The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-13
SEEN ON THE MIDWAY.

Right this way ladies and gentlemen,
to see the free show. Remember, it costs
you nothing, Come on come on, come on!'
1t is needless to say that this alluring in
vitatien was given on the famous Midway
of the state fair grounds, a place that was full
of more fakes and schemes to bring the
nimbie dime from the pocket of the unwary
than any other corner in the United States.
OF course the crowd came on" and ranged
in front of small platform when a colored
banjo player thumped his instrument for a
few bars, sang a verse of a comic song, and
then the spectators were requested to pay
ten cents and step inside to see the best show
on the grounds.
By the way, the attraction at the state fair
which did not positively claim to be 1.-The best
show on the grounds" was as rare as the
restaurant which does not advertise that it
''serves the best cup of coffee on EARTH it
is never found
One enterprising orator varied the story
little by claiming ''the hottest show on
the grounds" He had a little SX10 tent the
front of which was decorated with photographs
of ballet dancers in abbreviated costumes, and
conspicuous sign tFor gentlemen only"
After paying a dime and stepping inside you
found nothing but cyclorama with colored
photographs of famous battles, ETC. The
sitting heat from a dozen lamps in that con-
fined space might well give it the distinction
of being 1.-The hottest show on the grounds. -
But why women and children must be
cluded from SO innocent an exhibition was a
mystery.
This was on par with the Oriental Beau
were announced to perform the famous cou-
cfee-couchee dance. and the orator, with a
mysterious wink and knowing look, informed
his male hearers. that it was, very, very
naughty VIXEN, indeed. it had nothing to cause
you to turn away your face to conceal your
bushes.
1t is Wild West man who had the cinoh
on the business. however; he had no high
salaried company of artists in his employ.
With a hoarse shout he darted up the street
and announced that the great border show
ard exposition of frontier tactics was about
to begin; that this was the only rival of Buff
falo Bill. After gathering crowd by his
peculiar actions and odd dress. he conducted
his hearers to his large enclosure and di-
lated upon the marvels of wild life they
would see on the inside. There was a lively
sale of tickets, the audience passed inside
and saw nothing but background of planks
and stage settings, consisting of pile OF
bricks. The .eXcited-appearing individual
now appeared with. an assistant who proceed
ed to toss bricks in the air, and the star per-
rifle The 'show' lasted about four or five
minutes, and then the star-stage manager
lecturer-advanee +man-advertiser went out
to drum W another crowd.
At another ''Wild West show a more ex-
tended programme including horseback rid
ing, ETC., was given, and here naval fea-
ture was introduced, something unheard of
on fair grounds. and certainly very unprofes-
sional-the audience not asked to pay
until the end of the performance.
At several places the performers and curios-
tiles were all brought out on the platform,
in full view of the audience, the actors going
through their parts and the curiosities shown
and explained. and then they all returned to
the tents-and incredible as it may seem.
the spectators paid their dimes, admitting
them to the interior of the canvas walls to see
and hear The same thing again.
One enterprising purveyor of public enter
taiument had a highly colored picture on his
tent of a terrible fire-breathing creature, a.
legged to make its regular diet on human flesh
but there was no excuse for alarm in case
it should escape from It's confinement; the
hideous nightmare being composed CT paper
mache.
Then there were fat boys and fat hogs, two
headed calves and other freaks and monstros-
itias a.mJst without number al of which
were on view to the pubic at the usual price
of admission.