The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-07
CUPID AND THE FREAKS.
The Barker, the Giant, the Dwarf and
the Circassian Lady.

The Barker, the Giant, the Dwarf and
the Circassian Lady.
was / barker with the side show
lof circus?' Young man, I was an
orator whose elocution and eloquence
coaXed the dimes out of the pockets of
the yaps who turned up on the lot of
the p T. Barnum show when it was
managed by "the Flatfoots," Avery
Smith, John j. Nathan, Lew June and
George F.. Bailey-no relative to the
great James A. George f. was the
manager and came from Danbury,
Conn, and was the son-in-law Of one
Of the Turner'S who run the first Amer
lean circus. June came from Yankee
circus stock and was in the advance of
the trick. George B. Bunnell, of South
port, Conn.,, and his brother had the
side show, after-concert and candy
stands, and big bundle of the long
green they made, a hay-rigging full ev-
cry season. Henshaw, another Yank,
and his words were as large as his
voice, which sounded like fog-horn.
George O. Starr was the press agent for
the BunnelPs and made George F. Bal
| ley jealous because he got the most
space for the annex. Starr was a wri-
ter. In that gift he had the same adj
| vantage as old man Barnum, who was
a dandy ink-slinger.
Yes, this was the same Starr that is
now managing the Barnum & Bailey
show, and was a power in the amuse-
ment world with Pat Harris, and d.
rected as many show shops as 1 have
got fingers and toes. AT the outset
Harris dealt in museums, but through
Starr he got into the drama and comic
opera. Starr was great museum man
and could bring a freak to the front as
well as F. L. Barnum, and that was
the old mans best hold. 1 remember
the first season that was talking for
the Bunnells with the Flatfoot- Barnum
show Starr was a booming every
thing in general for the Bunnells, and
a giant, dwarf and a Circassian lady.
The giant was the tallest I ever put
eyes on; the dwarf the shortest, and the
Circassian the sweetest ever seen, I
would have Skinned up to her myself if
it had been of any use. The giant and
the dwarf had the inside track, and I
didn't stand ghost Of a chance. You
should have seen them freaks make
love. 1t was as sickening as circus
lemonade on an empty stomach on a
4 hot day. When the audience was out
the dwarf would seat himself in the
| Circassian lady's lap and whisper tales
OF love in her ear, enough love to fill
both ears When the mite dropped off
to sleep the girl would lay him gently
away and then she would sit on the
giants lap and listen to his adjectives
of alteration. The freaks kept on a
lcourting this way until one day the
giant and the dwarf had q quarrel and
almost came to blows. Fact! The
loutbreak came on a Sunday and the
long and the short of 1t started for the
hotel and the Circassian lady to settle
the case, as they said The two hot
footed 1t lively, and 1t was nip and
tuck until the giant stopped at corner
to light his cigar at lamp-post. The
dwarf kept right on; coming to the ho-
tel he saw his adored one at the win
dow in all her radiant beauty.
wall you carry me?" asked the mid
get with loving glance and extended
hands, regardless of the hangers on
about the pecklng castle.
Il wilt" she said, and 1t was all off
with the giant.
Oh, MOI the giant didn't go and COM
NIT suicide or do anything rash on ac-
count Of his disappointment When the
wedding took place the big fellow was
the best man, and Hannah Battersby,
the fat woman, was the bridesmaid.
The ceremony was performed in Bos-
ton, ana George 0. Starr got all the
Sunday papers to get out illustrated
supplements, and Queen Victoria sent
her regrets; too busy watching Albert
Edward; George b. Bunnell gave the
bride away and pledged the happy pair
that they should never lack an onion so
long as he and brother ran a farm.
BY Charles III. Day.