The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-23

the stories of the press agents it is
probable that there never was q show
man or theatrical manager who didn't
begin in the business when he was
still the underside of his teens, by
giving a performance in a hay NOW or
tent and charging so many pins for adj
mission. That is undoubtedly the rule
for where lives the man who, when he
was a boy, didn't have a show and
charge SO many pins for admission2
So, therefore, this tale of the boys
and the pins and the show viii be
nothing new but it will serve to show
that the present generation of men is
the same as the one before In this
instance the whole thing took place in
Topeka, on Quincy street to be par
ticular, in the rear of a yard between
Tenth and Eleventh streets 20 years
ago.
The principals were Otto, Cuckoo.
Hans, Max, Mack, a guinea pig, dog,
some white rabbits, pony and deer.
There were others but they made up
the spectators to the show and the rab-
BILE.
Otto was the promoter. He planned
the scheme and made the rest of the
fellows the land company for it was
known as Max & Co., Great-Gigantic-
Grand Glorious-Open-Air- Exhibition
| All that was painted on sheet by
Hans, the artist. The paint he used
was pretty thin and oily and it ran all
over the cloth. The letters were rather
| irregular ana the SpelllnS was d 1Alte
off. but when the sheet banner was
spread to the breeze it certainly at
tracted attention.
| Cuckoo was the bare back rider who
was to perform on the back OF the
pony. Otto was the animal trainer
who was to make the guinea pig and
the white rabbits go through their
PAGES. The PAGES consisted, for the pig,
of revolving the tread mill of his cage.
and for the rabbits of being driven
double to a tov wagon. Mack was the
man who exhibited the trained deer
The show was held in the enclosure
surrounded by high board fence. Tne
| lot was made for the deer but II
served well for the show. and with a
helf dozen sheets stretched from pole
in the center to the top of the fence
1t made quite good tent.
Across the alley was the Brlstol SIS
ters' greenhouse. Now wise circus men
with years of experience would prob
ably not give their show in lot close
to a greenhouse, that is, if they had any
regard for the greenhouse. But as the
deer belonged in the lot and as ne was
apt to run away if taken out, Otto de-
eided that the show should be held
where the deer lived, and that no
chances should be taken in trying TO
travel with the deer
The show might have been a great
success and Max & Co might be run
ming a railroad show with real lions.
elephants and band wagons if it hadn't
been for the deer and the greenhouse.
Everything was getting along in
great shape until it came time for
Cuckoo to do his act as bareback rider.
The burst of applause he received was
very hearty when he made his APP
pearance. The noise excited the pony
and Max fell off. The pony began to
kick and backed into the corner where
the deer was tied. The pony wasn't
a bit particular who he kicked, and he
kicked the deer.
Then the real circus began. The deer
for the seats filled with Q1( spectators;
The spectators fell through the seats and
over the fence and anyway to avoid the
deer. All escaped but Cuckoo. who was
trying to dodge the pony's heels and the
deer's horns. The. deer singled out
Cuckoo and when that disheveled bare-
back rider in a pair of old gymnasium
tights and his sisters bright red Jacket,
ran through the gate to escape. the deer
| ing the deer with stones in a vain effort
to save Cuckoo.
house On went the deer after Cuckoo,
and the stones flew after the deer. Cuckoo
fled toward the door of the green house
The old man who worked among the flow
ers saw him coming and saw the deer.
pulled Cuckoo into a place of safety be-
hind the door and stood the deer off with
hoe, but he couldn't stop, the. stones.
The rest of Max & Co., in their excite
ment threw stones at the deer and the
old man. hit neither and broke up whole
man got SO mad in about three minutes
that he went out grabbed the deer by the
horns, dragged him into coal house
and shut the door and locked it. Then
| he took Cuckoo, as a hostage, to his
mother, with Max & Co, trailing along
behind and announced that he would
keep the deer until the broken glass was
paid for.
s.vou are welcome to him"
Then I'll keep Master Cuckoo" said
'1 Here Ee' Max & Co. interposed and offered
to donate the receipts of the show. Il
pins, to pay for the glass. There were
several papas and mammals who went
deep into their pocketbooks that night to
pay for glass and few weeks later.
when cold weather began, a local butcher
shop sold venison.
! Since then Max and Cuckoo have been
in the theatrical business in Omaha, but
they do not exhibit any deer.
JAYHAWKER JOTs.
The sole assets of a Columbus tramp