The New York herald., 1922-04-06
JUST GOHrO STOP
CALLIN EN- FREAKS
Human Odities in Circus De-
liver Ulimatum to Public
and Bosses.
INDIGNATION In GARDEN
Are Survivors, of Higher Civil
Iaion Than Apparent
in Spectators.
INDIGNATION In GARDEN

W1en the crowd faded from Madison
Squaf Garden yesterday afternoon and
1t was possible for ladies and gentlemen
tolpsrsue their affairs without intrusion
a scene unprecedented in the annals OF
thecircus took place. The flock OF hui
man oddities who have long. and 1t was
Supposed amiably. endured the name oi
Z >.sIlareaks." : met in rebellous mood in their
at.lier eff the main entrance and did
thin and there draw up and adopt set
OF resolutions having all the crachie oi
al ultimatum. to wit:
They die notify Messrs. John and
Charles Ringing. bosses Of the snow.
that
First, the vulgar and misleading ap-
pellation, Freaks" must be immeuia.eiy
deleted from all billing and advertising.
Second Messrs John and Charles must
exert to the utmost their influence with
the public to the end that patrons OF
the show shall hereafter desist from
using that hateful noun.
Moreover, the public was urged. pe-
Z sought and implored to stop pityinS the
beings whom 1t has mistakenly called
Freaks, the same being unwarranted ana
highly Objectionable in that IT seems 70
cast the stigma of abnormality over
company of high salaried and contented
/. performers who are in reality Survivors
of a higher degree of civilization than
env now discernble This clause Of the
resolutions BADLY ends: Resolved,
'rhat we wonder II the public, whose
attentions we welcome, but whose SYM
pathy is in.olerable, ever stops TO 'hink
who are the Freaks from our point OF
view"
or course Mr. william Johnson OF
Bound Brook n. j., whom millions ol
circusgoers have come TO know ana love
under his incongruous and atrocious
nickname Zip, presided over the indis-
nation meeting, as dean of the ex-freaks.
Mr.. Johnson, as is well KNOWN - inc
oldest living graduate Of La ConserVa-
toire de Musique of Paris, and he was
somewhat distraught yesterday because
OF the discovery that his $4,000 Stradi-
varius presented to him by Ole Bull
when the famous Scandinavian violinist
visited this country in 1856, had been
stoen--a gross piece Of villainy, which
ruined Mr.. Johnson's act both yester-
day afternoon and last evening.
or Course Zip Presided.
Ladies and gentlemen, precious col
leagues ALL Mr.. Johnson began, after
calling the meeting to order. the pur-
pose of this meeting is, Where Is South
Sea Island Joe?"
EXACTLY" said Laurilo, the man with
the revolving head. And who is he
foo?"
Listen" said Zip.
It was many and many year ago
In Kingdom by the
swore I'd get that Island Joe
and Joe swore he'd get me.
lie was Freak and / was a Freak
In that Kingdom by the sea.
But II got 20 we could hardly speak
Without acerbity. M
South Sea Island joe" said Zip.
dropping into the more difficult every
day prose. "stole my wife"
And what did YOU do. Mr.. Chair
man, inquired Mr.. Laurillo starting
to revolve the other way. this being his
method of avoiding migraine.
Zip laughed pleasantly and replied
II got even with him. I said to him,
South Sea Island Joe. II you ever do
that again I'll make you keep her. This
inelegant Jest sent the old gentlemen off
into a great fit of lanugher. which
changed abruptly to lamentation and
signs Of anger as Cliquot. the rubber
haired Pyg1ny. from the Kalahara
the indignation meeting.
II was learned that Zip holds Cliquot
responsible in some way for the theft
OF the Stradivarius. There is quarrel
between them which has already we'll
nigh disrupted the entire circus. Little
can be said about II beyond the state
ment of fact--and this merely offered to
indicate how little the public knows
what is going or behind the scenes OF
IT. cbov In, he hire ~ q
OF these simple folk OF ex-Freak Hall,
who faithfully do their stuff twice
day. though tragedy be stalking them
space.
Swap Theft Charges.
"Cliquot,' said Zip. as the bushman
Joined the circle. II know you. You stole
MY horse" Cliquot clicked like sub
way turnstile. this being his only mode
OF speech. "And you stole by Stradi-
varius." More clicks from Cliauot, sig
nifying. 1t was assumed, general de.
murrer. "Cliquot," pursued Zip. "Cliquot.
indeed! You are South Sea Island
joe" Zip then launched into TRADE
OF objurgation, quite out of his usual
character. and the scene became too
painful for further reporting. Indeed.
ii is with difficulty the typewriter Is per-
suaded to mention II at all.
In the CONFUSION SOlneDOuN. appdItuli9
Ajax, the Sword Swallower. rose TO a
point of order threw Zip bodily out OF
the room and declared Cliduof TO be the
duly elected chairman OF the meeting
seeing that the ex-Freaks we're deter
mined 10 side with the usurper. Cliquot,
as against their venerable dsan ana
mentor. Zip summoned his chauffeur
and rode to his club. where he prom
sed TO issue to-day lengthy statement
with documentary proof that the rub
bcr haired pygmy and South Sea Island
Joe are one and the same person.
Following the expulsion of Mr.. john
son the Human oddities quickly fin
shed the business OF the hour by adopt
lug the resolutions az aforesaid. and
vith the following additional clauses in
the preamble.
Whereas. the name commonly ap.
piled to us, Freaks, is not only
gross misnomer but. according to the
best legal talent, iibelous and
Whereas. said term or appellation
Is mighty distastcfu to us, mas
much as 1t tends to convey to the
immature mind suspician that we
are In some way abnormal; and
Whereas, all of us are In a posi-
tion to buy and sell the majority OF
citizen paupers who come In to shed
tear over us. and
Whereas. We regard the public and
not ourselves as on exhibition:
Therefore hc IL resolved" Then
follows the text of the resolution as
heretofore quoted. The paper. signed
by all hands. was presented to the
Messrs. Ringing AT second showtirne