New-York tribune., 1921-12-18

ly object in alcohol which he declared to be
the head Of Guiteau, the murderer of Garfield. 4
He retained the snakes, however, as a sop to T
the lower order of intelligence, and one of
these bit him on the thumb so ferociously that
the member had to be amputated and was
afterward conspicuously displayed in alcohol
as one of the assets of the museum. Worth
afterward removed to the old Argyle rooms,
premises the corner of Sixth Avenue and
Thirtieth Street, and also had museum at
Coney Island. | think he was conducting d
similar place of entertainment in a small
Western town at the time of his death few
years ago.
AS the interest in human and other curiosi
ties declined museum managers had recourse
to dubious enterprises carried on behind closed
doors. Here phrenology known technically as
skull grabbing" was practiced by experts on
smpe-minded victims. The scientist, having
lured his prey into his lair, would place him
in chair, seize his head and pronounce an
euogy we'll calculated to please. "My friend,
you have a very large bump of intelligence
and another of benevolence that quite sur
prises me. fear you are great hand with
the ladies, for your bump Of attractiveness is
highly developed. I don't know what your
occupation is, but your self-esteem is so small
in comparison with your talents that you are
not taking the place in the world that you
ought to. / quite interested to note that
your head is shaped very much like that of
President Cleveland, whom / examined not
long ago. Two dollars, please"
Meanwhile, the professor had artfullv
touched button that brought into view lust
behind the victims back sign, on which the
s =
to which he now pointed with firm assurance
The envelope game was another source of in
come, and one that appealed to the sporting
instinct that dwells in nearly every breast
The victim induced to select an envelope
IN the box containing a large number of them
on the promise that the lucky ones would
entltle him to large money prizes Nobody
was ever known to win anything at this game,
fact that accounts largely for it's long con-
tlnued popularity in our sophisticated COM
munity.
To the prevalence of these two swindles the
decline and fall of the dime museum have
been attributed by many local philosophers,
while others maintain that when the genuine
freaks gave out and fake ones were substi-
tuted the inevitable end was in sight, Ger
tain it is that there are no more dime mu-
seums IN New York, although there is one
still maintaining its existence at Coney Is
land This is not to be wondered at when
we remember that the island has long been
house of refuge for dereicts of all sorts
1t is to those sandy shores that many oldtime
players, gamblers, crooks and other human
fotsam and jetsam repair in order to end
their days, and there many fashy career
has reached its finish. Machinery Hall, one Of
the attractions of the Centennial Exposition.
was taken apart and moved to Coney Island
at the close of that memorable show, and at
one end of it was later installed the proscenium
arch of Booths Theater as the framework of
representation of the Falls of Niagara.
think it still remains to gladden. the eye of
the antiquarian. Here, too, dime museums
fiourished while they were still on their last
legs in New York, and during the winter
months the human curiosities turn their hands
to anything they can find to do. Once, in
the off season, | seated before the door
of a saloon an individual whose Oriental face
seemed strangely familiar, and asked Chi
nese laundryman who he was, only * learn
that he was the Siamess, prince whom had
often seen in a local museum.
Him cookee in winter!' exclaimed the
Celestial, and added, Summer time workee
in museum Sittee on platform, Mclean ma q
lookee at him.
s'Why does the Mclean man gaze upon
him?" l inquired innocently as though /
had never done so myself.
Dunno he made answer, with gesturs
and look indicating that the habits of tbs
American people were not worthy the serious
consideration Of any wiss man from tie East.