Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-17


state from nonpaying view and,
repairing to the hay loft, de-
clared the exhibition open to the pub
lie. Oral proclamation was made by
Sam, and then the lettering multitude
was enticed by the seductive strains Of
band, the two partners performing
upon combs and paper, Herman and
Verman upon tin pans with sticks.
The effect was Immediate Visitors
appeared upon the stairway and sought
admission. Herman and Verman took
position among the exhibits, near the
wall; Sam stood at the entrance Off
ciating as barker and ticket seller,
while Penrod, with debonair suavity,
acted as curator, master Of ceremonies
and lecturer. He greeted the first to
enter with a courtly bow. They con-
sisted Of Miss Rennsdale and her nurs-
cry governess, and they paid spot cash
for their admission
walk in, lay-deeze; walk right in.
Pray do not obstruck the passageway,"
said Penrod in a remarkable voice.
pray be seated. There is room for
each and ALL"
Miss Rennsdale and governess were
followed by Mr.. George Basset and
baby sister (Which proves the perfec-
ton Of Georges character) and six Or
seven other neighborhood children, a
most satisfactory audience, although,
subsequent to Miss Rennsdale and gov
erness, admission was wholly by pin.
Gent il-mun and lay-deeze," shouted
Penrod, Il will first call your attain
shon to our genuine South American
dog, part alligator" He pointed to the
dachshund, and added, in his ordinary
tone, That's him." Straightway re-
assuming the character of Snowman,
he beloved: "Next, you see Duke, the
genuine, full blooded Indian dog from
the far western plains and Rocky
mountains. Next, the trained Michi
gan rats, captured way up there and
trained to jump and run all around
the box at the-at the-at the slightest
pre-textv' He paused, partly to take
breath and partly to enjoy his own sur
prised discovery that this phrase was
in his vocabulary.
cat the slightest pre- teXt!'' he repeat
ed, and continued, suiting the action to
the word: II will now hammer upon
the box, and each and all may see
these genuine full blOoded Michigan
rats perform at the slightest pre-teXt!
There! (There's all they do now, but I
and Sam are goin' to train 'em lots
more before this afternoon.) Gen-til-
nun and lay-deeze, 1 will kindly now
call your at-tain-shon to Sherman, the
wild animal from Africa, costing the
lives of the wild trapper and many of
his companions. Next let me kindly
microbes Herman and Verman. Their
father got mad and stuck his pitchfOrk
right inside Of another man, exactly as
promised upon the advertisements out
side the big tent, and got put in Jail.
Look at them well, gen-til-mun and
lay-deeze. There is no extra charge,
and re-mem-bur you are each and all
now looking at two wild tattooed men
which the father of is in jail. Point
Herman. Each and all will have a
chance to see. Point to sumpthing
else, Herman. This is the only genuine
one fingered tattooed wild man. Last
on the program, gen-til-mun and lay
deeze, we have Verman, the savage
tattooed wild boy, that can't speak
only his native foreign languages.
Talk some, Verman."
Verman obliged and made an instan-
taneous hit. He was encored raptur-
ously again and again, and, thrilling
with the unique pleasure of being ap
preciated and misunderstood at the
same time, would have talked all day
but too gladly. Sam Williams, how
ever, with true showman's foresight.
whispered to Penrod, who rang down
on the monolOgue.
"Gen-til-mun and lay-deeze, this
closes our pufformance Pray pass out
quietly and with as little jostling as
possible. AS soon as you are all out
there's goin' to be new performance,
and each and all are welcome at the
same and simple price of admission.
Pray pass out quietly and with as lit
tie jostling as possible. Re-mem-bur
the price is only 1 cent, the tenth part
Of dime, or twenty pins, no bent ones
taken. Pray pass out quietly and with
as little jostling as possible. The Scho-
field & Williams military band will
play before each pufformance, and each
and all are welcome for the same and
simple price Of admission. Pray pass
out quietly and with as little jostling
as possible"
Forthwith the Schofield & Williams
military band began Il second overture,
in which something vaguely like a
tune was at times distinguishable, and
all Of the first audience returned, most
Of them having occupied the interval
in hasty excursions for more pins, Miss
Rennsdale and governess, however,
again paying coin of the republic and
receiving Difference and the best seats
accordingly. And when a third per-
Torrance found all Of the same invet-
crate patrons once more crowding the
auditorium and seven recruits added