Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-12-20
MANY ATTEND CARNIVAL
NEARLY $500 NETTED FOR THE
TREASURY OF COMPANY II.
Large Crowds Enjoy Two Days of
Merrlment at Armory, Where
Brilliant Program Is Given.


Brilliant Program Is Given.
Maledictions on the man who invent
ed confetti-the measly, ticklesonit
stun that fills your ears, smarts your
eyes, and tastes bitter in your throat
that causes you untold annoyance as II
Wrlggles its way down your back and
finally lodges in your shoes. If the in
Nentor of the confetti nuisance gets
what is coming to him in the hotter
world below, he will be set to work
cutting up million reams of wet it's
sue paper, with pair of dull scissors
Then, after his task is finished, a few
cords of the beastly stuff will be poked
down his throat, and he will be buried
10000 feet deep in the remaining pile
of it.
But a carnival without confetti
would not be carnival 1t is as es-
sential to this particular form of enter
tainment as is the presence of the mel
ancholy Dane to a correct presenta-
ton of the tragedy of Hamlet. Con-
fetti is part of the carnival game. If
you do not like it, you have the great
American privilege of staying at home.
All of which remarks are prompted
by the experience of two visits to the
big Indoor Carnival given by the boys
of Company H at their armory in this
city on Friday and Saturday of last
week. Here the true carnival spirit
was everywhere in evidence from the
moment you passed through the main
entrance until you emerged, bewil-
dered and breathless, from a journey
through the Cave of the Winds and
found yourself out beneath the electric
lights in Washington street, pulling
together and wondering how ii
all happened.
The carnival was successful from
every viewpoint, both to the soldier
boys who conceived and promoted the
enterprise and to the thousands of
people who attended the show and
contributed their money TO a good and
worthy cause. The net proceeds,
which will amount to more than $500,
will be used in fitting up a cozy club
room for the officers and men.
The program of the two days enter
as advertised, and a few additional
features were thrown in for good
measure. Both floors of the armory
were used for the occasion and decora-
tions appropriate to the Christmas
season We're everywhere in evidence.
A small admission fee of Is cents was
at the main entrance, admit
ting visitors to witness a good vaude-
Vile performance and to see few of
the sideshows as well.
Sideshows Attract Many.
The sideshows, it might be remarked
in passing, had been cleyerly planned
and furnished the principal part of the
of the carnival. While the
performance on the main stage was
enjoyable and well worth the price of
it was around the entrances
to the various sideshows that the
crowds were always thickest attracted
thther by the general air of mystery
and the come-along song of the ''shil-
labers."
Were not these sideshows fakes, for
the greater part? Bless your heart,
yes! But what of it? Sideshows are
alike the world over. The bearded
lady you see pictured on the jim-jam
banners of the Three-Ringed Greatest
on Earth probably has wife and half
a dozen children back in Kalamazoo,
Michigan. And the Wild Man from
Borneo is probably sending home
money each week for the support of
his aged parents in the suburbs of
East st. Louis Fakes? Yes; but none
the less interesting on that account.
Old Phineas T., of blessed memory,
knew what he was saying when he de-
clared that the American people like to
be humbugged. And, besides, this
carnival was given for the purpose of
raising money, and to raise money II
was found necessary to keep expenses
within a reasonable limit.
Probably the most interesting side
show was the wild animal exhibit,
in charge Of "Bo Bo," the Wild Man, ="
(Private Boots" Kersey.) Here, in a
iron cage. were to be seen
lion, an underfed tiger,
law crocodile. and other denizens of
the East African jungle-all remind
ing one of the serious-faced, make
believe animals which fill the stage in
production of Frank Baum's marvel
ous fairy tale, "The Wizard Of Oz."
private Charles Boydston and his pet
raceoon also added to the amusement
of the children, who found the animal
show the most attractive feature OF
the carnival.
Crowding the animal exhibit closely
for first place in popularity, Corporal
Hal Rich's wonderful, roaring Cave OF
fbe Winds proved to be lively dime
catcher This cave was not unlike the
caves found lining either side OF the
pixies" and "Midways" Of every
worlds Fair held in the United States
in the last twenty years. Entering TINS
realm Of Stygian darkness, you soon
found yourself utterly lost and help
less To add to your confusion ana
terror. CHASTITY skeletons grinned az
YOU from every side and lmps OF DARK
ness squeaked and gibbered when DIS
furbed in their favorite haunts After
vroplng aimlessly about until you had
yIven IN all hope Of getting out; after
ascending into seemingly bottomless
,5,s and climbing to dizzy heights, you
5nallv emerged into the cool open air
a. the washington street entrance TO
tho building. glad TO be out alive ana
your curiosity Thoroughly satisfied.
Tbe Radium Dance on the first hoor
,esr the main entrance was in charge
m private r. r. Smith. Sergeant l. q.
shaw and IT, Ghorke. Here, by the
lever manipulation Of the lighting ar
skeletons and goblins
we're made to perform an Sorts OF
.eemingiy impossible feats
zalIah. the Fortune Teller's booth,
u-ss crowded early and late by old and
INC an anxious 20 learn what the
r,,ture had IN store for them ms
- v,-as In charge Of Mrs ?. A. Pin
IN who had kindly volunteered 70
-. the soldier boys in making their
-.rri,-af successful. So great was the
demand for fortunes, on ths a.
,fght that Mrs Finseth found u nec-
- 10 cali for an assistant MS.
I'd p. shriver responded IN a manner
most pleasing 10 all
NnnstrcIs We're Clever-
Tn. principal feature of the per
rr-r..rce on the main stage was tne
-, minstrel show. Nine young men
- rs~t In this number. Captain
yrs1ter L. Tooze. Jr- acting a. inter
- solos. Duets. chorus. ana
-.-5s Gre of Jokes and puus. many q
.be-n local On fhelr Application. Eept
re audlence in q Constant staie OF
-,s-rfment curing the twenty minutes