this spring ?,
"M.rmIsids: alligator boys. sea serpents. and
What does An alligator boy cost3
Here is one." leading the way to an inner
room and pointing 70 cr.atinn WHICH he had
is about four fact long and covered with leather.
BY negro parent. in Lauisian.. e have made ID:
and to have been found dying on the bank after
bull 9S' sas ss from
-
And the double babies ?"
They are modelled After the one that was
born NJ Italian parents here last year. / went
to see 1t, ~ 70 to -es al! monstrositiss that
hear Of. Double babies have two heads. -four
arms four legs. and only one body. It is job
to ct them ~ ~; rs they should b. and they are
About h w large do the sea serpsnts run p
The biggest ever made was about 81 feet
long with y snrt Of dragons head AMI tail
There is good deal Of attitude III the matter
OF eea sarrents descriptions nj them diner &C
much I yet my best ideas from tho stories Of
sailors on the Dutch trad ng vessels from Hcl.
r Land up p2 or .so pretty fair sea serpent can
"A Willis ago" the artisan continued. Il
advertised. Send your orders for hrst-class
mermaid alligator boy sea serpent. Egyptian
mummy. or, 'louble baby Here are some Of
the letters have got"
One Of the letters c,me from an Illinois town
, It said; Is your sea serpent In good condt.
he eat? II he Is o. X. and not too expensive
to keep. think we can strike IN q bargain
p1aass mama Iowss price. delivered healthy
Il W il give the alligator boy a home" wrote
a woman rom Iowa you think he would
appr.c,lte kindn.ss and a chance to get ava,
from evil surroundings. i is shame to make
| his m .sfortun. u source OF profit
Il couldn't he! % answering this lettar" the
artisan said. though most Of the letters o
| this kind l leave unanswered. l to d tht
! woman thai the = ligntor boy. though hut sever
years old. drank whiskey. chewed tobacco. ant
! ha twcs bssn arrested for stabbing. hi
, and that II aha was willing TO tax. I'm In han,
| she could lot me- know by return mail.
haven't xOt her reply"