The Monticellonian., 1906-02-08

i inl= getting rested, and pa is having chance to shine.
 The managers think pa is txging to ] commit suicide, for he wants to take the place of anybody who is sick or drunk. and is the understudy of 1 everybody. We got one act that just curdIes your blood a cage in the ring. with lions and tigers and leopards, who go through all kinds of stunts. One lion rides horse and jumps through hoops and lands on the back of the horse. and jumps on a staging anG lets tie horse go around the ring. ant then jumps on again. The horse is l biindioided, so he don't know it is a iion that jumps on his back, but thinks t is a man.
 The tigers ride bicycles. and the 'eopafas jump about wherever the trainer tells them 10; a monkey acts as ei4Hn and q little elephant runs d mahe-6aIieYe automobile That act alone is worth the price of admission
 Well, the regular trainer went to ConeE Island, and got drunk. and VIC either had to cut out that perform ance, OF give back the money, ami the manager was wailing about it
 cause nothing makes a circus man wall like giving back good money. i Then pa said he would cave the day by taking charge of the animal act lie said he had watched it every day, and knew how to do it, and he could dress up in the clothes of the regulal. trainer and the animals wouldn't know the difference. Gee but I was sc2red 10 have pa try to run that ani- nal sh9w, and l think everyone in he show believed it would be pas finish. l felt like an orphan when pa eame out oi the dressing-room with the trainers clothes on, though pas stomach was so big you would think q aliHdfolded horse would know pa was no trainer
 Well, pa went in the round cage, made of bar iron, and motioned to the attendants to send the animals into the cage through the chute from the animal quarters. The first to come were Two tigers that were to ride ye- lociiedes. trembIed for pa when they went in and waved their talia and looked at pa as much as 10 say: 70, Ne won't dc thing to you They actually looked al each other aui winkeds hat pa matfoned 10 the ve- iocipeue5, and looked fierce, and when they hesitated about getting on pa said. You wont, won't you. and he look club filled with lead and start cd for the biggest tiger He hesitared a moment and then he jumped on the machine, and the other followed. and they raced around, and then pa ma4s them get off and jump hurdles. Finally he metioned to shelf for them t1 jump up onto, and when they hesi- tatcd he kicked one in the slats. and hit the other with the club. and they went Up on that shelf too quick. but they stayed there and snarled ct pa. and l was afraid thcy would jamp 0u him when his back vas turned.
 Then they brought in the bliul horse and the lion. end the lion was ento pa. and h. struck right off. He got up on the pedestal from which he was to jump onto the horses back, but when the horse came around the lion wouldn't jump. and pa said: I'll give you one moee chance. and the horse went unde- the lion. and he wouldn't jump. s3 pa stepped the horse and took an iron lar and knocked the lion off onto the floor, and he groWied at D. but pa kept mauling him. and finally the hon jumped up on the pedestal and seemed to say: Bring on youg horse, and pa started the horse and Nh. Lien made his jumps all right. and he att dienee eheered pa.
 All the animals went through their stunts all right but thought l could see they were layins for pa, and 1 wished he was out of the cage Tae Hind-up came when the lions were seated on benches. and the elephant was between them. and the tigers aad Ieopards made a pyramid, and the monkey was clawing around pas legs. The stsnal was about to be si4eu fer 8 the animals to return through ths chute. when the monkey tackled pas legs like football player the e.e- phant pushed pa over and the lions paved him and snafled, and the tigers took a mouthfal out of pas pants. and the leopards snatehed his red coat off, and the signal was givel for them to get out of the cage, and they went out like boys al recess. leaving pa Fl the cage with the blind horse, with not clothes enough Iel. on him to wad a gun lie was not even scratched however the animals having just combined to humiiate pa.
 The audience ebeered Pa said Well. wouldn't that skin you. They snrew him an oyereeat To put on, ant Le bowed like a hero. and quit the ring cage, and was met outside by the whoa stow management, and congratulated O. having more nerve than any man alive.
 sa said: If you will give me a sbc.eun loaded with bird shot l will maze those animals get on their knees atta<next performance. and beg mypar- don. You can discharge your trainer. ana will teach them a lot of new stunts"
 Say, pa is a wonder and he has al ready got old Barnum beat block
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