MAKING A LIVING SOMEHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAKING A LIVING SOMEHOW.

The Critic (New York) says : —A short, time ago a young man who lives in a neighbouring town happened to bs passing a few days in Florida. Wandering through the streets one evening, his eyes were attracted by the flavins? lights of a dime museum ; and, having nothing else to do, he paid his dime and walked in. There was not much to look at; but his ears caught the sound of clanging chains and a squeaking voice gibbering as monkey's gibber. A curtain flapped in the breeze, and on the curtain was painted in startling capitals : The wild man of Siberia, caught with great difficulty while fleeing from his pursuers." The young man pulled aside the curtain and entered the tent; and there discovered, secured in an iron cage, a hideous little monster, with a big head and misshapen legs, who was beating at the bars, rolling its eyes, and giving vent to harsh noises in an unearthly language. There was something strangely familiar about this odd figure ; and a closer inspection solved the mystery. Going close up to the cage, he whispered through the bars, " W hat the price of fish at Ivinkora, Colonel? The wild man stopped his noises, and, looking about the tent with frightened eyes, said appeal in gly : "Don't give us away, boss. There ain't no flsh-ketching in de winter time, an' I got to make bbbin' a somehow ; so I got to trabble with this yere show as de wild man ob S'beerer. Don tgive us away, boss." The young man passed on and held his peace. As lie left the tent he looked back. Two or three half-frightened people were peering curiously into the cage, and the wild man was beating the bars, rolling j his bloodshot eyes, and mumbling his out- [ landish gibberish.