There was the balloon man in ill-fitting attire. His balloons were quite popular and were to be seen bobbing all over the room. “Toot” went the whistle. Girls dressed as children blew out paper snakes or other things supposed to be dear to the childish heart. Some bought “come-back” balls or supplied themselves with squawkers with which to make night hideous. Country beaus threw confetti at coquettish lasses, fearfully and wonderfully decked for the occasion, or took them to have their fortune told. A patent medicine man sold a lotion which he loudly proclaimed as warranted to take off freckles and sunburn “while you sleep”. So popular was this, although it called for the quarters, that the supply gave out and he was forced to sell the prescription, a real one, supplied by Evelyn Calvert’s Southern Mammy.
“Madame Zitani Will Read Your Past and Foretell Your Future.” So read the sign before a little tent. Inside was Eloise, sparkling in a bright scarlet dress with laced bodice. “Lady, I never saw your face before,” said she to Cathalina, who, with the never satisfied “Tommy”, had entered the tent, “but cross my hand with one simoleon and I will tell your past and reveal your future.” Giggling girls stood around while Eloise took Cathalina’s hand, soft and not much like that of the hard-working lady she represented, and made up an extravagant tale of woe.
“But you will overcome all your troubles, have money left you and soon have nothing to do but ride in your automobiles and aeroplanes!”
Cathalina had assumed a wondering expression, nodding her head in assent to every remarkable event of her past life as related by the solemn Eloise. “Listen to that Timmy,” cried she.
“Come on, Maw, I want to see the Fat Lady and the Boa Constrictor.”
Just then a terrific drumming was heard, and from a side door appeared “Susan’s Band”. Grace Barnard as drum-major lead the way, with all the motions appropriate to that office and some extra antics. The members of the band wore their regular “gym” bloomers, of which a great many were in evidence tonight, with military coats and hats. These one of the girls had borrowed from her brother, a student in a boys’ military school across the lake. Strains of familiar songs and marches were vigorously produced on combs with all the skill which attaches to playing upon that difficult instrument. Accompanied by the clashing of cymbals and drums (which, to tell the truth, sounded much like a combination of spoons and dishpans), they marched to the entrance of the main tent and were evidence that the performance was about to begin.
“Ten minutes to see the animals, ladies and gents, before the gr-reat performance commences! Two rings! The famous Slinger Brothers on the trapeze! Only three cents admittance! There will be two performances, one right after the other,—so don’t all try to get in at once, please!” This last was added in an unprofessional tone as a necessary precaution, for with the entrance of the band, it looked as if the entire house was starting to the show. The herald was supposed to be one of the proprietors of the circus, Mr. Barnum, in fact; but the shade of the real Mr. Barnum would have been much insulted if he could have beheld his representative. Checked black and white knickerbockers (adapted from an old suit skirt), a dark maroon velvet coat, white vest, red necktie, green kid gloves, blue spectacles, a fierce black mustache, silk hat and a cane, were striking features of his outfit. Girls and teachers had to look twice before they recognized a quiet girl of the upper class, who had been known chiefly by good work in the classroom. Her dark hair was turned straight up under the silk hat and gave a bobbed effect.
“Come, Mrs. Goodman,” invited Miss Randolph laughing at and with the startling looking showman who could not keep his face straight, but took off his hat and bowed low to the ladies as they approached. “Let us see what kind of a performance the girls have.”
The curtains were parted for them as they paid over their pennies, and they entered a space where there was sawdust scattered upon the floor with a little hay and a few cages made from boxes. Three remarkable elephants were swinging long trunks about. “Don’t lean on me so hard, please,” whispered the front section of elephant to the rear section. “My back is ’most broken,” was the reply, “and I’m nearly smothered!”
“Make a breathing hole here, and I’ll try to stand it if you can’t help leaning all your weight on me!”