Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-04-19
ADVENTURES OF A SNOWMAN.
1870 Anecdotes from Fifty Years Of q
showman's Life"

snowman In nearly every European
country, and has met with an endless
string of odd adventures, from which
his ready wit seems always to have ex-
Itricated him at the critical moment.
After half q century of hard work he
u still ION the road" His experience
has varied form dioramas TO circus,
and from lion tanner TO the exhibition
of a performing dog. Here is one OF
his circus anecdotes;
"a funny occurrence happened n
hight. One Of the best horses in the
shad was in the ring, and when the act
wa finished and the horse being led
ont by the groom, N Of the clowns
caught hold OF his tail, pretending TO
pull him back, when the horses tail
came off. This created quite a sensa-
ton in the house. The audience
thought it was a cruel thing, and would
no doubt have caused a disturbance
had il not been explained to them.
The horse had the misfortune 10 be
born with a rat tail, and TO improve
his appearance they had a false tail
made to fix on him before he had to
appear in the arena; the clown, not
being aware of the counterfeit tail,
wa tricked. as well as the audience"
There is no trade which llourishes so
well upon dexterous advertisements as
the trade of the Snowman. Mr.. Van
Hare speedily recognized this; and we
quote one instance out of many of the
good use TO which he applied the noble
art of advertising:
Il commenced for private parties
with Napoleon, the wizard dog, which
had done very well with the Christ.
mas before, and TO increase his popu-
larity he became lost, that is, he was
not TO be seen. | advertised 100 gum
cas- reward for the celebrated Napo-
leon. the wizard dog, eulogizing him
10 the utmost OF my humble abilities,
finishing with, Amy one restoring
him 10 his heart broken master would
receive the above reward. etc. ! was
inundated with letters from all quar-
tiers, from people who had seen a dog
that answered ee description. had
one from a lady desiring TO console
me in my bereavement by wishing she
might be allowed TO PIT her affections
in place of the beautifl ii Napoleon, for
his loving and broken hearted master,
etc"
Presently Mr.. Van Hare found him
self on the west coast of Africa en-
deavoring TO find a gorilla. That
noble animal was then practically un-
known in Europe, and he shrewdly
imagined that the addition of a gorilla
20 his show would make its proprie-
tors fortune. Sometimes food was
scarce. and on u occasion there was
nothing 10 eat but grilled monkey:
They looked very nice. l was
hungry and faint; Iput all squeamish
thoughts aside and tucked into Q
couple of legs with great gusto. II
had only had a bit Of salt / thought
what ! would have give. if they had
been cooked like rabbits, without my
knowing what they were, i should
have thought them delicious"
A baby gorilla was at last caught
and taken TO Europe, where, as we
shall see, il wa a very great success
indeed. But before Mr.. Van Hare re-
turned toSpain, whence he had sailed,
he got into an awkward difficulty.
During his passage through the do.
minions OF the king of the Fan coun-
try he became-by a misunderstood
ing, and, he is ungallant enough 10
msinuate, very much against his will
the accepted sutton of that monarch's
sable daughter. He did not burn with
ardor 10 marry a Fan princess, and
contrived, upon promising TO return
in a years time, 10 get clear away
without his African bride.
The king tried to persuade me 70
remain with him, and said he would
find me plenty q hunting, which he
thought must be very fond of, hav'
ing come so far across the big water
he did not know where-on purpose
10 hunt; the white men must be an
extraordinary tribe. told him when
Icame back ! would stay and live with
him. The princess fretted very much,
and | presented her royal highnes'
with the very lastpocket handkerchief
l had left to dry up her tears anc
make herself happy till my return.
distributed numerous little presents tc
all from whom | had received any
kindness. After much shaking o.
hands. etc, / took leave Of his majesty
and his two queens, and mustered
up courage 10 kiss the princess
and she. poor, dear creature, cried as
IL her heart would break. | put OF
little hypocrisy, and struggled hard
10 shed a tear; but IL was no use, and,
what was more unfortunate, | had moi
a handkerchief TO pretend 10 dry away
my tears"
AT Havana Mr.. Van Hare was com.
,yelled BIZ the sudden death Of a tanner
who performed daily with acageful OF
lions to turn hon tanner himself. liz
had never been at such close quarters
with those beasts before, but after
some very pardonable hesitation, hC
determined TO get over his trcmor
once and for alli
Il rushed in with the heart Of lion
whip in hand. The animals were a
once struck with awe, and crouche'
into their usual corner. l felt at one
was their master. 1 placed the hoo.
against the iron bars for them 10 lea
through. The first came up with
growL. Igave him a good cut with
whip, which he answered prett.
quickly by flying through the hoo
like lightning, and the others followe
= suit. I found / could do as like
with them, and put them througI
their performance, and backed out q
the cage."-Philadelpbia Telegraph.
Photographs by Telegraph.