The Washington herald., 1921-10-08
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NEW YORK. Oct Z. Coney
Island gave Its baliy-hoo dinner the
other night. The close Of the sea-
son marks this annual event. 1t is
attended by nre eaters sword
swaliowers. cannon ball juggiers,
and the others of that strange
brood of performers who stand for
long hours in the tented theaters
exciting the crowds,
At the end of the summer season
they scatter to all corners of the
globe. Some to Australia, some to
Switzerland. Germany. England and
France. And the FIRST touch of
spring brings them back to Coney
again. These people who spend
most OF their time hemmed in by
gawking crowds seek the omen
spaces. and many Of them have it,
tie farms.
learned from Bilboa that any
one may learn to swallow q sword
1t Is merely a question of practice
and endurance. He Is 81 years old
and has been swallowing bayonets,
rapiers and swords during the sea-
son ten times a day and is in per-
feet health. His only discomfort is
when he eats lettuce. 1t gives him
indigestion.
Pyro. a fire eater, was at one
time French peasant. He was
taught by a strolling fire eater to
master the art, and since that time
he has become a nomad, visiting al
most every civilized part of the
world. He has a son who Is q
French surgeon and distinguished
himself during the war.
Their life Is mostly drab, and
they rarely make acquaintance
outside Of their profession. And
they are temperamentalists and
very jealous Of each other. For in
stance. there is a frog man or a
contortionist who has not spoken
to his mate of the adjoining plat
form, who bends iron with his
teeth, for five years.
The salaries vary. The top price
Is $50 a week and the average is
about s45. All OIL them are ex-
tremely thrifty. They are sensi-
tive about being classed as freaks.
They call themselves performers
and want to be known as such.
One OF the biggest magazines
published in New York has a SUBJ
editor who recently gained quite a
bit Of fame as a short story writer.
He had graduated from an Eastern
college. He wrote ten short stories
and sold them. He was never able
to sell anything since, although he
worked hard and turned out much
material.
The naughty appearing young
bloods who are now wearing rim
less monocles never fail to win my
admiration. They have supreme
courage just to effect this dandyism
and I saw one strolling through
Bryant Park, where all the jobless
men loaf. That Is a sort of super
courage that fairly amazes.
The mayor Of Forty-fourth strees
Is Tenderloin character, who il a
throw back to the old days of ALL
night hacks. He has a huge liinou-
sine which he drives for those who
will pay $50 an hour. His patrons
are those who seek the cool of the
early dawn for fevered brows. The
mayor was at one time a buck-and-
wing dancer but chronic rheuma-
tism despoiled his grace. He al
ways suggests to his fares that he
knows a quiet little house out In
Westchester where one may get an
early breakfast of fresh-laid eggs,
country ham and sweet milk. But
he doesn't mention that he owns
the house and his wife provides the
food. Il make 'em think it is a
difficult place to get into" he says,
and that is all you need on Broad
way to bring the crowds on the
rum"