The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-08-29
said, ~How do Won Do, Mr.. coup?" rns

tlnized the fellows features and rec
ognized in him a Russian who hai
been exhibited in our sideshow as 9
hairy man." He had allowed his
skin to be dyed yellow and his whis
kers and hair black, and for consid
GRAFTON of about four times his usual
salary, was now posing as wild man
He afterwards went west and contin.
ued this mode of exhibition for sew.
eral months, until he was played out
in that capacity, whereupon "A few
warm baths enabled him to resume his
former employment as Ivanovitch
the hairy man."
Another celebrated fake which met
with success in the east was the "dog-
faced man." The Englishman befor,
spoken of engaged variety perform
er who was an adept at initiating the
barking of dogs. The manager had in
his possession an old photograph of
"Jo-jo, the dog-faced boy" and was
resolved TO place n good imitation of
this freak before the American pub
lie. He accordingly had made very
expensive wig, which completely COW
cred the head, face and shoulders.
Dressing the man in the garb of a
Russian peasant, he advertised him
rs "Nicolia Jacob, the Russian dog
faced man" So good was the dis
guise that they exhibited an entire
week at Jersey City museum. de-
sewing even the astute proprietor.
Next they went to Boston, where they
played to the most phenomenal bust
ness on record. The proprietor of the
museum had n very clever cartoonist
in his employ. and as the Englishman
and his dog-faced friend walked from
the station to the museum they saw
nothing but pictures of dog-faced
men. In front of the museum, in a
large cage, was one of the fiercest
wildcats they had ever seen, labeled,
The pet Of the dog-faced man."
They played, as 1 have said, TO a
phenomenal business. For two weeks
thousands of persons daily struggled
for the privilege of paying ten cents
to see this amusing fake. At the end
of that time one of the employees be-
trayed the secret to a reporter and
the attraction was rendered valueless.
Strange to relate, the success of this
fake" was the means of bringing
from Europe the original dog-faced
boy. "Jo-jo,' who for several years
drew good salary at the various
dime museums, but never created SO
much excitement by virtue of his gen.
uineness as the "fake" did.
Still another "fake" that not only
drew" but positively deceived the
whole New York press, was the "Da-
honey Giant" About 1882 tall spec
linen Of the African race walked into
an eastern museum looking for work.
He was actually over seven feet in
height, and had never been on exhi-
bition. Knowing that his value as a
negro giant would be but little, the
proprietors resolved to introduce him
IS monster wild African. After con-
sulting Rev. ]. G. Woods illustrated
history of the uncivilized races, Il
was determined TO make a Dahomey
Of the tall North Carolinian. A the
atrical costumer was set to work to
make him a picturesque garb. A
spurious cablegran was issued, pur-
porting to be from Farini, of London,
stating shat the Dahomey giant had
sailed with his interpreter from Lon
don and would arrive in Boston on or
about q certain date.
The man. with his interpreter, was
then taken by train TO Boston, from
which city they, in due time, wired
The museum proprietor of their ar
rival. That telegram vas answered
oy another telling them to take the
hrst Fall River boat for New York
,ity. The press was then notified, and
the representatives of five New York
papers were actually sent to the pie:
the following morning to interview
The distinguished stranger from Da-
honey. The man had been we'll
schooled, and pretending not to
know word OF the English language.
could not, of course, oonvssse With
The reporters. But his interpreter
to fill them up very com.
Fortably. At all events, long and in
teresting accounts Of the "snuff-coi-
bred giant from Dahomey" appeared
n most of the daihes, and for several
weeks this Dahomey was the stellar
attraction at that particular dime
The advent of summer and
is consequent circus season closing
he city museums, the DahomeJ
Joined ous'' with a side show in
which, for successive seasons, hs
posed - . Dahomey giant, . Maori
rom New Zealand. an Australian
.borigine and n Kaffi1. This mans
success was the initiative for a score
If other negroes, who posed as repre-.
'eptatives Of any foreign races the
side show proprietor wished to e1.
libit.
The spread of the dime museum
'raze created great demand 70.
'reaks and a consequent rise in their
'alaries. know I am violating no
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