St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-03
DIME MUSEUM FREAKS.
SHORT ARE TIE. r Ives, BOTH FRO
FESSIOH6LLY AND PHYSfc. FLY.
SOME GOOD CID ..EsAs BEENs. >,

In About Two Years Freaks Pass
Out OF Public Notice-An Old
Timer GossipS About Freaks
A fake" Freak Is Often a
Drawing Card-.in Infant With
q Transparent Brain.
The average museum freak is short
lived. This applies not only to his phys
lcal being, but also to his professional
experience.
The dime museum manager to whom
was speaking on this subject eluci-
dated this point to me, says writer in
The New York Recorder. II can usually
run good freak for Il month";" sad he.
"If he is something extraordinary he
may last for two months before L throw
him off the bill, but then don't bill him
again for five or six months if can help
1t, for novelty is what the public wants,
and that's what it gets every time.
"A fake freak is often a drawing
card for while, but we daren't run
him long. A good, genuine freak, who
depends on some physical peculiarly
for his reputation, has an average pro-
Fessional experience OF about two years.
Many of tbem do not last half that time,
while others, from the nature of their
peculiarities, may keep on the boards
for five or SIX years.
That's SO far as the professional eX-
perience goes, but the average physical
life of a freak is also snort. | can recall
dozens of splendid and sensational
freaks that Were famous III their day.
But where are they now? Vanished of
the lace of the earth.
There was the infant with the trans
parent BRAIN" unused the manager
sadly. "lhere was Barney, the most
famous thin man L have ever known.
We used to put him in cabinet tined
with black velvet and throw side light
on him. and you couldn't tell him from
an articulated skeleton. There was the
boy with the big head, land the man with
the lightning brain. They are ali dead
and forgotten, and it is a good thing for
them. too. Many OF these freaks suffer
from their physical deformilieS more
than the public knows. The saddest
thing Oh earth 10 ne is museum freak
that arrives at a ripe Old age. What
can you do with freai; that has grown
old and wrinkled? 1t doesn't matter
how good he may be iD his popularity,
he Is worse than useless as soon as he
can no longer make himself attractive
III appearance.
'''lhere is Il fat lady at present going
the rounds for an engagement. She is
tat enough, and she used TO be good
card, but shes grow so old and ugly
that she'd scare the audience away.
She's hard up, too, and l feel sorry for
her.
''Somc of the freaks are sensible, and
save their money while they have the
chance, but the majority of them are
extraVagant, like all people who &C
quire money easily. Many of them
give up their trades to go on the boards.
tons they get into trouble. They have
grown SO used to stage life that they
can't become rec0ncjled to anything
else.
The fat people mostly die of apo
pleXy, but iheie'S one fat man that |
know of who used to be billed as col
onel from Virginia. He's lost his flesh,
and L often see him now driving all ice
wagon. That's fall Tor him, for I've
paid him forty week.
'Oue of the first bearded ladies that
came out was Saran Jewett. But there
are better boards than hers on The stage
any longer. Shes clerKing liz a notion
store at seven a week, and she used to
be worth seventy. But she still takes
an Interest ID museum affairs. She
often comes here TO look around and be
reminded of Old times when she was a
celebrity. she wouldn't have her beard
removed, for she thinks it will stand
her in good use some day again, SO she
ShayeS regularly.
But giants and dWarfs, they are the
ones that generally glow old. and when
they do, must say L pity them. If
wished IL" muStu the manager, IL be-
lieYe that could collect small regi-
ment OF gray haired giants and wrinkled
dWartS. There's more of them in exist
ence than people would generally sup
pose"
The other day in front of one of the
museums L noticed a diminutive old
lady standing and looking at the posters
depicting the museum celebrities OF the
present day. She seemed to take
vivid interest i'll them. She wore a short
dress, and carried brilliant red sun
shade, and had l seen her pass, without
observing her face. L would have taken
her for little girl. But her counte-
nance was yellow and wrinkied, aud
displayed an advanced age. She walked
up to the ticket sellers window and
opened a conversation with him. He
seemed 10 De an OLD acquaintance, and
she began to ply him with questions
concerning the freaks of the present
generation.
And how is Minnie?" she asked.
"Shc used to make sweet little dwarf
twelve years ago. but l always said
she'd grow"
"Oh, Minnie is still in the business.