The Westminster Budget from London, Greater London, England • Page 15

DECEMBER 9, 1898 THE WESTMINSTER BUDGET 13 JAMES A. BAILEY. spare hat and BEHIND THE SCENES OF A1 GREAT SHOW. THE PHCENIX IN OLYMPIA. There were lights under the glass roof of Olympia at dusk on Saturday, and these tempted a representative of the Westminster Budget to go into the building.

A band is in full swing but the music we hear does not consist of the instruments ordinarily in use in the as fiddles, and pipes, and trombones, and cornets. No, it is a tune of true lahour that is being played and the bandsmen are sons of labour. As to the hai monies, the cry of the chisel follows the ring ot the hammer, the saw throws in its rasping note, the sw-ee-ping dab of the scene-painter's size-colour brush now and again joins in, and the snake-like hissing sound of the electric light carbon-candles like a Wagnerian arrangement for the through all. In the wings the enticing perfume of a ripe Havannah tickles your nostrils, and, half-hidden in the shadow, you notice a short, thin man in a Tyrolese thickish overcoat, and you recognise jn him Mr. James A.

Bailey, the object of our quest. His right-hand men, Tody Hamilton, G. O. Starr, and Charlie," are at his elbow in reality the opportunity is an excellent one. But, although Mr.

Bailey is enjoying his cigar, his eye is on the great iron curtain. It is just coming down for the first time since last April. The monster wheezes, then sighs, then utters a moan, and down it comes out of its shell, without a crease in it. Then Mr. Bailey comes out of his shell.

Perhaps, Mr. Westminster he remarks, "you would like to view how far we have got on with ringing the changes And in this spirit we begin our round. Raps out our informant, pointing to a monster tank, Water, this season, is to be our leading card. Here is the reservoir, just under the big iron curtain. tank is big enough for a shoal of dolphins to sport in.

It is 375ft. long by 40ft. wide, and holds 400,000 gallons of Besides the troupe of high will make its bosom and body their sports ground, the surface at moments will be covered with craft, from a Red Indian's bark canoe, a skiff, or a water bicycle, to a miniature man-of war. In fact, this giant tub will form the basis of two new and South America. Our act' will be Goney York's New facsimile, with the addition of all the fun of a water fair.

There's the drop. When I pause for a moment in front of it, I really fancy I am treading oh my own native sands. As a finale we shall give a picture of Santiago Harbour under raking fire--the American and Spanish fleets in full play at the fighting one just as grey as a seagull. Excuse me, when you come to deal with history, facts are what us U. struggle after.

So understand the vessels that put in an appearance in the memorable action will be there in infant form, of course. Time Yes. I anticipate each act will take up twenty minutes." 1 These acts, as you spoke another American at our elbow, are only the new Alpha and Omega of our gramme. We have a good many new crushers in between. We are going to riddle its dark corners with new ideas.

You remember the old attractions that the public fought to get a glimpse of when T. Barnum first visited the British Well, we are going to renew the deception." Professor Roltair has, I think, given James A. B. something that if the mummified inhabitants of the Great Pyramid were placed before it, even they would open their eyes. Our great illusion will be fixed right along there.

By old Hickleberry, don't ask how an illusion is manufactured. Humble citizens abvaj's leave that to a man who don't mind running off a humming fib. There will be some fifteen, more or less, of these beautiful illusions. I am given to guess, too, that you have never seen anything in creation more, lovely, except you have had a beautiful dream after reading Arabian Nights. Take care of the stairs.

We have not quite got a light" yet." We enter the Palmarium. Observe is our courier's remark, stands for freaks have grown like mushrooms. We have a new company coming. Please don't put such a question. Of course they are uniques.

Really, do you think that Mr. Bailey would scour the globe for an example that could be picked up for the asking? To London at least, on this side of the show, there will be some forty new attractions. To start with, there is Miss Mattie Lee Price, and she is about as magnetic as theneedle of aship's compass. Peter Sampson is also a new arrival. Part of his art A COMING SCENE IN THE RING, game of annihilation.

Oh! The boats? Here is one. Observe, it is just big enough for a baby elephant to make a couch of. All the models are worked byi electricity. In fact, the boats are turned out by the same engineers as made the models at the recent naval display at Earl's Court, and with some little improvements that experience has taught. The bull dogs of war will all be in THE NEW ARRIVAL OF FREAKS.

lies in breaking great cobble stones, in playing a game of twisting bars of iron, in fact in acting like a true descendant of the strong man of Israel of the days of old. His companion, who will stand at his elbow, is of the; dwarf Peter the small. How tall is he Let me suggest. Certainly his life-size portrait Would come readily on to a page of your Westminster Gazette. Peter weighs pounds.

If you have any muscle in your arms he can stand upright on your hand, Mr. Bailey has discovered a group of new Siamese twins I assure you they are elegant litttle girls. We have an image maker on the Eils. But she is one that does not require plaster for medium is soap. You, no doubt, have before now been at home with a mental wonder.

Well, we have the idea that our new representative on these lines is able to pass through a more difficult examination than anyone that has tried the 'act' before now. Another mental wonder who would even beat your Dr. Colenso or Barnard Smith at a thinking is Sol Stone, the lightning calculator. Though the most peculiar new freak of all is. perhaps, Miss Bella Carter more aqtually than any other girl she has her back hair growing right down her back, just like a horse's mane.

We have also a black giant on the from the depths of the Congo. Then there is Professor the paper makers discover his apparent powers half the mills will be shut down. And, by way of groups, our specially engaged trainers will prove to Londoners that cats can fact that some pussies have a very human vocabulary also that pigs are open to come under the Education Act, and that a special dog may be able to fully express portions of your Queen's English. Is that you No, it is only a portion of our, new ideas." We are indebted to Messrs. Barnum and Bailey for the courtesy of the loan of the thumb-nail sketches that accompany our gossip..