San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-24
THAT GIFT SHOW.
How They Drew a Crowd OF Little
School Children and Gave
Them a few Presents.

How They Drew a Crowd OF Little
School Children and Gave
Them a few Presents.
The LIGHT has always had the idea
that advertising dodgers, cards, or other
wise among the children OF the public
schools was long ago lnterdloted by n
resolution OF the school board and even
by an ordinance Of lhe city council.
Our local merchants and reputable citi-
Gems are not permitted to thus advertise.
and get the trade OF these children, but
II remains, Its seems, for q travelling
fakir OF the poorest kind at that. tu
step in here end be allowed by the prin.
cipals and teachers OF the public schools,
to distribute, advertising cards inviting
the children to attend with their
dimes always with their dlmes)
a grand free gift show "Punch
add Judy" TRAINED Dogs" Train
ed Canaries," "WondeIful Ma
rionettes," and see 1.-The Great Msgi.
clan, Prof. Hathaway" at Turner hall.
and the GARD was addressed this way:
Ladies and Scholars Parlor Entertain.
ment. To the ladies and teaches OF this
city: A society OF ladies OF this city,
thinking . little innocent amusement for
the scholars OF the schools would be not
only beneficial, but at the SANG, time very
Instructive to them, have decided on
giving an entertainment to them for
that purpose, that " ould be suitable and
very amusing to the scholars" "Society
OF Ladies'" Bah! Who are the ladies'
and what society can he name. This 10
clearly false, and the writer Of the card
dare not say the name OF any particular
society OF ladies In San Antonio who
would lend him their assistance. This
lie part ofhis STAKE" Since the last gift
show to children In Casino hall, gift
shows have not been In favor here.
Then several children were nearly
crushed to death In the scramble for the
presents, and even the show was moth
ing, not even worth the dime, and
this fellow takes precious care not to
leave his cards any where except In the
schools, not even in the private resi-
dences near the schools. The card con-
tinues: 40 make the entertainment
still more interesting the principal mer-
chants have generously contributed sew
eral hundred OF useful and elegant pres
ents, etc., which are to be distributed to
each and every child attending, no par
TALLY shown and the most deserving
will get what is the most necessary.
Goods left over from the holidays have
been sent 10 for that purpose" etc. We
wonder what merchant would be such q
Jay" as to unload their stock for the
benefit Of a "fakir" like this? That lie q
question for the boss of this show to
answer. After glowiDgly promising
almost.everything, including the earth as
present to each child, the card eDjoins
everyone to bring the ten cents, and
dates the show ~ at Turner hall last
Saturday. Well, il took place. There
WAS large crowd present, mostly child
rem, and what did they get? Nothing
but Punch and Judy show and very
poor sleight OF hand exhibition that any
patent medicine wagon or plaza fakir
could give and has given free, to draw
crowd. There were no Is trained cana
ries, no school Of trained dogs, no
Royal Marionettes," and as for the
presents, = few children were given
cheap toys, bought for the purpose, not
given them by the merchants, and these
were only given them as an advertise
ment that there might come larger
crowd next Saturday afternoon at Tur-
ner hall. 1t is time this school advertis-
Ing WAS stopped. 1t lie time the city col
lectOr was getting around to collect his
license from these show (p) people, and
1t Is time the school children should be
protected from such humbugs and grab
schemes, which are always profitless
and dangerous, personally to them.
Reputable Rmusements should be pro-
tected and the travelling humbug should
be given wide berth.