The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-08-29
CIRCUS FREAKS.
BY w. c. COUP.


| CBeing an extract from "Sawdust ant
Spangles, published by Herbert S. Stcn,
q Co. Copyright, 1901. by Herbert
Stone & Coz
p. T. Barnum said the American pub,i,
! liked to be humbugged, and the truth o
MS words have been proven time aftel
time by the showmen of the country
IN his Sawdust and Spangles," published
by Herbert S. Stone * Co, Chicago, Mr.
W. {. Coup gives much interesting in
formation regarding the inside of the
american circus, menagerie and museum
re he separates the real from the unreal
the genuine from the fake. and supplies
a narrative that should interest every
habitue OF these forms OF entertainment
Ihe Following chapter taken from his
BOOK describes a number of freaks and
fakes with which the American public
were successfully humbugged.
MO saying attributed to p. T. Bar.
~ mum has been more widely
quoted than the remark that "thr
public likes to be humbugged." Ger
tainly this comment on the credulity
OF the masses opens up most curious
and entertaining field. and it's men,
ton in IA company of old showmen
is sure IN provoke food of remin-
iscences on the subject of fakes,
freaks and takers. There is scarcely
another line of experience concern
ing which veteran showmen more
ENJOY comparing notcs-possibly be
because it touches on the secrets of
the craft. Though il Is true that Mr..
Harnum was u master in the science
of humhugging the public, and did
mt IiscInipn that Iiotin.t;a,, .
be said in justice to him that in the
course of his professional career he
gave the people more for their money
than any other Snowman, living or
dead.
A litth inside information on this
hidden side of the >howman's business
may be entertaining to public which
has often experienced the pleasure of
being humbugged. Certainly no fake
is entitled to take precedence over
the celebrated Cardiff Giant" This
was the invention of a certain George
Hull. He lived, I think. at Bingham
ton. New York, and manufactured the
giant in rude shop on the small
farm which he worked. Hull was
shrewd. energetic and very persist
ent, as may be seen by the fact that
the elaboration of the idea of his fake
and its execution occupied him more
than four years. He thought the
whole matter out, even to the most
minute details, before beginning work
on it. Without arW knowledge of the
art Of sculpture or the science OF an
atomy, he set himself resolutely at
work to remedy these defects of edu-
He had considerable aptitude
with the chisel, and gradually devel-
oped the skill necessary to hew out a
figure that was to be put before the
public as relic Of IN age 80 remote
that no person would be likely closely
to eriticiss its proportions. Hull also
knew that no matter what the age
in which q giant was supposed to have
lived, the "Yemaips" must show pores
in The skin 70 pess the scrutiny Of
even ths uAlsarped. The making of
these pores required more time and
labor tban all the other work of max
ing the "Cardii Giant" The work
occupied many mon&hs, and WAS all
performed in the "studi>" or shop
where 1t was at last finished to Hulrs
Preparations were then made for
The giants burial in order that when
brought to public view it might show
the proper evidence of antiquity. It
was buried In the side of hill only
lew rods from the outhulding, where
4 had been chiselsd from huge block
of stone taken from tAst very hill.
In all this work, huge and heavy as
the uscNt stone and the giant hewn
out OF IL were, HUH hail only the
assistance of one man, q sled and q
yoke OF oxen in moving them. This
helper was green and stolid Ger
man immigrant, uttorF devoid of
and the man who helped to
oory tho giant was another ct the
'eme description.
The statue was allowed 20 remain
more than TWO years In the ground
before Its maker considered It to be in
proper condition for Accidental" dis
,overy. Hull then promptly "dis.
covered and dug out the "petrifica-
'ion," and placed it on public view
10 amaze and perpieH people generally
md to delight the antiquarians, who
'ound 1t an argument 70 uphold some
II their most cherished theories. It
'ook its name from the fast that near
he spot where it was buried and res
lrrected was small hamlet called
Cardiff. The public career of the
Cardiff Giant" was not of long con.
.inuance, however, but was sufficiently
engthy TO enable Mr.. Hull to make
money out of his clever
He declared, however,
hat he might have made more money
I ne had accepted Mr.. Barnum's offer
made Mt the time of the giants first
appearance in public. Mr.. Hull knew.
90, that exposure was bound to come
n the end, but that matterei not to
him. For many years thereafter the
Cardiff Giant" reposed neglected IN
he very shop IN which it was made;