New-York tribune., 1903-04-06
OBJECT TO BEING CALLED FREAkS.
Adiuncts to Barnum & Bailey Circus Ask for
New Titles, Human Prodigies.

Freak n-A sudden, causeless change or or turn m OF
vagary or caprce.-Dlctiohar!'
.Resd the foregoing. and more call US
+ro.Ls q" saw the Telescope Man. the Sword SWaI-
lower the Fat Woman, the Elastic Spined Man
rd rho other side show adjuncts OF the Barnum q
Bailey show. at Madison square HaIuen'
at or ,,s he known s Human Prodlgles
r-ho,- held meeting at the Garden yesterday TO
take measures to reform their nomenclature
.T on, co sensitive l feel it deeply, began the
first sneaker the Human Pincushion' neghgehtiy
r,,,nnp couple OF hatpins through his arms A
- e 1orgh+er went up reaching the head of
tho Giant "Oh. I don't mean about such httie
things as these" said the Human Pincushon' VINO
saw the point but did not feel it, i mean thinss
not are really important. object to being called
a whim! -. =.
Tho Fat Woman had ceased to laugh, but she
etiu shook as she said: Just think of it. Me
vagary, Why. it is monstrous' am as solio as d
rock Really, 1 feel it deeply
Il must confess that look down on 'hose WHO
call me a freak said the Giant
"A sudden causeless change, chimed in the rat
1ooed Man. as he beat an indignant tattoo ms
yyifel payfuIly thus disprovins the assertion that
although you can beat a tattoo, you can peat
tattooed woman. why, 1 did it, or rather hao II
Tone deliberately, well knowing what I was
about
The Sword Swallower removed broad axe from
her throat long enough to say / can't s"ai.o"
it, Tney knew she meant freak but chaffed
her bit and made believe they thought she meant
the
The Telescope Man shot up into the air IN his
excitement and the Giant yelled, Cofne
down or connect us by long distance wire
..-pricious prank" what they heard as,
thus adiured he shut himself up The Nuggets
only heard the prank.
The man who disIocates his bones let one shoul-
de- down to his hip and tWined the other around
his ear as he mUttered. Think Of salling me
sudden change"
.Ah me- walled the Bearded Lady, these may
he fancy" and she stroked her luxuriant wind
groves and replaced trellis an irgrowing hair
which she is training to grow out. but many
one who calls a freak enves me.
Great snakes and little serpents" shouted the
Snake Charmer Il a Human Prodigy. III sic
nv snakes on the next one 10 call me freak
1t was finally decided TO address petition TO the
circus management The Armiess Prodigy wrote 1t
out. Here is part of 1t;
We the undersigned members of the Prodigy De
partment, selected as a committee TO dra1t
vou a letter expressing our respectful though en-
phatic protest against the action of some person
in your employ placing In our hall a sign bearing
the TO us Objectionable word freak, %nd per
mitting another person to call aloud, This way 10
the freaksi" and beg you TO remedy both tnese
matters as soon as possible. We are disposed TO
consider both these actions as oversights, or pc
the person persons complained OF were
the word freak to We feel sure that we
have only to direct your attention to these facts
inform you Of our protest, and appeal TO your sense
OF justice, TO have them Immediately aboltsned,
THE COMMITTEE.
YOUNG HERMAN Expansionist
CHARLES II. TRIP. Armless Prodigy
FRANK HOWARD. Tattooed Man.
H C MAKE. Needle KING.
Signor GEORGE TOMASSO. Human Pincushion'
N England the complainants were called Human
Prodgies. They want that name restored