The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-12-02

was the STANLEY way.
1.-THE big blowoff' of Sankey's stu
pendous circus, as its proprietor would
say, was undoubtedly La Belle, the
Lady of Lions. Splinters, the clown.
was a big hit too But La Bellies act
with the fierce great Nubian lion
Lancelot was the "blowoff' 1t was
the last act on the bill and sent the
crowds away thrilled and satisfied
OF herself. La Belle was new to the
show this season, and Splinters was
her husband. She was bold and hand
some, and Splinters, the clown, was
tormented with many a bitter pang of
jealousy through her coquetries = to
mildly describe it.
Sam Santley, proprietor of Sankey's
stupendous circus, was what was
known as working boss. Through
devious ways-luck at gambling and
by the exercise of sharp practices-he
had gained his way from card shark
to ownership of a show that bore his
name. Santley personally supervised
his own show from big top to cook
tent. He acted as ringmaster and an
nouncer when the star acts were on.
When Sam Santley published his call
for show people in the amusement
journals there was one line that al
ways was in the advertising. This line
read: "Boozers and chasers do not
write You will not last a minute
Translated from circus jargon this
nolT rv%% nf hof 6TsTlv1 r.
ards and male f1irts need not endeavor
to join with Sankey's circus. The rea-
son of this was that Sam Santley at
tended to all these matters of Bacchus
| and Venus himself
He sold beer TO the ''grafters" and
thinkers and .'razorbaeks''-that is.
the sure thing gamblers and pickpock
cts, grafters: the acrobats and riders.
kinkers. and the canvas men and other
employees, raZorbacks.
But when there was hard drinking
to be done with chat show Sam SAINT
ley did IT himself and got murderously
ana Lnen soddenly drunk, only TO be
up more or less red eyed and trembling
and yet alert and on the job when. the
big tops went up on the lot the follow
ing morning. And us for the ladies =
| the James he called them-Mr. SAINT
ley also monopolized the fair. Woe to
any of his circus people who trans
| crossed the bounds of strict morality
with his show. But with himself it
was another matter, and Sam Santley
looked with longing eyes on La Belle.
the Lady of Lions.
The show had reached Los Angeles.
playing up through Lower California
and the Texas border. Business looked
good, and Sam Santley himself walked
from the performers entrance of the
big top highly pleased with himself and
| the world in general. In the perform
| ers' entrance La Belle. the Lady of
Lions, had given him smile. Spin
tiers, the clown, had seen it, and his
! face had contorted in jealous hatred
under his bismuth makeup. Then Sam
| Santley had strobe to the privilege
tent, where his advertising men and
! the followers of the circus generally
met for social converse when ION the
| lot" When the performance was go
| ing on in the big tent there was a lull
| for the grinders door takers and shil-
| labars. not to mention the plate board.
| cane and doll rack men and other pur-
veyors of amusement out of and in the
| side shows This lulI was taken ad-
vantage of by dropping into the priv
ilege'' tent for bottled beer and per-
| haps brisk pass or two at craps.
All these things paid Sam Santley. He
| sold the bottled beer at profit, and no
| temporary game of craps was so short
but what the official pass picker"
| swept in Mr.. Sankey's percentage.
AT the entrance of the privilege
tent Sam Santley. in his ringmaster's
costume is accosted by grimy, sham
| bling. shaking man in stained and
tattered suit of paste marked overalls
whats the matter with you? Get
| out of the way" growls Santley.
The creature before him moistens his
| lips and mumbles:
81 am Williams. boss-Jack Williams
| / was out with the bill posting outfit
| don't you remember
why aren't you out with it now"
| snarls Santley. Got drunk. | suppose.
and quit the job cold, and now you're