The Forrest City times., 1906-01-26

pa rolled over and groaned in his berth. and went 10 sleep and snored so the freaks wanted to have a nose bag. such as horses eat out of, pulled ever pas face.
 The queerest thing that ever hap pened in the circus business in thas country took place at Germantown, "a. The teamsters went on strike at Pittsburg. for increase ill wages and shorter hours. and for two days tpe management had a great time.
 We had to get drays 10 haul the stuff from the train to the lot. and then our teamsters got the local dray- men to join them. and when we got ready to haul the stuff back to the train nobody would do any work, and the walking delegates from the Team sters' union just took possession Of the show and we were stuck. like an automobile when the gasoline gives out.
 We had got to looking at the team- sters as of no particular account when they walked out, but when they wouldn't work. they became the most important part of the show, and after the show was over the managers who had told the striking teamstefs to go plumb found that they had gone plumb, and they had to rush all over rIttaburg and find them. and grant their demands, and get them to go to WotL.
 i tI G1I n them, and it cost pa over $30 10 get them out of beer garden. and back i to the lot, and il was almost daylight before we got our train started for the next town.
 Well. at the next town we could See there was something the mater with i the animals. They acted as though they had lost all interest in the sue l cess of the show, and wouldn't do l any Of their stunts worth a cent. Tho 1 elephants went through their act earelessly, and when they were scolded CT pr6dded with the iron hook, they got mad and wanted to fight. and when ;hcy got back from the ring 10 tho animal tent they wouldn't eat the baled hay. but threw il all over the tent, and acted riotous.
 The kangaroos would not do their 1 boxing act the horses kicked at theIr hay. and wouldn't eat their cats, the eamei3 growled at their food, and scared the people who passed by where they were tied to stakes. the sacred cattle got their backs up and acted as though they. being pious. couldn't swear. but would like 10 hire the hy- enas To swear for them. the giraffes laid down and curled their necks so l they were no attraction To the show. ! cause giraffe is no curiosity unless l lie stretches himself away up towards the top of the tent. The zebras rolled in the mud and spoiled their stripes, so people couldn't tell them from com mon mules; the grizzly bear walked i his cage. and kept giving vent 10 bear language. and the big lion Was howl ing all tae time.
 The show was a failure at that town, and when We loaded the train the managers held a meeting in our ear to decide what in thunder was the matter with the animals All Muls ! of theories were advanced such as poison malaria from Indiana. and l pure cussadness. After they had dis I oGssed the matter awhile, pa came Tn. and they asked him what he thought about il. and that tickiad pa. cause ss foolish as he looks he helps the | of 1,ra of lo .aIo !lt cigar and put it in one side of his mouth. put his hat mp on one side of i his head, like he was tough, and looked wise and said:
 Fellow takirs. l have been watch Ing the animals all day. and while I do not say they understand enough of the ways of human beings 10 be post ed on labor unions, and all that. I want 10 tell you they are on a strike anu that grizzly and that lion are the walking delegates that are stir ilns them up to mischief They may not know anything about the team. sters' strike but they know something has happened, and they are displeascd at something. and they have lost re- speet ioi the employer. They are on d strike, and the very devil fs going To l Fay tomorrow. unless the cause oi the dissatisfaction is discovered and i mutual concessions made
 Gentlemen. you hear me said pa and L. sal down on the edge of the dIia ot the ear seat.
 They gave pa The laugh. but finally told AIm to take charge of the strike ana settle if quick. but they wanted 10 know what he thought animals would be dissatisfied about. as long as they eot food enough 10 eat.
 Pa said I'll tell YOU. You feed the horses and other har-eating ami mals on musty baled hay. bough: from contractors that may have had il on Land for five years How would you like il if you were served with l breakfast food that had been stored in a warehouse until it was mildewed? :? 4 horse or an elephant has feelings