The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-01-11


". you have dragged me around on
the tourists haunts. but I'll be hanged
If I'll go up that tower"
Helen looked crestfallen. Il sup
posed everyone went there"
Then Wen distinguish ourselves by
not going. We've only got a few more
evenings and we're going to spend
them seeing things worth while, How
about the Magic City? Like to go
there tonight"
But thought Friday was the night
for that
Yes. Fridays the big night. but If
we sail Saturday We'll not want to
be up late. If we go at all we'd bet
ter go now
They had Just finished their dinner
in a rather smart French restaurant
on the Boulevard Capuchians. A few
moments later they were on a bus
marked THE Magic City
The day had been close and hot and
low the night air. seemed refreshnigly
cool. Soon they were speeding across
the Seine, the dark waters reflecting
the lights of the bridge in long, gold
en- streaks. Beyond was great mass
of illumination-The Magic City.
Even from distance Helen could
wheels and scenic railways which
made It look like Coney Island
AS they left the bus and walked up
hill toward the glittering entrance
they could hear the clash of brass
band, mingled with the grinding
music of the carousels. and the shrieks
of the passengers on the thrillin~
scenic roads.
Very BewiIdering.
Inside the panorama was bewilder-
ing and the crowd gay and noisy. Be
fore each side show stood a barker
shouting in French the wonders to be
seen within. None of the attractions
were over fifty centimes, ten cents.
But the marvels of the painted signs
that lured one to enter. The astound-
ing freaks, the monstrosities that
could be seen behind these cheap en-
closures of canvas and board for only
a few sous!
Regular 1d-fashioned side shows"
declared Warren pausing before
highly co1ored Autograph of cow
with five legs. This is the sort Of
thing that used to travel with Bar
NUNS circus. Just about ten years
behind the times over here"
do you suppose they really have
five-legged cow" asked Helen.
Warren grinned and poked some
change in the ticket window, receiv-
ing two pink checks which allowed
them to go behind the red curtain.
In a roped enclosure a brindle COW
was calmly switching her tail and
munching meal from a wooden buck
ct. At first glance she looked like
any other COW. The fifth leg which
had been so glaringly conspicuous in
the picture was not in evidence.
Then Helen saw attached to the fore
leg a small malformation. with half
formed hoof. It was only a few in
ches long and very Unlike the sturdy
limb that the arts had painted under
the COW in a sort of center table leg
effect.
We'll. that's more than I expected"
laughed Warren as they passed out.
''That'n come nearer TO being the pic
ture outside than anything else We'll
see."
Before the next attraction stood
girl in pink tights. with a bright
green satin sash and two writing ser
penis around her waist. BY her stood
a swarthy thick set man extolling the
marvels of the show.
Warren, who seemed in the mood TO
"take in everything" bought the
tickets But Helen, who hated and
feared snakes, entered reluctantly.
The whole show consisted only of
boarded enclosure which held a num-
Der of snakes, a tired looking monkey
and a monstrous turtle. The only ar
for viewing this menagerie
was to stand around the board fence
and look over.
Suddenly the girl in pink tights
came in from outside, leaped over the
~
Gathering UP a dozen or more Of the
snakes, she hung them around her
neck Then she called to the mon
key, who had ben sitting deiectedly on
the back of the turtle. He Gmped
over YEARLY and submitted TO having
the rest OF the wriggling snakes
wound around him.
Helen was filled with revulsion for
the performance and with pity for
the pathetic little money.
Not a very inspiring spectacle"