“Now I open the door, like this,—”
“Oooh-oo-ooh-oo-ooh-oo-oo!” With a great flapping and crowing, an immense rooster of decidedly human characteristics hopped out and flopped around amid loud manufactured applause, while clown number two pretended to faint and was carted off by two circus hands on one of the trucks used by the janitor for trunks.
A few more rather silly imitations of circus jokes followed, for busy girls could not be expected to be too original; then the elephants were announced, by the ringmaster, who wore a black velvet riding suit. This elegant gentleman cracked a whip and strode around in true histrionic style.
“Any little boy or girl who wants to may now have a ride on the elephant. These are the most docile elephants in captivity!”
In came the elephants, led by a deeply dyed native clad in a silk turban and a flowing kimono appropriately draped. They came slowly by necessity.
(“Now, when I step with my right foot, you step with your left, and then it will look natural.” Thus spoke the first section of elephant.
“Well, how can I do it? It joggles so!” returned rear section.)
“Now, what little boy will come first?” asked the ringmaster in honeyed tones.
One of the fattest little boys in the front row came ambling shyly out, his fingers in his mouth.
“That’s nice, Johnny; which elephant do you want to ride on?”