New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-24
THE BLUE HIpPOPOTAMUS

explained as well as | could that. while
| had the utmost respect for the Wells x
Howe tendencies toward longevity, the
Mighty IIarkins Show was not being run
for their benefit, and 20 illustrate the point
that neither Sam nor | cared what opposi-
ton CircuSmcn thought of our wares | asked
if they had enjoyed the melons at Mclrosc.
They WINGED at that, and | went on to OK
plain the newest acquisition OF the Harkins
mcnageric Carefully emitting all reference
to the recent epidemic among the animals,
and ncgccting to mention the East Indians
connection with Harold's hue, | insisted
SOlcmnlv that we had a 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 cynoSurc Of all eyes
at the wnd-up performances in New Orleans.
| didn't say anything about the King OF
Abyssinia, because knew that stuff wouldn't
90; but | did say the beast was blue, and
that Wells & Howe could run up TO Tex
arkana, Alexandria, 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,
said |, "Mr. Harkins has furnished me with
copies of his correspondence with YOU and
asked me TO say in case | 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 scvcnty-tive 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 1t was pathetic 10
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
If you amt, if this ere hippo is on the level
blue. or even if he's red an the color'll stick,
well buy your show at your own figures
Damme if we won't En-, Bill?"
If 'e's even pink" said Howe. But
We'll wait right ere an see if e fades twixt
now an the seventh. Eli, 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. |
Mr.. Harkins TO that effect, and rejoined
Jack and the reporters
Just minute. young Teller, Wells said
20 me as | was about % mngle. How
about us wirin' Harkins an askIn If that
hippo's blue''
$50 ahead, | told him.
Several days later saw Sans reply. It
read:
yVp,,e g. tIo,.r ~. OIL. ". H.
Bluer (Signed) HARKINs
Two of the reporters struck Jack and me
as being aces. one in particular, a New
Yorker who had been stranded when ahead
OF a theatrical company, possessed only one
ambition, to grab enough Of the coin Of the
realm 20 insure him a trst-class passage
back % Herald Square. | 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 falayr.,rr- I had received