The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-05-14
Well Off and Didn't
Know 1t.

Paper Read Before the ChdutauQua Circle.
Some years ago the Barnum and
Bailey Shows "Joeys" (meaning
clowns) were headed by one James Du-
val, who had been clowning with the
'big show" for q period of about twen-
ty years. At the time ! refer to "Jim-
mic" had certainly outlived his useful
ness as "Joey," but strange to say,
Jimmie thought otherwise. In fact,
he thought he was about "the greatest
thing that ever happened" in the "Joey"
line. The writer was on very friendly
terms with Jimmie Duval. In fact,
Jimmie was in the habit of waylaying
the writer whenever he had the oppOr-
tunity, and pour into the writer's ears
his (Jlmmie's) troubles. or rather what
Jimmie supposed were troubles.
Jimmie's pet grievance was, that he
was not receiving the salary he sup
posed himself to be worth to the man
agement. Jimmie would say: Harry,
the very first time can catch the "Ice
Factory" (meaning the late James A.
Bailey)-when think he is feeling
like the money was coming easy-I am
going to unburden my mind and tell
him what think about the way he is
treating me, by paying me the meas
ly little salary he is giving me at pres
ent. Why, the old iceberg has had the
nerve to cut my salary every season
for the past ten years. What do you
think of that! and I've been i'll the
business for forty years?"
1t is not difficult matter for ore to
understand that Jimmie's "forty years
in the business" was the principal rea-
son for the annual redu> tions in sal
ary. The humorous side Of Jinmie's
striking the Ice Factory" for raise
of salary, presented itself at Joplin,
Mo. That is, Jimmie found the "Ice
Factory" alone, standing in a shady
spot near the dressing-room tents
chewing on Pittsburg stogie, and
looking like the money was coming
pretty easy, as business had been
very good for some time past. The
conversation that took place between
MIR. Bailey and Jimmie at the time of
the latter's demand for boost Of SAL
! ary, will give my hearers an idea Of the
frosty breeze always surrounding the
late Mr.. Bailey, even on the hottest
day of summer.
Said Duval: "Mr. Bailey, am too
good a clown and getting too many
laughs, and working too hard for the
money I am getting this season. In
fact, want more money"
"What did you say your name was 2"
On yes, Duval, isn't it? Umph! Are
you with this shown"
4 Needless to say that Jimmie bolted
to the jungles. as 1t were. The writer
didn't hear any more talk Of II want
more money" for the balance of that
, season. Considering that Duval had
, been an employee of Mr.. Bailey's for
! twenty years, one can very readily see
that James took trip into the "FrOz-
en Zone" when he made his request
, for more money. Shortly after JIM
mie had departed for the more con-
> genial environment of the "cook house
tent" Mr.. Bailey, noticing the few
troopers who had witnessed Jimmie's
! Waterloo in regards to the salary ques-
! tion, strolled over to the bunch Of
!. which tho writer was one, and ad-
= dressed us as follows:
'Say, what do you think of that little
= runt of g cockney? Why, he actually
9 had the beautiful nerve to ask me for
: more money. The Lord knows he's
T been nothing but excess baggage with
this show for the past seven or eight
seasons, and If I didn't keep him
around here he would starve to death.
Its q cinch no other show would allow
: q peace disturber such as that little
Englishman to stay around the lot
long enough to be directed to the cook
house. 3
5 Jimmie puvaI was only one Of many
z that Mr.. Bailey permitted to remain
lon the salary List, who had long slnce
. ceased to be useful around the sbii
show sis ~ Zrx.