The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-11
FANCY'S KEEPER IS
NAMED CURLY AND
PROUD OF CHARGE
Willing to Talk Yesterday
About Some of Elephants
Favorite Tricks
= ROLLS THE BALL AND
PLAYS ON THE BELLS
viii Soon Go Into Training to Be
Ready for Constant Entertain
ment of Children Who
Own Her

The name of Miss Faney's" valet is
discovered. 1t is Walter Curly Hayes.
For the first time the name of the keep
err of Miss Fancy appears in the public
press of Birmingham. For some unac-
countable reason he has been pretty
much of a mystery; kept himself con-
cealed and when anyone became so for
ward as to inquire his name, he either
gave non-committal answer or initiated
the proverbiaI clam. But 1t was discov-
cred yesterday.
Curly was willing TO talk a little
yesterday and said that he had been fol-
lowing the circus since he was 13 years
old, and he is now probably on the shady
, side of 25. He said that Miss Fancy's'
real name was "Fanchon," and that her
former owners had wished" the name
Fancy on her.
Fancy's Wonderful Tricks
The reporter casually mentioned that
ne had heard she could do all sorts of
wonderful tricks. miss Fancy said she
did not want to attempt any of them
Just then. for she was out of training,
not having gone through her repertoire
held a conversation with her in some
language that was probably imported from
India. however, and she consented to
do her stunts" The keeper laid him
self prone on the ground and spoke to
Miss Fancy in the aforementioned Ian
guage and she got down on her all fours
and came within hairsbreadth of putting
her weight upon his body Fhe little
group standing near gave a gasp of
amazement and dropped back
She then removed her huge bulk from
"Curly's' body and the onlookers heaved
a sigh of relief Miss Fancy grace
fully did a two-step about the tent in
side of the auditorium, but when she was
asked to do the tango refused.
Rolls the Ball
In addition to these dances Miss
Fancy does a rolling the ball "stunt, -
which Is sure to please the children She
rolls ball around the arena, or wher-
ever she happens to be, and maintains a
position of dignity on that part of the
ball which is looking skyward. She also
has musical tastes and plays large
number OF thoroughly delightful numbers
on a bunch OF tinkling bells.
Curly" said that he intended to re-
hearse the lady friend of the children in
all her tricks and have her in good con-
dition to perform at the zoo next sum
mer. He said that the city would have
to furnish the props" necessary for her
various stunts" but as the cost will
! be slight it will occasion no inconven-
ience TO the city fathers. A ball, a flat
bottomed barrel and the bells are all
that is necessary. The Keeper, of course.
is an essential, for she does her great
feat when she lies down across him with
out actually putting any weight upon him.
Miss Fancy" says she is ,displeased
with her quarters at the Gipsy Smith
auditorium. Some "Peeping Tom lifted
the canvas on the south side of her tent
and attempted to get view of her Sun
day night and she threw a chair at him.
The keeper was sleeping on the north
side of the tent and Miss Fancy was
on the south side, when the man attempt
ed to get a glance at Miss Fancy" and
did not know of it until he was apprsed
nv Miss Fancy throwing the chair. He
looked up in time to see a head being
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