Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-03-23

artifce to which we resorted, for do
not think that it was quite honorable,
even with the motive of exposing
deception. What he did was to go
outside the fair grounds fence ard
come round in the rear of the cage.
Bez' "show" was placed on one side
Of the grounds near the fence. Through
a chink in the upright boards we
watched his operations tor an hour or
more. It was some time before We
gained the least hint as to the nature
of his gift, but we noticed that the
cage had double bottom, or rather
two bottoms, about three inches apart,
each Of sheet-iron, and that when Bee
wished to set the turkeys dancing he
thrust the iron rod between the two
bottoms and ratified it against them.
But this was no adequate explanation,
and we were still in the dark.
Three or four successful 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
Bez had to rattle vigorously two or
three times. After a few minutes
another so cents was subscribed we
could hear the crowd calling out
"On with the dance Keep it going
Then we saw Bee step back between
the cage and the fence, 50 as to be
concealed from the spectators by the
curtain. As he poked the fire under
his oven he slyly threw three shovel
fuls of the burning coal from the stove
between the two sheet iron bottoms of
the cage. Then he ratified with the
shovel, and, stepping out, pulled
open the curtain. In moment the
turkeys were dancing smartly; We
could hear them hop and futter very
plainly.
| smile even now when | recall the
look of mingled triumph and disgust
on Toms face as he glanced at me to
see if I, too, had comprehended.
That's his gift" 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 I'll wager that he blistered
them more than once before he edu-
Gated them to hop Highland Fling?"
"But he doesn't seem to put in hot
Goals every time, said.
But that part Is PLAIN enough,
replied Tom. "He has got the poor
creatures in such terror Of a scorching
that the very sound of the shovel or
poker will set them hopping"
1t was pretty evident that we had
OWNED the nature Of Bez' gift AS
we stood there we could hear him
talking glibly of the different fairs at
which he had exhibited his turkeys.
Next week I shall show them to the
people of Franklin county at their an
nual cattle show at F." we heard
him add.
yes" said Tom, a am much
obliged for that bit of information. l
have a cousin living there who is a
lively sort of fellow. I'll drop him a
hint as to what's coming. Something
will be sure to follow"
As we went past the post-ofiice Tom
stepped in, bought an envelope, and
sent the following note
Dear Nose: Look ont for a fellow
with seven dancing turkeys at your
cattle show next week He's tricky
and cruel. He will tell you he has a
peculiar gift for teaching them but
the way ne does it Is by putting live
Goals in at the bottom of the cage.
We caught him at it. Get the boys
together and expose bis trick and
cruelty.
The manner in which the Franklin
county boys exposed Bee was de-
scribed in the Franklin Gazette, in its
account of the fair, the following Sat-
urday. give the item verbatim:
Prominent among the side shows
was cage of wonderful dancing tur-
keys, exhibited by one Bee Samuels,
a youth no, unknown to fame, who
also regaled the multitude with fresh
roasted peanuts and sweet cider. The
dancing exploits of the turkeys were
really astonishing, and proved a "fea-
ture" at once a turkey taught to
dance Highland Fling was novel
ty which Immediately attracted pub
lie attention.
The exhibitor expatiated upon the
patience, kindness and peculiar gift
requisite for training turkeys to such
high art in the Terpsichorean line.
But alas for Bee 1t was discov-
cred that his peculiar gift consisted in
putting live Goals from his peanut
roastsr under the thin iron bottom of
the cage in which the poor birds were