Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-09
CHAMPION SWORD SWALLOWER.
MILE. EDITH, SAYS IT'S EASY
Twenty four / n C h
Blade Slides Down
Lady's Esophagus
Without Causin g
Her Slightest Incon-
venience
Perseverance overcomes all obstacles.

Perseverance overcomes all obstacles.
If you don't believe this, ask Mademoi-
sole Edith Clifford, champion sword-swal-
lower of the universe and the envy of
every other freak who sat in the side
show tent of Barnum & Balley's circus
over in Camden today and received, with
ill-concealed ennui, the gaping adulation of
country yolSel and city pumpkin alike.
Take, for instance, Mademoiselle Maxine.
She was the snake charmer, and pretty
blonde. BY all the laws of right and
wrong the supremacy Of the tent should
be hers. But no! Fake act" is all the
comment she received for wrapping several
miles of cobra around her body and kissing
the affectionate thing on the fangs.
Them snakes is sick with dope! Any
body could do that %.
It's the same with Eddie Masher, the
thin man (though Heaven alone knows
what he could mash; he weighs only "a
pounds) and "Fattie" Wilson, who tips the
scales at 600 and wears ruffles on his
sleeves.
God made 'em that way. It amt no
credit O. theirn they gets paid for it." was
the crowds unfeeling dletum.
But as for Mademolselle Clifford, to drop
Into the vernacular, she had the goods.
When a lady has a scratchy little feeling
on her diaphragm and isn't afraid TO re-
lieve IL by sending a 24-inch sword down
to investigate, you've got either to admire
her nerve or get out Mostly you get
out-that is to say. If you were a person
of delicate sensibillties. But such a one
should never go into a sideshow.
When Mile. Edith stepped blithely up to
her rack of cutlery and chooses the long
est and most sharp-toothed saw, the
crowd held it's breath.
"Roo-oo-oop walls the sldeshow or
chestra, more in sorrow than in anger
Edith bares her fangs and smiles as
charming n smile as woman who is
about to insert a buzZ-saw can.
"Roo-oo-oop Down it goes. No
fake about her. You see the muscles
in Mademolselle's neck stand out. No
sleight of hand. either, for the leopard
skin garb that the sword swallower has
conceived to be the proper dress for an
afternoon occasion such as this fits with
a glove-like adhesiveness that would make
any real leopard blush for shame. 1t is
also sans sleeve and sans neck. A pin
might possibly be concealed somewhere,
but sword. or saw, or pair of scis-
sors never
II bet the lady never cuts herself when
she eats her peas or don't have to mix 'em
with the mashed potatoes. either" said a
little boy in the front row, pale, with ad-
miration.
But 1 don't eat 'em that way" retort-
cd the sword swallower quickly. Dealing
with cutlery makes you sharp, and you
don't take any zip" from the onlook.
ers, either!
Tits awful easy to do" Mademoisele
told you If you were sufficiently inter-
ested and approached her with deferential
mien. ~ learned when was IA. I prac-
ticed for three hours with n duh sword
you mustn't have 1t too keen-and found
that it would slip down very easily. That
was in London. England. My father was
a captain in the British army"
Having a sword around the house all
the time must be temptation. But Mile.
Edith declared it isn't necessary to be
born in the army set in order to be as
accomplished as she. All you have to do
lis to buy some cutlery from her and a
set of instructions telling you how to lose
your respect for your esophagus The