The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-09-04
POLLY PRIM VISITS
THE BABY ELEPHANT

Little Hip, the baby elephant at Keith's
this week, kept Labor day, Monday-that
Is. he kept Ii by laboring unusually hard.
He was quite the most interesting feature
OF the Labor day parade. or seemed 10 be
from the crowds that followed him as ne
union elephant" Little Hip said to me
when i stopped In the green room at
Keith's for a few minutes chat with
him, unable to resist myself gurgle OF
delikht when j saw the cute little thing.
And my trunk Is union made. don't
believe I'd have been fined II I hadn't
paraded but l wanted to do so to get
glimpse OF your city That's the only
thing I don't like about vaudeville-there
are no parades as there are In circuses.
My brothers and sisters are with big cir
cuses and they tell me OF all sorts OF fun
they have parading and the many pea
nuts they have thrown to them. OF course.
I get lot OF peanuts and dainties, but
I don't get any circus extras. There's
more Sponey in vaudeville, though, but be-
tween you and NO." and he put his trunk
effectionatey upon my shoulder as IL TO
emphasize the confidence, "Td rather so
back to the jungle where no one Will
make fuss over me- Ever since 1 was
born, II months ago, I've been babied and
petted until I'm tired of it. First they
gave me an elaborate christening with
Edna Wallace Hopper for my godmother.
and everyone kissed my trunk until my
trainer was Jealous. And when / offered
TO distribute Keith News In the lobby
this week at Keith's didn't expect that
there'd be so much petting go with II.
Why, the women and children stand pat
ting me and talking to me sometimes
until there is a regular blockade at the
door. The other evening man insisted
upon standing talking to me so that l
couldn't distribute the little Keith News
and / just had to put my trunk around
his neck and move him out Of my way.
My trainer scolded me- for 1t afterwards,
and I suppose IL was rude. but this matt
nee idol gag doesn't go with me. espe-
cially from the men.
IT suppose the critics are good to you
everywhere? They certainly were here
this week"
''Yes, they have been so far but then.
you know. we elephants are thick skin
ned, any how"
While I laughed my appreciation Of this
sallie. Little Hip took out his pipe and
began to smoke, first courteously asking
my permission.
"They tell me you weren't feeling very
well last week." I remarked.
"Oh. Just little off my feed. Didn't
seem to care for the kind of hay / got.
But I'm on beer. apple. sugar and pea
nut diet now and guess I'll get back my
lost flesh. It's only question Of walt.
How long do you expect to live IL you
keep I'D this sporting life?" I asked Sc
verely. why. you're only an infant"
I'D rather live 30 years. as they say
we will. and enjoy life. than hundred
without my pipe and beer and peanuts.
Must say Goodbye now. for it's time for
my daily rehearsal. Have to rehearse ev-
cry day, you know, to keep in practice"
AS / watched the dear little fellow am
Bile quickly off, didn't wonder that he Is
such q pet with the ladies and children.
AS I was coming away noticed pref
ty girl with beautiful auburn hair and a
chic. foreign afr. With my characteristic
mental acuteness (BehaveO, I guessed
that II was the mysterious Mary Ann
Brown whose name upon sidewalks, post
cards and I'm the papers had made every
one very interested In her Identity for
the past month. The first thought I had
was why In Heavens name did anyone
ever give girl like her name like that"
or all the incongruous cognomens this Is
the limit more fetching damosel vau-
deville has not had for many a day and
she's clever, too. in her comic songs and
limitations OF stage celebrities. When the
opportunity presented itself I asked the
question my curiosity prompted. rs II
really your own manner" asked
mo" she confessed merrily. MY real
name is unspellabe-thats one reason
why I'm using II. But my real reason Ia
because, while I'm known In Paris. com
ing to this strange country. Ia an entirely
different matter. I've heard 10 much
about how critical your country IN that 1
got terribly afraid and when trip TO
America was suggested, said yos, "
they'd lot me como under an assumed
name And old namc. Mary Ann Brown,
II you like, ns long as you come said
the manager. 30 Mary Ann Brown II II.
And It's lots OF fun to hear the people
guessing. No, no. ! can't tell IL now,
Some day, maybe-raybe."
And with another merry laugh, she trip
ped on her way POf.LY PR1M'