SHOW ATTRACTIONS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 8

SHOW ATTRACTIONS.

TOTO THE PIGMY.

The biggest draw so far amongst the sideshows at the Winter Show is Toto, the chunky little . pygmy from Central Africa, whose chocolato-coloured skin radiates the sheen of perfect health, and' whose sunny nature (though; he can speak only a . few words, in the Bantu tongue besides his' own unintelligible language of clicks) makes everybody feel the happier from seeing him (stated the Wellington "Post"). There is nothing of the monstrosity about Toto; rather he is a perfect specimen of manhood for his size. Dressed; in leopardrskin trousers, wearing ostrich feather armlets, he parades his little kingdom in long eighteen-inch strides, declaiming happily, and, being very musical, anon breaking into song. He turns on the gramophone, and: one of the funniest things is to hear him sing to it in as near English as : he can get, "My Old Kentucky Home." The "Prisoner's Song" provides the air for another vocal number, but the words and apparently the language are his own. Toto doea everything briskly,-and, therefore, now and again, he sits down, also briskly. His smile' is - exceedingly winning, and his big brown eyes and gleaming ivories add to the effect. He has a surprisingly strong voice for his weight, and a pleasing one. Deepchested, he can be heard outside the booth well above the medley of sounds in- the Show. Interesting details of native pygmy life are given by the showman, who confides that Toto's greatest 'Weakness is suits of street clothes. He now has Ave, and .is being : measured for' another; ' Hib plans for the future include the purchase- of ten wives, according to pygmy custom, when he has re« turned to his own land. Toto has personality. The pygmy will be on. view at the Ghristchurch Shojv this week..