New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
CHRISTOPHER.
AND THE FAIRY.
BY w. G. Morrow.

BY W. c. Morrow.
Centrepole Tom prOfessed to know everything
about all the distinguished people of the pro-
fession" in all parts Of Chrisendom, and likely he
did know great deal; for, in his humble capacity
he had served many of them in divers countries
and. though q boastful man. he had never been
detected in an inability TO give trustworthy In.
formation. So, when it was announced. with a
great show of large type, that Christopher ana
the Fairy" had just landed at San Francisco from
an Australian steamer. under contract for the re-
mainder of the season. there was mucn excltemeht
and curiosity among the people OF the circus, ana
Centrepole Tom was at once exploited for knowL
edge concerning them.
Hain't you ever heard of CHRISTOPHER and the
larry = he asked pltyinIgyi well that gus me- me,
the way she kin do the flying trapeze is something
'stonishing. No. / haint never seen her. but
know all about her fellow worked for me last
a whole string of stuff about her. Every man-jack
under the canvas went dead gone on her. but she
10 care for nObody's society but the womens and
that ornery, measly old Christopher"
us Christopher her husbun?@ asked long
sNoiS Numbered Tom. with so great vehe-
mence that the young man quailed, and dared not
ask any more questions. =,
Brother" inquired one of the ring supers. |"
mol" yelled the veteran master of the centre
pole-hoist: he amt her husbun, nor her brother,
nor her uncle, nor her grandfather, nor her
The head-hostler, as much veteran as Centre,
pole Tom, and more modest and less theatrical
than he, quietly said:
"No use making fool of yourself and putting
on airs before these here boys. don't know who
Christopher is an amt ashamed to say So
preme moment for which Centrepole Tom had
waited. He squared himself around, and, looking
steadily at the head hostler, said mpressvely and
with the utmost dehberation:
Christopher is an elephant.
1t was a small speech, but IT was some time after
this before the two men became good friends
again.
There was commotion all through the small
army of circus people when Christopher and the
Fairy arrived; They did not come to the tents
for two or three days after landing, as it was
rumored that Christopher had been seaslck on the
voyage across the Pacific and needed little rest
daily Welcomed F fhe women OF the circus found
the Fairy lwho in private life, was known as
Miss Camilla Armjo) to be a delightful girl, more
substantial than genuine fairy, TO be sure, but
hardly more so for, although she was full-erown;
she was so snah and fragile that her professional
name sat well Upon her m1ere n was ngn5 T0
explained this by saying that she had recently lost
both her parents. How he discovered this, no.
body could learn. But IT was clear, at least.
that she very sweet and gentle little body.
very young, and wi tn no friend in San Francisco
except old Christopher.
say old Christopher" because it is impossi-
bic to associate anything but great age with his
enormous proportions and overwhelming dig
nifty lie was an East Indian elephant, of pro-
digious size. A more solemn and selfsatisied
elephant it would have been impossible to find.
After the Fairy had been introduced to the
people with whom she was to be associated the
remainder of the season, and had chatted and
quietly laughed with them little, she turned to
the menagerie man and said
Christopher seemed to add: "Yes; we are pre-,
pared now to sec what you can do for old
Christopher"
In fact, while they were about it, and all feel
ing certain interest i'll the little stranger and
her big companion, the whole company-the two
somersaut, the strong man, the woman who wore
yellow wig when she rode bareback, the two men
who did the great act on the horizontal bar and
some Others. Including Centrepole Tom and the
surly head-man of the hostlers-went to see how
Christopher going to be disposed Of That
was simple affair; the great pachyderm was con-
Quoted to his allotted place the menagerie tent,
where an iron pin was driven into the ground
and chain, which was riyeted to it, was locked
around one OF his legs. The pin and the chain
were part of his belongings, and he was ac-
customed to be chained up thus and made no OBJ
by this operation, for he appeared to say to him
self, This is perfecty proper | am sure; for il
is the rule of all circuses TO keep the animals in
some sort of confinement, and although il ac-
composites no useful purpose in nv case. I believe
in discipline and cheerfully submit to the rules !"
1t was very pretty to see how socitous was the
Fairy OF her immense charge She saw that he
and, from bag which she carried she fed him
some dainties which she had for that purpose and
which he. took in his 1.-the trunk with manifest
and said kind things to him, and he took it all
as a matter of course, seeming 10 say, Il see
nse Which ac al this little Far Snq
upon me; for am l not very large and majestic
elephant, and does she not know that love her
better than does any else in all the world ?"
And il was pretty to see how gently she babe
him good-by until the evening performance, which
would begin in two hours from that time
There was far greater crowd than usual at
the performance that evening. for the flaming
public announcements of Christopher and the
Fairy had borne profitable fruit Not only were
the seats packed all the way up TO the caves, but
rows Of extra seats had been provided on the
level ground facing the ring Several acts were
done before the manager announced the new per-
formers, which he did in the following graceful
Ladies and gentlemen: / now have the
pleasure to introduce TO you the most celebrated
performers Of Her Majcsty's Australian colonies
CHRISTOPHER and the Fairy. You will see for your
selves that Christopher is the largest and most
powerful elephant in captivity, and that the Fairy
graceful and daring tying-trapeze performer in
the world. The performances Of these two re-
nowned individuals will consist in ground acts
in which they both take part, followed by the
living peze act done by the Fairy alone Christie
pher meanwhile standing below and looking on, at
the same time giving signals TO the Fairy and
otherwise encouraging her In her daring ana peril
Gus performance high in the air.
When he had finished, the elephant came slowly
walking out. and thereupon rose mighty sh Si,
ting on the massive shoulders of the enor-
NOUS brute was Fairy. glittering with
spangles She was so small. and fragile,
and dainty, and Christopher was so overwhelming,
and majestic, and stern. that the strange picture
caught the audience with sweeping force. and the
applause became deafening. Christopher calmly
marched into the ring and proceeded deliberately
around il. the Fairy meanwhile guiding him with
gentle hand pressure on one side of his neck or
the other, while with the other hand she threw
kisses to the audience. Her bare dimpled arms
and smiling, dimpled cheeks, her rosy mouth. her
large black eyes and curling black hair in which
diamonds shOne, every heart for her in that
immense crowd for much sweetness and grace
and daintiness they had never seen all at once in
a circus ring before.
The circuit of the ring completed, the elephant
stopped and listened gravely to the sorry jokes of