The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-05-24
ooMlcAL WAS ooRRIeAN.
An Old ashione Travelling Snowman
and Nentri oq uist.


An old FashiOue Travelling Snowman
and Ventri oqnist.
4 suppose there are more queer by
ways in the show business than In any
other vocation on EARTH" said an ad-
vance agent, chatting after the perfor-
nance "A few nights ago. i ran across
one OF the oddities recently" he con-
tinued. "in the person of single-hand-
cd entertainer, who has been working
a quiet little circuit of his own for the
last twenty years, and is beginning to
think about retiring on snug fortune
vet / doubt whether you could find
soul in the city who ever heard Of him
NV discovery of the gentleman was
due TO a mislaid railroad schedule that
forced me to stop over night at a
drpary little country town in West Nir-
ginla. Looking around the office OF
the hotel. which was also dining-room,
reading room and smoking room, was
sulprised to see a handbill announcing
that Comical Corrigan would give one
of his wellknown and justly popular
entertainments at the brick church that
evening. The poster went on to say
that there was nothing about the show
to offend the most fastidious; that 1t
would include comic and sentimental
ballads. limitations of wild beasts, ven
triloouisms. selections on fourteen sep
arate and distinct musical instruments.
a funny stump speech and refined jig
and wing dancing, the whole to con
clude with an exhibition of prestidigi-
tation or parlor magic
"That sounded promising, so after
sumner sauntered around to the brick
church, which | found crowded to the
doors. | managed to get seat, how
ever and upon my word, haven't en-
loved myself as much for years,
quotes the New Orleans Times Demo
crat. II was transported back to my
boyhood's happy days, and for two
solid hours forgot had trouble on
earth. Comical Corrigan turned out to
be plump, rosy person, with flexible
face and a jovial eye, and his entertain
ment was exactly what | remember
seeing at our old town hall when was
little shaver of 8 or 10-the SAME
good, old jokes, the same conundrums
/, the same stories, the same songs
J don't believe | missed single boyhoot
. fayorite In the yentriloquism selection
.he hauled out the two dolls | hadn't
, seen for so many years, perched then
. on his knees and began the well-re
membered dialogue: Well, Sammy
how do you feel?' he asks. With m!
fingers squeaks Sammy, in falsetto
! Then Comical Corrigan whacked hin
) over the head and we all roared will
} laughter. When Mr.. Corrigan an
! nounced that he would now recite
! pathetic recitation by special request,
knew he would favor lis with Cur
few Shall Not Ring Tonight before h
opened his mouth, and when he asket
for a ring to grind to atoms and fir
from a pistol in his chaste seance 0
prestidigitation, or parlor magic,
: could hardly get mine off quick enough
was so anxious to see that dear oh
i. trick done again. ~
after it was all over l met Corriga
and found him a frst-rate fellow. IL
told me he had been doing that sort Q
thing ever since 1SS0-drifted into 1t b
degrees, organizing his circuit of towns
g making friends of the church and fra
e ternal order people, and gradual
e building up a clientele that was now a
regular and steady as a clock. IL
sticks to small places, makes th
e rounds once a season, and is welcome