The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-28
EXCAVATIONS Of HUMAN Balc-A- sRAc
Allurements VI the Dime Museum nusi-
ness-Lull In the Receipts.

nes9-Luii IN inc AsDeS-F
New York Tribunel
aThe dime museum business is positively
fascinating said an old manager OF those
eyanescent enterprises to a reporter the
other day. @Once in it, you stay there.
The whole thing is SO like gambling that
those whom it enthralls fade away, when
distant from cannibal company, and simply
perish while basking no lsnger in the Circas-
sian beauty's smiles. They say there's
money in it, So there isl But it is tho
money of the faro bank, and when made
floats away ON the same swift wings. nave
started, OF assisted in starting, over fifty 0,
these shows in all parts Of the country anu
if there is anything new under the sun tnas
haven't exhibited, and which VIII .aAe
with dime museum patrons, l should hAo "
see it"
aHow do YOU organizs such queer new
companyP .,,.. =
aNothine is easier, and again, nothing Is
,,,o,,a dificult There are always some mon
strosities out of job--the dwarfs, the giants
ona the fat folks, for instance-but except
IL ha in a fresh place out west they will not
draw unless invested with the lustre Of
strange romance made plausible by new
names In a town that has never enjoyed a
galaxy of our profession, it is simply pic
mic to set up in business We hire a three
story building, and fix up the interior VIII
bunting and green and red cloth. In the tor
story we put few monkeys and arrange 9
row Of gaudily colorei pictures behind
magnifying lenses. If we can hire Goa
mine, salt works or saw-mill cheap 1t !
| placel on this same floor. Don't lool
astonished; these thing are in NINA
ture.) After having thus contrived t
| prepare the visitor who begins al
the top for greater things, we put on tn
second floor the stars. These are the terri
| biz hackneyed human monstrosities, tn
magnetic and optical illusions, the glass
blowers and the irresponsible Punch an
judy. The hold which the latter have o
the people is simply astonishing. L hav
seen persons visit museums several times
week, and while they might grow indifferer
/ to every thing else, they never tired
watching this time-honored drama. IL
trick OF the electric boy is generally yer
/ soon discovered, as it consists in the slmp
fact that his touch establishes the come
ton between the poles of battery b
the variety business on little stage on Il
first floor is the climax of the whole esta
lishment and OF our patrons delight.
,, How long does the popular enthusias
l asts"
"About three our four months. Then Il
smart AleclSs in the community have vlsio
of too much wealth made by the 'propr
tors and the first thing you know there Is
lull in your receipts. You try to liven
matters by engaging at stiff salary t
two-headed girl and the Yankee whistle
" but suspicion is rife and you can't overcor
,, it. After struggling few weeks you gi
y up the ghost and sell out with few HI
dred dollars profit. The next man is
II good as new, however. He will make We
d nearly as much money as you did, and
lose it in precisely the same manner.
" will two or three after him. Thencefol
n the place will settle down for humdr'
" life that would kill men like me-"