The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-27
SOME POINTS ABOUT "eARKgRs.n
Orators Who Stand I'm Front of Dime BIu-
seums and Lure the Public In.


seums and Lure the Public In.
Its a popularity of barker said a
Bowery Snowman the other day as he
stood in front of his dime museum and
listened to the sonorous tones Of a gentle
man near him who was setting forth the
attractions of the entertainment within,
"that he can never give up barking after
he has once got thoroughly into the bust
ness. You know how fascinating singing
is to people who think they have voices.
Many an old man and faded woman go
on singing through advanced years quite
convinced that they are giving pleasure
to their hearers, whereas they are only
distributing large blocks OF pain around
the neighborhood. Bankers are the same
way. They get stuck on their voices. Did
you ever watch barker's face? Look at
this one"
The Snowman directed his gaze toward
the man who was walking slowly up and
down just within the wide doorway Of
the rluseum and talking to the world at
large while he slapped his right leg with
a flexible rattan cane. Nothing could ex-
coed the complaIsance and affability Of
the barker's manner as he rolled off the
periods with infinite JUNCTION. A vowel
sound was choice bit not to be thought
IesSly tossed off of the tongue, but to be
turned and fondled and sent forth with
due resonance and deliberatfon. There
was the musical rhythm Of blank verse
in much that he said. His eyes roamed
over tie various objects around him with
a careful scrutiny, and It was evident on
looking at him closely that his thoughts
were far away from his words
"Barkers are proud" continued the
Snowman effectively, land usually very
friendly with the freaks don't know
what maks em proud, unless it is being
81 prominent in public life. There's no
reason why barker shouldn't help clean
up in the morning lend hand with the
brOOms, sell tickets till it's time for him
IL bark in front, and otherwise improve
his time and add to his purse, but he
won't. He feels that his public position
couldn't stand the strain. Another thing
is the inability of the barker to bark I'm
less his conditions are just right. You put
a strange hat on him and his vOice'Il
falter and his eye shrink. One man needs
to have toothpick in his mouth for the
proper effect to be attained, another must
have bit Of ribbon of certain shade of
red in the lapel of his coat, ird is most
eloquent when he has an unlighted cigar
in his mouth, and SO on. Their whims are
absolutely innumerable.
"One day." he continued, lowering his
voice confidentially, "there was a process
sion of countrymen moving around the
corner and coming this way 1t was
grocer'S association or something of that
SOFT from back of the state, and it was an
hour before my barker's regular time But
he was standing near the gutter talking
with some high-tone friends of his'n-one
Of 'um has brother what's on the perlice
-smOkin' 1O-cent cigar. 1 SEE: Hist,
Billy, out here an bark FIR a minute,
Will you? Go on, quick, so as to gather in
all this here muchness driftin, down here.
Hurry, an I'll go the beers an cigars for
self and aud friends
"'WhatP he sez Me bark now?'
"'Of course
But 1 amt got me caneY
mo matter, go on
well, he did make the effort, but he
put no heart into it, an if he didn't blush
crimson l hope I may be doin' the dog
faced boy act within week! Them cOun-
trymen," continued the Snowman, "went
by without a glance, an tn barker was
TOO sore to look his friends in the face.
But / didn't blame him a bit. know
their feelings well. Salaries? Bout SO
TO $14 a week. When they gets to be pro
Iessors and lectures about curiosities in
side they get more. The freaks are very
fond of them, cause the bankers speaks
in such glowing terms of them, an all
freaks is fond of having their deformitieS
fattered. New York Sun.
Figures In Mime. Tussand's museum.
Some of the wax "figgers' in this mu-
scum were wonderfully real in appear
ance, but those representing Abraham
Lincoln and Gen. Grant were absolutely
gross caricatures of those great men. The
figure representing Mr.. Lincoln was EN-
veloped in most ill fitting suit of black
broadcloth, evidently purchased at a
second hand clothing store, and the face
had very feeble expression of counte-
nance The idea that Abraham Lincoln,
who passed through such a terrible pO-
litical ordeal as he did, the author OF the
Emancipation proclamation, the match
less diplomat and statesman, should be
possessed of such feeble, almost iu.Otic,
expression of countenance as depicted in
that wax "hgger" at Madame Toussand's!
And that of General Grant was scarcely
shy better. These miserable specimens of
waI-wOrks prevented me from having
any interest in the rest of the wax fig
ures, for had no confidence as to the fl
1elity of the likenesses. Cor
Cleveland Leader.