Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-10-02
LETTER OF INTEREST TO FAIR
PATRONS.

EDITOR OF ORLEANS COUNTY MONITOR:
DEAR SIR:
am informed that the late P. T.
Barnum, the noted Snowman, re-
peatedIy stated that the American
people "iiked to be fooled"
This proposition was certainly
exemplifed at the recent Orleans
County Fair at Barton.
Among the so called attractions
coming to my personal attention was
miserable object of humanity,
probably a man OF weak intellect and
moral decrepitude made up to repre-
sent a pitiable being, and advertised
as "Laduca the wild PHILIPPINE
woman"
Curiosity kills a cat" I followed
this adage, for, being a Filipino
student, born and brought up in the
Philippines, and not having had the
pleasure of seeing "wild woman" of
my native country, consented to be
'held up'' for the price of admission
of this particular attraction" not in
tact expecting to see what was repre-
sented on exhibition, but desiring TO
observe the extent to which ''intelli-
gent" Vermonters would prove the
above proposition, credited to the
great Snowman Barnum.
What beheld demonstrated beyond
any doubt the truth of what Mr..
Barnum said and did TO bis own
profit. A very courteous guide
dressed in khiki uniform, with the
purpose of connecting this "wild
woman" with American soldiers, ex-
planned to the visitors the status of
'Laduca," emphasizing his remarks
by firing revolver at intervals at
the "wild woman" securely chained
in cage $50 the guide, proprietors
and the "intelligent" public might
not be injured by herr, that she was
captured in the Philippines one
hundred and sixty miles away from
Borneo.
To acquire more facts from the
eminent authority who was directin
this attraction, inquired of this indi-
vidual, who happened to be the dime
collector, where the proprietors could
be found. He directed me to some
man whom could not find and then
told me that his name was Mr.. VIM.
Brown and that his Office was in the
tent connected with the cage which
''Laduca" occupied. / was further
informed that the said Mr.. Brown,
who was also referred to as the "boss
of the show" held a government
position and that "Laduca" was
owned by the government, which had
her on exhibition.
OF course l realized that these were
Misrepresentation made for the pur-
pose of fooling the public for profit,
but as many of the 'shrewd Yankees |
about me were being "taken in for
fair" felt it my duty to protest at
the fraud, which l did with consider
able vigor. suggested to the So
called "boss' that he was misrepre-
5enting facts, that he knew the |
government had no connection with |
bis "attraction;" and he admitted in
the presence of several witnesses
that "Laduca" was not a woman and !
was not Filipino, but was a person
who let himself to the scheme for
share of the profits of the fraud.
The protest 1 made resulted in the |
of the large sign which |
represented "Laduca" as a Filipino. |
This l felt justified in insisting upon
as matter of justice to my own coun-
try, which is so little understood in
America.
If you will publish the above letter
for the benefit of the patrons of the
Barton fair, it may correct some mis-
pprehensions which some of the
good people of Orleans County may
still entertain with relation to the
natives of the Philippines.
Thanking you for your anticipated
courtesy l am,
Very respectfully yours,
MARTIN P. DE VEYRA, JR.
F. s. s. to the U. S. of A.
Worcester. Mass Sent. %. 1908