Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-13
CHAPTF"
FTeal,s and

(NJhA NbL lDuSi' H.
- ing Of tom toms {" Jack ana
t,ret rs they rode upon Balky sans
hack into the circus sidcehow. lhe
children felt as though they were en-
,orinr n land Of mysteries.
And so they were, for all around the
cont mounted on platforms, were the
trsoks and wonders Of the world.
Directly in front OF Jack and Janet
were dancing savages from the wilds oil
Africa. Next to them was an albino
Girl with pink eyes and white hair.
Farther along was pirate from the
snanisb Main. tattooed with pictures
NJ ships and animals and mermaids.
Eeyond the pirate the children could
see other wonders--a midget, Filipino
Lnife .thrower. wild man from Bor-
mn a snake charmcr in den Of SER
nonts a magician who ate flaming balls
~ Are and a dozen more like marvels.
Rslky Sam was so glad to see the
treaks and wonders he fairly danced as
be carried the children along the line OF
nIatforms, He had been a trick circus
,nule and SO he had seen sideShows be-
fore and had friends among the freaks.
To Jointed Mule and Wooden Elephant,
however, the sdeshow folks were just
as strange as they were to Jack and
Janet.
The sideshow manager didn't give
then, time to see all the freaks and
wonders. He led them to three empty
spaces among the platforms. and there
he had them take their stand.
"This way, ladies. gentlemen and
children cried the sideshow manager
to the crowd. Come right this way
and see Jolnted Mule, who eats glass
Ton. and Balky Sam, the trick mule,
who counts and spells"
The crowd came focking around at
this call, staring and marvcling. Jointed
Mule ate glass, nearly filling his hol-
low insides. Wooden Elephant let folks
lab Spins, needles and knives into him.
and never paid the slightest attention
TO them. although he did cuff with his
trunk one curious lad who scratched
his painted hide with a nail. Wooden
Elephant was very proud of his painted
hide.
Balky Sam won quick favor with the
crowd, for he counted the ages OF
women. told how many cents were in
dimes and quarters held up before him.
and spelled words with letters hung OH
a banner behind him.
All the animals made big hit, and
the sideshow manager was glad to pay
the peanuts, candy. oats. oil. paints and
other things he had promised TO the
children, the mules and the elephant.
While the show was going on Jack
and Janet kept glancing over the freaks
~, owl q
anxious to see if the fat lady was as
fat as her pictures, and Jack wanted
to know if the giant was really as tall
as a house.
And Janet found that the fat lady
was really fatter than her pictures, and
Jack saw that the giant was so tall
that his head bumped the top Of the
tent.
Janet liked the fat lady the moment
ahc saw her, because she seemed so
Jolly and good -natured. And Jack liked
the giant because he seemed so big and
strong. So as soon as the crowd passed
along to the other end Of the tent Janet
went over TO make friends with the fat
lady. and Jack climbed up the pole Of
the tent so he could talk to the giant.
The fat lady smiled ut Janet, then
she talked to the giant and she gave a
huge Sigh.
"Why do you sigh as you smilr?"
asked Janet, for tho fat lady, in spite
Of her jolly, good natured look, seemed
70 be In deep trouble.
THAT is secret" whispered the fat
lady. Il am charmed fat lady. Climb
up close and I will tell you all about
t."
Tomorrow you will learn the ro-
mantle secret the Fat Lady whispered
TO Janet, and the story Of how she was
charmed