46
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN. PORTLtAND. 3IAY 6, .1906.
i t
They took the stand to box a bout but neithei could knock the o ther out.
THE ROOSEVELT BEARS
. , it'opyrlb'lit, 190t). by Seymour Baton. All rights reierred.)
BY PAUL PIPER
NO. XVIII. THE BEARS SEE A CIRCUS.
"What is this show on the boards I see;
With all these pictures?" said TEDDY-G.
"The print ins: there," said TEDDY-B,
"Reads CIRCUS and MENAGERIE;
At Madison Garden with ring and clown,
The biggest thing this week in town."
When they went up stairs to their room to see
Which lad they'd choose their guide to be
This plan was proposed by TEDDY-G :
"These thousand boys we saw today
Should have at least one good day's play;
I'd like to buy each lad a seat
And give the crowd this circus treat.
Where we get our cash the lads may guess ; .
Here's another package by the night express;
AVhile the money lasts I'm in for fun;
We '11 start for home when our cash is done. ' '
Said TEDDY-B, "Your plan's not bad;
I'll send a telegram to every lad."
And this is how the message read
Which they sent that night as they went to bed--
"Meet ns tomorrow and don't be late,
At Madison Garden entrance gate;
At two o'clock; and come prepared
To work your best and not get scared.
The job is yours for half a day,
From two till five at double pay ;
Bring sure this message for us to see."
Signed TEDDY-B and TEDDY-G.
The Bears were up with the sun next day
To make their plans and prepare the way
For an afternoon of circus play.
They went around at half-past eight
To buy the seats at the Garden gate.
"I'd like to rent," said TEDDY-G,
"Your circus and menagerie
For the afternoon to give a show
To some deserving boys I know."
"We'll buy the seats if you'll agree
To let us perform," said TEDDY-B;
"We want to try a thing or two
To show the boys what bears can do.'
"We'll sell you seats," the man replied, '
"And let. you do some things beside:
You can ride a horse around the ring,
Or act as clowns or dance or sing,
Or lift big weights or ride a wheel
Down a steep incline on a rope of steel."
The seats were bought ; the terms were made ;
The program fixed and the money paid;
And the Roosevelt Bears were" given a place
With performing lions and chariot race.
At two o'clofek the boys were there,
A thousand strong from everywhere.
TEDDY-G explained to each the fun
And gave, a ticket to everyone.
They marched around the menagerie
' - '
But the play that caused the biggest laugh was when TEDDY-G on a big giraffe.
And TEDDY-B on a camel's hump, tried which could make the highest jump
While TEDDY-G on every trip -on the slanted back couldn't get a grip,
And his tumbles came so thick and fast that the camel beat him out at last.
And saw the animals with TEDDY-B
Who talked to those from foreign land
In words the lads didn't understand.
He shook the paw of a Russian Bear
And asked how things were over there.
The British Lion, a restful heap,
In mind content, was sound asleep.
TEDDY-B reached into the lion's cage
And twisted his tail till he boiled with rage.
And thus they went the circus round ;
And saw each cage upon the ground.
At three o'clock they filled each seat:
There was Billy White and Muddy Pete
With Cribs, his dog, and Homer West
In Summer suit the very best ;
And Andy Clark and Tommy Gore,
And Edward Brown and hundreds more ;
And every boy with a Yankee flag
And a box of candy and a peanut bag:
The flags to wave when the tricks were done,
And peanuts to throw around for fun.
The band struck up and the show began;
The clowns made fun and races ran;
The horsemen rode around like Kings;
And riders jumped through paper rings;
And athletes 6wung on rope and bar;
And a hundred things, both near and far,
Went on at once, high up and low;
The biggest kind of circus show.
Like heroes of a hundred fights
The Roosevelt Bears in colored tights
Stepped in the ring at half-past three
To please the boys and let them see
That they could jump or dance or sing
Or ride a horse or anything. .
The fellows cheered with all their might
As the Roosevelt Bears bowed left and right.
The Bears were sport from the very start;
They stopped at nothing and did each part .
With such success, so quick and smart,
The' applause rang out both loud and long
From every side of the happy throng.
TEDDY-G went up and rode the wheel
Down the incline on the rope of steel ;
While TEPDY-B at break-neck speed
Went round the ring on a fiery steed.
They took the stand to box a bout
But neither could knock the other out.
But the play that caused the biggest laugh
Was when TEDDY-G on a big giraffe,
And TEDDY-B on a camel's hump,
Tried which could make the highest jump,
! Or make the best speed around the, track
From start to finish four times and back.
TEDDY-B couldn't make the camel turn
And at everv round he had time to burn,
While TEDDY-G on every trip
On the slanted back couldn't get a grip,'
And his tumbles came so thick and fast .
That the camel beat him out at last.
And thus they played for an hour or less
And then went back to a room to dress.
. By TEDDY-G, the lads were seen,
When the show was o'er, on Madison green-.
He gave them each a dollar pay
For the work they did for them that day.
Muddy Pete with laugh nearly split his ribs '
When a dollar each went to him and Cribs. ,
- - (Continued next Sunday.) J-
The British Lion, a restful heap, in mind content, was sound asleep.
TEDDY-B reached into the lion's cage and twisted his tail till he boiled with rage.