Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-09-08


some Of the negroes of the great
Georgia Minstrel shows as they are
out behind their tent bathing their
faces and hands in the cold water.
They stand about and the motions they
go through resemble those they per-
form on the stage later in the day. The
geSticulationS now are caused by the
cold that is shaking their bodies. while
later they will be keeping time with
their bodies to the rag time music they
discourse. They don't act as though they
enjoyed this part of it quite as Well
oh she is the warmest baby in the
bunch" sang little Dewey, pointing to
one of the colored women. She resem-
bled anything but the warm baby to
whom he referred, for she was shiver-
ing. though wrapped up in an old
shawl.
.Oh. YOU go on, chile" she responded,
administering a rebuke on the face OF
the little colored individual that could
be heard above the din raised by the
cattle Speaking about rag time songs.
Some of the costumes that are seen on
the colored people resemble rag time.
though not in the musical sense of the
word.
And Mr. Banshee. the most voluble
barker of the crowd. He is standing
about as quietly as though he did not
know how to use his tongue. He is
thinking what he is going to say to
attract the attention of the crowd. His
teeth are chattering and an occasional
murmur can be heard as though he
was longing for some one to Take Me
l. Il. ,.l.
weather.
The pop corn women are out and
have started their fires ready for the
days work. They are really enjoying
themselves, for you know they have
the little gas flames over which to
warm their chilled fingers.
The men who have the different catch
penny devices are standing about with
their overcoats on. turned up around
their ears and with their hands in their
pockets. The grub tents have opened
up for business, but there is little
shouting Of the wares, for those they
are now accommodating are the regu-
lar customers and they require no
coaxing. for they are coming and 60
ing in Il business like manner and are
are sending out the most tantalizns
od0rs to the pasSerby.
one hears not the cry of the whip
man. OF the throw the balls and knock
down the pretty little dolls" man. of
the African dodger. of the ring the
can" man. and of the others on the
line They are at work about their
places of business and each man is
- II .i,rl,
lor. each wondering what the day is to
bring forth for them.
Then stroll along among the cattle
sheds on the paths beaten down by the
people as they have day after day
walked along and looked over the
members of the bovine family.
The cattle have been looking for their
breakfast and for water several hours,
il seems. and yet it is an actual fact
that their attendants have in many
cases slept through it all. You know
the caretakers of these animals do not
stop at the Elm house or any other
swell place but they bunk over the cat
tie as a rule or in spare stall. of
which there are few. this year.
These men come crawling down over
the sides of the stalls from the hunks
where they have been sleeping. rub
bing their eyes and making ready for
the day. They have slept all night like
| logs and have not noticed but what
they were in their downy couches at
home. They have straw all over them
and in their hair. but that comes off
with a shake similar to that a dog will
give. a brush with the hand and a
| how,
| ready to take cold dip in a wash
basin filled with the water drawn from
| the well.
| In other places the fellows come down
groaning with stiffness and cursing the
wind that has made them lay cold ali
night They felt as little like getting
up though as their neighbors.
| In still other places the men are eat
| ing their breakfasts because quite n
number of them do not buy thing on
| the grounds but eat the cold victuals
| they bring from home in the chest
packed by the good house wife. 1t may
be possible that this cold diet for the
week may not be conducive to the best
results and may cause dyspepsia. but
| they are ready to do it to save few
dollars, and perhaps after all they are
healthier from eating their own home
| cooking. than to go to the hotel and
get other forms of food which though
warm may be bad for the digestion.
Some have little oil stoves with them
upon which they can cook as gooi a
breakfast as man ever sat down to,
and they do it, too.
Still others of the cattle owners ar"
preparing their cattle for the day Did
YOU ever see it done? Well, it is very
Interesting process. They have changed
the dirty bedding for fresh golden
straw and have both fed and Watered
the animals. making them as content
as a babe with a bottle of fresh milk.
Now they are grooming them with
curry comb and brush. Every hair on
the animals backs must be combed
and brushed time and again and every
stain on the animal must be removed
Then comes the work on the horns
You know how bright the horns of the
cattle look at a fair, very different
from what they appear in the barns oi
the ordinary farmer. Well. that IS
done by sandpapering the horns anc
polishing them until they shine Ike
glass.
The men in the sheep department