St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-23
MIDWAY SKETCHES.


Midway seen at all hazards. From
stories had heard concerning the ex-
orbltant demands of the aborigines i'll
habiting this charming district. I
entered with fear and trembling, ex-
pecting to return shorn lamb. In
reality l returned with my pockets
bulging with good things and enough
money left to buy a glass of spring
water. | had exchanged nickels for
bone wedding rings. which l will now
sell at a great reduction; dimes for
Japanese parasols. which retail two for
cent outside of the show; quarters for
music which thrilled my soul and made
my head ache, and half dollars for
dances which made my bones ache
with sympathy and my hair rise
OH end, more with establishment
than horror, although for the sake
OF my family and my Sunday
school teacher l conscientiously tried
to be terribly shocked. But to indulge
in the truth-for this sale only must
acknowledge that instead OF looking out
for the proper time to be Mortified,
was so interested in the feet, or rather
in the foot gear of the performers that [
forgot to look above. L gazed at the
way they managed those slippers in
rapt admiration. Can any American
woman explain how those Persian and
Turkish women manage those heelless,
SidelesS slippers? At every move
thought they would surely lose slip
per, but they danced (?) on utterly I'M
concerned about their shoes. Once L
arose and unconsciously announced in
my untamed Western vocal voice, Now
l know it will TALL" Then every one
stared at me, few whispered, Cover
excitement and Mysteries" All this
made me so uncomfortable that left
the show after they had performed only
about 10 cents worth.
went outside to see the camels and
their riders. l don't know which | en-
joyed the most, that is, when | was not
in active service as rider myself; at
that time | enjoyed neither, but could
only think of home and mother, and
wonder If [ should ever see the dear
farm house and pig sty again. 1t is a
rash move on the part of amateurs to
thus risk their life and feelings, to say
nothing of their bones. l have never
read profound treatise on the anatomy
of the camel, but factions speak louder
than words" Grover CleveIand), and,
after viewing and experiencing some of
the actions of this docile roadster, | be-
came convinced that where other ami
mails have straight bones camel has
hinges, and hinges of all kinds, sizes and
patents. AS he arises he undoeS 800 Joints
and, according to statistics, carefully
gathered from the Arab owners, all
American females who mount this
prairie schooner let out at least one
yell for every joint he unhinges. When
he settles down to unload he rolls up
these joints separately. also accom-
panied by chorus of yells, for the by
ISLANDERS consider it duty to help out
any enc with weak lungs. If you have
never been to Europe, and wish to feel
genuine NAL de mere, ride camel.
How lonely the poor camel will be when
he returns to his native haunts amongst
the sawdust of Barnum'S circus ring.
He will probably never hear such
Screeches again. A st. Paul girl let out
some splendid cultivated yells in SIX
teen keys. They were suberb. /
wonder the Bedouins didn't capt
ure her. Even the donkeys paused
to listen. After much hesitation
L mounted behind two friends. l sat
on nothing, held on by rope. and
tried to look dignified with my hat
careering rakiShly over one ear, my
hair floating in the breezelet, and a
"Oh! mercy, don't let him trOt or |
shall die" expression on my fearless
counIenance. Twill you have your
photographs on camel back?" politely
inquired photographer. [ just gave
that man a Minnesota blizzard of look.
Sir" l haughtily replied-as haughtily
as L could with the camel shaking like
a balloon-'Sir, have disgraced my
family and the place of my nativity
sufficiently by mounting this beast of
beasts, and l do not care to have my
present exalted appearance kept green
in the memories of my friends by re-
eording it on tin or card
steed began to close up, and my atten-
ton was entirely taken up with this
proceeding. He cracked a few joints in
each toe as sort of preliminary warn
ing, then began to go down i'll sections.
every section closing up in different
direction. Then he tried to sit on his
tail, this was too much! Losing all
dignity. l flung both my arms around
the very dirty Arab who led the beast,
and in spite Of his protests and bushes
l chung firmly to him until his steed had
ceased doubling up. With many con-
gratulatlons upon my safe arrival from
such perilous Journey was welcomed
with tears of joy and relief by my fam
lily. For some time l fingered around
this fascinating spot enjoying the misery
and antics of the other victims, who
yielded to a desire for real Eastern
ride.
There is mosque in the Streets of
Cairo which the Turks brought with
them. 1t was a cautious preventive,
so the inhabitants of the streets would
not become polluted with Christianity,
and return to their own country dis
graced. Nothing so plebeian as Chris
tians IS allowed in this sacred temple.
As the sun sets priest appears on the
temple and tells the sun which way to
90 to get to the West. Thereupon all
good Turks, Turkesses and Turkeys fall
upon their knees and use some awful
language. Some of their remarks
sounded worse than the expressions our
billy goat makes use of when he swears
because a tin can lies heavy Oh his
stomach. The first day we were there
it was cloudy. l presume the day be-
fore the priest was dining out, perhaps
with Carter Harrison or the Statue of
the Republic, and forgot to come out at
sunset. So poor old Sol was left to find
bis way home as best he could, and, l
fear. he staggered into whisky cloud
and became obscured.
-
| visited the natives of Hawaii. The
lady behind me remarked to her escort
that they must not miss the Hiawatha
village. [ doubt not but she expected
to be introduced to Minnehaha and her
pa and her ma, and all the little Hia-
wathians. l saw rather homogeneous
sight, South sea island hut Illuminated
by electric lights. IN. B. The inhabi-
tants did not perform their original Gus
tom of roasting off missionary while
l was there.)
The runners of the different shows
are not allowed to scream out the merits
of their shows to attract attention as
they did formerly. So the poor runner
stands speechless and holds up Tor IN