The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
ADVENTURES OF A SNOWMAN.
Some Anecdotes from Fifty Years of q
Showman's Life"

ShOwman's Lne.
Fifty Years of Showman's Life, "
by @. Van Hare. is most entertain
ing volume. Mr. Van Hare has been a
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-
tricated him at the critical moment.
After half century of hard work he
is 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 one
night. One of the best horses in the
stud was in the ring, and when the act
was finished and the horse being led
out by the groom, one of the clowns
caught hold of his tail, pretending to
pull him back, when the horses tail
came off. This created quite sensa-
ton in the house. The audience
thought it was cruel thing, and would
no doubt have caused a disturbance
had it not been explained to them.
The horse had the misfortune to 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,
was tricked, as well as the audience.
There is no trade which fourishes 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
l 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. l advertised 100 gum
cas- reward for the celebrated Napo-
leon, the wizard dog, eulogizing him
to the utmost of my humble abilities,
finishing with, ANY one restoring
him to his heart broken master would
receive the above reward, etc. Twas
inundated with letters from all quar-
ters, from people who had seen dog
that answered the description. l had
one from a lady desiring to console
me in my bereavement by wishing she
might be allowed to put her affections
in place of the beautiful 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 gorilla
to his show would make it's proprie-
tors fortune. Sometimes food was
scarce, and on one occasion there was
nothing to eat but grilled monkey:
'They looked very nice. I was
hungry and faint; Iput all squeamish
thoughts aside and tucked into a
couple of legs with great gusto. If l
had only had bit Of salt thought
what I would have given if they had
been cooked like rabbits, without my
knowing what they were, ! should
have thought them delicious"
A baby gorilla was at last caught
and taken to Europe, where, as we
shall see, it was very great success
indeed. But before Mr.. Van Hare re-
turned to Spain, 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 to
lnslnuate, very much against his will
the accepted sutton of that monarch's
sable daughter. He did not burn with
ardor to marry Fan princess, and
contrived, upon promising to return
In a years time, to get clear away
without his African bride.
1.-THE king tried to persuade me to
remain with him, and said he would
find me plenty of 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
to hunt; the white men must be an
extraordinary tribe l told him when
l came back would stay and live with
him. The princess fretted very much.
and | presented her royal highness
with the very last pocket handkerchief
l had left to dry up her tears and
make herself happy till my return. 1
distributed numerous little presents to
all from whom l had received anv
kindness. After much shaking of
hands, ETC., took leave of his majesty
and his two queens, and mustered
up courage to kiss the princess.
and she, poor, dear creature, cried as
It her heart would break I put on a
little hypocrisy, and struggled hard
to shed tear; but it was no use, and.
what was more unfortunate. had not
handkerchief to pretend to dry away
my tears"
At Havana Mr.. Van Hare was COM
PEELED by the sudden death of a tanner
who performed daily with a cageful of
lions to turn lion tanner himself. He
had never been at such close quarters
with those beasts before; but after
some very pardonable hesitation. he
determined to get over his tremors
once and for all:
II rushed in with the heart of a lion
whip in hand. The animals were at
once struck with awe, and crouched
INTO their usual corner. felt at once
was their master. Iplaced the hoop
against the iron bars for them to lean
through. The first came up with a
growl. gave him a good cut with a
WHIP, which he answered pretty
quickly by flying through the hoop
IKE lightning, and the others followed
suit. | found | could do as | liked
with them, and put them through
their performance, and backed out of