The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-19
IN THE NEXT CAGE.
How a Shouter for a Side Show Amused
Himself in the POstoffice.

~
Himself in the POstoftice.
In a hilarious mood tall man with a
theatrical makeup entered the postofiice.
| 1t was early morning and the corridors
were almost deserted. As he slowly passed
through the building on the ground floor
he gave evidence that he was or had been
a shouter for the side show of circus.
There was mischief in his eye as he
| glanced toward window behind which a
| clerk sat.
''In this cage" he exclaimed in deep,
sonOrous tones, as if addressing an
audience of curious and expectant people,
you will find that melancholy beast the
laughing hyena This animal roams about
the prairies in the night, and there he
laughs and laughs and laughs, but what
on earth he is laughing at nobody has been
able to find out.
"Pass along, pass along, but do not press
against the ropes. You have ample time
to view all the curiosities before the great
show begins.'
Scores of clerks, attracted by the I'M
usual noise, hurried to the little windows
and poked out their heads. This pleased
the tall man immensely and he laughed
immoderately,
SIN the next cage" resumed the orator
as he proceeded on his way, sis the far
famed Rocky Mountain goat, which leaps
from peak to peak and skips from crag to
crag, ever and anon uttering that plaintive
cry, 'Baa! baan"
Then another head was thrust out of an
opening, and the tall man, with sweeping
wave Of the hand said, "Thank you, sir;
that will do"
''In the next cage" continued the mirth-
full man, "yOu will perceive the gigantic
rocodildo, who, when he eats, eats seven
teen different kinds of food always con
Guiding his repast by dev0uring bale OF
hay.
Thank You, thank you, siE you are be-
having nicely, nicely.
Pass along, pass along, ladies and gents;
but bear in mind and remember you have
ample, ample time to see all the curiosities
before the show in the great pavilion
opens"
Gradually the tall humorst made his
way around the corridors, his voice losing
none of its volume or strength. Meanwhile
the commCtionin the postOffice department
was increasing. Every window was Occu-
pied by one or more clerks, with bullying
eyes and necks craned to catch IL glimpse
of the daring, practical joker. Everybody
had a chance to see him, for he did not deny
himself to anybody. This is what one
group heard as he came into view:
"In the next cage are the mighty boa
constructors, whose bite is worse than death
and whose strength is crushing. In the
smaller cages on the right are other rare
reptiles brought from remote tropical re-
gions, where one day they lived and flour
fshed.- Twice a year these snakes shed
their skins. They feed upon birds, frogs
and guinea pigs"
ing were enjoying the sport highly but
how the clerks felt is not known.
AS the stranger neared the last door at
the upper end Of the Broadway side he
turned toward another Gage" and ex.
claimed:
in the next cage you will see Old Tom
feeding the Polar bear his daily meal of
broken ice. This ice is expressly imported
by us from the arctic regions at enormous
expense and'-
At that moment the Waterman made his
presence known, and the joker was forced
to cease joking; but rs he went out of the
door he fired this SHOT, which was evidently
intended to hit the Waterman:
Little JOcko will now ascend the ladder
turning Il complete somersault at each and
every round"
Then the swinging doors closed behind
him and he was lost to view.-New York
Herald