Evening star., 1924-05-11
ead Moments the Ring With Wild Animals of the Circus
by CHARLES MAYER.

ny CHARLES MAYER.
A result OF my large haul in
~ sumatra. my animal house in
- Singapore was full for time.
= Tourists and English residents
usUd to come to see us and we were
glad 70 have them, but the natives
and Chinese coolies would have over
run US IL we had not charged them
cents FOR quick look around. The
gate receipts were used to buy fresh
meats for the cat animals, and when
that was paid for the cash on hand
went to the attendants. They were
good bArkers, and since my house
was in Orchard Row, practically In
the town, they managed to keep .
stream OF natives and Chinese walk
ing past the cages and stalls.
The favorite or the tourists was
Timar. Timar was my baby ele-.
phant, named for the sister OF the
Sultan OF Trengganu, the first wife
of the Tunku Besar. Timar was a
fine woman, and little Timar was a
wonderful baby elephant. When
had nothing better to do. took her
into the shade near my house and
trained her.
But when had been working with
her for about three weeks--and she
could not expect any sort of diploma
under foun-the Flying Jordans"
came TO town. The elder Jordan
brother looked once at Timar and
asked if she was for sale. Every
thing on the lots for sale," I told
him. He did not haggle at the price,
but paid me the $500 (Mexican) I
asked. She was worth II.
r TRIED to do the Flying Jordans"
another good turn. They had a
trick bicyclist with them. I saw this
fellow in the billiard room OF the
hotel flashing a large roll of bills.
took him aside and said to him: IF
you'll take q fools advice, you'n give
that money to the hotel clerk TO put
in tho safe. We've Chinese thieves
hsre in Singapore who could steal
your eyelids off your eyes without
your knowing it, If they happened to
be looveA"
Say, Mayer" he answered, TIN
not the sort pickpockets tackle"
A few nights after that he put his
wad Of money under his pillow and
the next morning It was gone. He
went out and bought a revolver and
went to sleep with that under his
head. In the morning it was gone!
My circus experiences taught me
that the owner Of good old Ameri-
can one-ring circus could have given
even q Chinese pickpocket hints on
how to annex coin and still keep out
of,tail. The cleverest of all at this
game was Posie O'Brien. One way
he made money was by leasing pick
pocket concessions. Three or four
fellows went along to do the work.
He protected them by pretending they
were regular hands, and they agreed
to split ffty-fifty every night. Then
came along a gang not used to deal
ing with Pogie. After the first nights
performance they handed him $40.
Pogie gave q snort, but he took IT.
The next day it was SO. and the next.
PoEie was disguised.
When the audience came pouring
out of the tent he was by the exit,
standing on lemonade table.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he yelled,
II understand there are pickpockets
around here. want you all to look
in your pockets, and IL you've lost
anything to tell me how much, and
I'll see what I can do"
One Of the pickpockets stared up at
him, his mouth hanging open. What
do you mean by it?" he mumbled.
PoS1e bent down to him. II mean
you fellows got to check up. I'm
tired o. your - $40"
Being here one day and there the
next, pogfe left trail of unpaid
bills behind him. Perhaps the closest
shave he ever had was in Troy, N. Y.
BY the time he got his poles stuck up
there, the sheriff arrived to attach
anything and everything attachaole.
But old Pegie drawled at him:
see this brass tag on this animal
wagon? And another one on that
cage yonder? Well, they've got on
EN-, Leased from Adam Forepaugh,
Jr.' If there was any place 1 could
have nailed a brass tag on the ele-
phant, you'd see he belongs to Adam,
too. The tent? That belongs to
Mary there-rny wife"
what do you own?" the sheriff
bawled.
The ticket wagon and them four
poles"
THE sheriff was red hot" He
looked dangerous. Pogie pacified
him. You let us parade, Mr. Sheriff,
10 drum up trade, and when we come
back wen give a bang-up show and
YOU can attach every doggoned cent
we take in"
The sheriff cooled down, and Pogfe
paraded his entire crew-everything
but the ticket wagon and the four
poles. He paraded it around Troy,
out of Troy, out Of the state and on
TO Meadvflle, Pa. 1t was the longest
parade on record.
Though Pogie was so tight-hsted,
he provided for his animals well and
let his one elephant eat from morning
to night. In looking out for the ele-
phant he showed his shrewdness, for
the elephant is the backbone, 50 to
speak, Of the real circus. I mean, Of
course, the Asiatic elephant.
An African elephant is quite q Diff
fsrent beast--less Intelligent, long
legs, great tapping ears, ungainly.
Jumbo was from Africa, but he spe-
ciaIized only in size. An animal from
Asia would have been better play
mate. To train or to help train a
good Asiatic elephant has
always been more fun than work for
me. What audiences never realize Is
that what looks like hard trick is
sometimes the easiest for the trainer
, to do.
A. avn nnlA IN the eleuhant's stock