The Winslow mail., 1899-05-27


toms. about three inches apart, each
Of sheet iron. ana that when Beg wished
10 set the turkeys dancing he thrust
the iron rcd between the two bottoms
and ratified il against them. But It's
was no adequate explanation, and We
were still in The dark.
Three Or four successive exhibitions
Of the dance were given while we were
watching. Probably the poor turkeys
were getting tired; for we observed
| that during the last dance Beg had to
i rattle vigorously two or three times.
After 4 few minutes another so cents
was subscribed, we could hear the
crowd calling out: "On with the
| dance! Keep it going!" Then we saw
Bez step back between the cage and the
fence. Sc es TO be concealed from tie
spectators by the curtain. AS he oked
the fire under lis even he slyly threw
three hand-shovelfuls CT the burning
coal from the stove between the two
sheet iron bottoms CT the cage. Then
he ratIed with tie shc.el. and. step
ping oHt. pulled OPEN The curtain. In
moment the turkoys were dancing
smarNJ: we could hear them hop md
| futter very plainly.
| smile even now when recall the
look CT mingled triumph and disgust
on Toms face as he glanced at NE TO
see if /. too. had comprehended.
That's his gifl." he whispered.
The cruel little scoundrel! That's the
: way he's taught the POOR things TO
dance-by roasting the bottoms OF their
feet. III wager that he blistered them
more than once before he educated
them tc hop Highland Fling!"
But he doesn't seem 10 Put in hot
Goals every time said.
'But that part is plain enough" re-
| piled Tom. 'Ie has got the poor crea
lures in such terror of & scorching that
/ the very sound CT the shovel or poker
will set them hopping.'
1t was pretty evident hat we had d.
vined the nature OF Bez' gift. AS we
| stood there we could hear him talking
| :libly of tie different fairs at which
/ he had exhibited his turkeys. Next
week shall show them to the people
! of Franklin county at their annual cat
tie show at F. we heard him add.
Yes" said Tom. Il am much obliged
for that bit of information. | have Il
! ,ousin living there who is a lively sort
Of fellow. I'll drop him hint as TO
what's coming. Something will be sure
! TO follow
As we went past the post Office Tom
/ stepped in, bought an envelope, and
sent the following note:
Dear Nose: Look cut fer fellow with
seven dancing turkeys at your cattle show
next week. He's tricky and cruel He will
I. tell you he has peculiar gift for teaching
| them; but the way he does it is BY putting
! live ccelS in at the bottom of the cage.
! We caught him at it. Get the boys together
and expose his trick and cruelty.
The manner in which the Franklin
county boys exposed Bee was described
in the Franklin Gazette. in its account
of the fair, the following Saturday. [
| give the item verbatim:
Prominent among the side shows was 4
cage Of wonderful dancing turkeys. e2-
hibited by one Bee Samuels, a youth re-.
unknown to fame, who also regalcd the
! multitude with frcsh-rcasted peanuts and
sweet cider. The dancing exploits Of lle
turkeys were really astonishing, !. /
| 4
taught TO dance a Highland Fling We L
Eoyc!sy which immediately attracted pr',-
| lie attention
The exhibitor oxpatiated upon the -
| tience, Kindness and peculiar gift requis }
for training turkeys to such high art in Z /,
Terpsichorean line.
But alas for Bee. 1t was discovered tn t
| his peculiar gift consisted in putting =.
Goals from his peanut rGcster under /. /,
thin iron bottom OF the cage in which the
| poor birds were confined
Row the people Of Franklin county re
great admirers of roast turkey, particula :
| ly toward Thanksgiving; bur the idea :
! roasting the turkey alive did not apr |
| 10 them. Not mucn was said at the tir,
| but very early the following r:orri1
| when as yet few people had arrived at t.
| f2ir grounds, o select party, headed, It 4,
| said, by one Nose Evans, called round upo.i
| the gifted SaTuels, took him sumlnari,v-
III hand, and having removed his shoes ard
! stockings, popped him bodily into his owsl
! cage. Our special constables, who wcuii
! Qoubtess have intcfposed. appear net 10
nave arrived at thar hour, ard quite RS
| gdrdless Of Beg protestations, the visit
| ing waSs proceeded to fire UP beneath the
| CAGE.
1t is limited that in the matter CT the
| Highland Fling, Beg far outdid his tur-
| keys for q space Cf at least five minutes.
| and would have undoubtedly leaped much
higher had the top CT the cage permitted.
! lie sang, meantime, upon a very elevated
| key.
He was finally let cut with a hint that
travel would proba bly, prove the best balm
| for his heated scles. This advice he acted
J upon with such promptness that our re-
! porter was unable to oyertalce and inter-
! view him.
| : ('pr1r,ar,ion