Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24
THE BLUE HIPPOPOTAMUS
Continued from page 10

JfO"
l explained as well as could that, while
| had the utmost respect for the Wells &
Howe tendencies toward longevity, the
Mighty Harkins Show was not being run
for their benefit, and to illustrate the point
that neither Sam nor l cared what opposi-
ton circusmen thought of our wares l asked
if they had enjoyed the melons at Melrose
They WINGED at that, and l went on to ex-
plain the newest acquisition of the Harkins
menagerie. Carefully emitting all reference
to the recent epidemic among the animals,
and neglecting to mention the East Indians
connection with Harold's hue, l insisted
solemnly that we had blue hippopotamus,
that we had been exhibiting him to excited
thousands for the last two days, that he
would be exhibited every day for the next
week, and would be the cynosure of all eyes
at the windup performances in New Orleans.
l didn't say anything about the King of
Abyssinia, because knew that stuff wouldn t
go; but l did say the beast was blue, and
that Wells & Howe could run up to Tex
arkana, Alexandra, or Shreveport and see
him, or they could sit tight and wait until
the circus train arrived and Harold burst
brilliantly on the startled gaze of the inhabi-
tants of the Crescent City.
whats more to the point, Gentlemen"
copies of his correspondence with you and
asked me to say in case l met you that he
would consider no price below his original
figure, one hundred thousand dollars. Don't
think that he is anxious to dispose of a
property that will show seasons profit of
close to seventy-hve thousand dollars. Why,
the blue hippopotamus alone is worth more
than you offer for the entire show! Look at
this telegram
showed them the wire from the vaude-
vile manager. Actually it was pathetic to
watch their eyes water as they read it..
Twenty thousand dollars for ten weeks!
@Listen!" said Wells, without even looking
at Howe. Il think you're stringin' me; but
blue, or even if he's red an the color'll stick,
we'll buy your show at your own figures!
Damme if we won't! Eth, Bill?'
Af 'e's even pink said Howe. HBut
We'll wait right ere an see if e fades twixt
now an the seventh Eth, Fred?"
Wells said that was exactly what they
would do,-wait for the show to arrive, then
examine the beast, and if he was blue, yell
low, red, pink, any color but black, and at
the same time healthy, Harkins could have
his money before the parade started.
shook hands with them, said l would wire
Mr.. Harkins to that effect, and rejoined
Jack and the reporters.
@Just a minute, young feller," Wells said
to me as l was about to mingle., How
about us wirin' Harkins an askin' if that
hppo's blue?"
go ahead" told him.
Several days later l saw Sans reply. 1t
read:
WELLS G. Howe, New Orleans.-Not blue.
Bluer. (SigneO HARKINs.
Two of the reporters struck Jack and me
as being aces. One in particular, New
Yorker who had been stranded when ahead
of theatrical company, possessed only one
ambition,-to grab enough of the coin of the
realm to insure him frst-class passage
back to Herald Square. I excused myself
for moment from the rest of the throng,
and on the very table Wells & Howe and
had just vacated spread before these two
young men the kilograms had received