The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-20
GENTRY BROTHERS SHOW.

1t is not the custom with tented shows
to carry any excess baggage, but with
Gentry Brothers trained animal shows,
which will be in Salt Lake Monday and
Tuesday, is a goose that takes no part
in the performance, and yet is priceless.
This unusual bird is of no small import
ance to Gentry Brothers. Apparently in
significant he has replaced the United
States weather bureau in the world Of
Gentry Brothers. He is a feathered ba-
rOmeter and fOrecaster of rain
Kelly-that is the gOOse's name-is from
Utah 1t was from this state that he
was Joined out as a show feature. 1t
is doubtful if he will recognize the home
that he left four years ago. Kellys ad-
vent into the show world was quite by
chance.
In one of the smaller towns in this state
Kelly first saw the light. he was the
pr0Ut rty of WJrkingman who did not
have money enough to send his children
to Gentry Brothers shows.
In the dilemma one of his sons thought
Of the goose. He took the bird to the
front door, and there, after some par
leying. sold him to Frank Gentry for
four tickets to the show. Mr.. Gentry
bought the goose more to humOT the child
than for any other reason. However,
Kelly became a member of the troupe
He iOWneyed to foreign lands and all
over his native country Because he was
not an acting bird no one around the
show paid much attention to him. He
one night and in the stock car the next
Kelly simply had to take care Of him
self.
In his wanderings, however, he often
threw his head high in the air and
/ sQuaWkeJ. 1t remained for a canvas
man TO see the relation between that
suuawk and subsequent rain.
When the canvasman called attention
/ TO the simultaneous visits Of squawks and
rain those To whom he told the fact
/ laughed at him. He was insistent. Cen
/ try Brothers kept track Of the goose.
They found IT no idle boast that the bird
was a fOrec7ster of falling weather. BY
/ his predictions Gentry Brothers shows
now abide. Until the coming of Kelly it
was the duty of one of the employees 10
daily get a weather report, This work
/ now has been abolished. The squawk of
| the bird has replaced the report.
/ It may be said that Kelly has a good
| idea of time When the doors to Gen
| try Brothers tents are thrown open the
| bird finds his way to the front door.
/ There is where all the baby carriages are
/ left by those who attend the show and
take the little ones. Kelly discovered
! that babies that ride in carriages are well
| fed. When carriage containing a cast
off cracker comes in sight it is a mat
! ter of seconds only after the occupant
/ is removed that the goose has the choice
/ Kelly is the especial charge of Frank
/ Gentry. tt is not an uncommon sight to
/ see the part-OWner of the show sitting
] in a quiet spot scratching the top of his
/ feathered baTOmeteTs head. That rs
pleasant diversion to the show man and
/ a pastime the bird is very fond Of
/ During the visit of Gentry Brothers
Monday and Tuesday Kelly may wander
away from the show. If you meet him
/ do not worry to take him back. He is a
| barometer. also of the moving Of the
/ train. Kelly has wandered far and often.
vet he is always a passenger on Cen
/ try Brothers train when it pulls out of
! town.