The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-09

gested Matthias; "an' he's bout as
safe out here as in the cart"
Bully for you, Mat" cried the
uuick-eared lad, thrusting out his
head. 'Lemme come out, pop. l kin
fire gun jest as well as II was
growed up" In another instant he
had climbed down among the men.
"Ah, Sammy" said his father, pat
ting him proudly on the head, you're
a good one, but you're only one, and
we want ten"
Sam was looking at the legend on
one of the wax-works vans, and his
face was luminous with an idea.
"B'gosh! we've got 'em!" he cried.
Todhunter stared.
"Yes, we've got EN-" shouted the
lad. whats the matter with George
Washington" And he pointed at the
van.
Forty years later the trio would
have automatically responded: Hes
all right" but the formula was as yet
unborn. But Sans meaning was clear
to them at once. The idea of free
performance of Todhunter's Great
Moral Wax Works was repugnant to
the managerial mind of the professor,
but its utility under the circumstances
was obvious to him.
It was an inspiration, and with des-
perate haste all hands set about car
rying it into effect In a twinkling
the vans had been opened and great
variety of celebrities, both of peace
and war, had been unwrapped and pre-
pared for action. Their uniform cheer
fulness of, expression brought solid
encouragement to the hearts of the lit
tie garrison. They looked so human
and appeared so calm and confident
and unterrified that fear seemed con-
temptible beside their magnificent ex-
ample. They were very generally clad
in military uniforms, which gave a
certain sense of protection through
association of ideas. In a very short
time they had been effectively be-
slowed
The post of honor was assigned, at
Sans suggestion, to George Wash
ington, who was propped up in con-
spicuous position at the junction Of the
two vans, facing the direction Of at
tack. At commanding height above
the drivers seat of the van he stood
boldly forth as the ostensible leader
of the defense. A set expression Of
vast benevolence which the artist,
from patriotic motives, had given to
his countenance, and an aspect Of su-
pernatural calmness in a position OF
greatest peril, were we'll calculated to
impress his opponents.
Below him, peering out between the
wagons, looked the stern face of Oh
iver Cromwell, to whom the artist had
given a mien Of contrasting turbulence
and unyielding resolution. At the 9th
er end Of the van, next the tilt cart,
stood Napoleon l., with folded arms
and an air of command, the breeze
toying with his characteristic beauty
lock, which rose and fell upon his
forehead with menacing effect, like
the hair upon dogs back Below him
was disposed a protean efigy, repre-
senting variously any malicious Grim
inal that CHANGED to occupy public
attention for the time being. A coun-
tenance of singular brutality, height
ened by bushy eyebrows and a rough
shave, formed a combination calculat
ed to appall the stoutest heart.
Benjamin Franklin dominated the
third angle, bearing in one hand
Leyden jar, at which he gazed with
an abstraction that under the circum-
stances was sufficiently remarkable.
Below him stood the duke of Yelling
ton, presenting a somewhat insignih-
cant appearance in his relatively shell
tered situation between the carts. His
cooked hat was not, however, without
certain effect The classic features
of William Shakespeare, fanked by
Queen Elizabeth and Benedict Arnold,
looked bravely forth above one of the
vans, while Lucretia Borgia, her es-
sentially masculine traits reinforced
on either hand by the counterfeit pre-
sentiments of Grimaldi and Daniel
Lambert, effectively manned the other.
Lindley Murray, Lord Byron and the
poet Cowper bestrode the tent COW
ering of the wagon beneath which
looked forth the seductive counten-
ance of Mary, Queen Of Scots, while
as many minor celebrities as could be
accommodated we're set up in
strategic semi-circle before the wag-
ons, where they amply corroborated
the claim of Prof, Todhunter's small
bills in being "as large as life and
twice as natural"
Behind this fraudulent array was
stationed the living garrison, with
such skill as Prof. Todhunter's limited
experience could command.
The Injuns are bound to aim at
their heads or hearts, boys" he eau
toned; 80 keep your heads well be-
low the figgers' waists"
And after this fashion they were
stationed: The professor behind Ma.
poleon l.. over whose hip his rifle was
leveled, Matthias on the ground be-
hind the petticoats of Mary, Queen Of
Scots, while the other driver found in
the burly figure of Cromwell the sense
of moral and material support that he
required, Little Sam had arroRaDtly