People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1893 — SLAPPED THE GUARD. [ARTICLE]

SLAPPED THE GUARD.

Real and Dummy Policemen Confused In the Mind of a Stranger. The dummy figure that sits m the doorway of the Moorish palace, in the Midway, was recently the cause of some excitement and the arrest of a stranger within the gates. The dummy is dressed to represent a Columbian guard. As it sits in the

shadow of the awning it looks exceedingly natural, and to make the effect more realistic a mechanism works the thing so that every ten minutes the head moves from one side to the other. At other times its eyes stare straight into the eyes of visitors with that inquisitorial, severe and knowing air so common to the constabulary of the fair. Two men who had been drinking too freely of Midway beer accosted the figure and asked him some questions about the palace. He stared straight at them and never uttered a word. Another question was put to him in a louder tone of voice, but he deliberately and coldly turned his head away. The two friends walked away a little distance and reasoned together. One said: “I’ve heard of the impudence of these guards and I’ve a mind to go back and slap him.” “That’s right,” encouraged his friend; “let’s go back and slap him, and then if he says anything we’ll hit him so he’ll feel it” So they went back and one of them, with his open palm, gave the figure’s face a stinging slap. They were not long in sneaking away and getting out of that crowd. In the course of time, as is the custom toward dark, the figure was removed inside. Soon • after i the two friends came that way again, of course laughing at their own mistake. “I am going to show you how you did it,” said the one who had not done the slapping. A figure was in the chair. The second stranger approached and gave it a ringing slap on the side of the face. His surprise can be imagined when the figure, a sure enough Columbian guard, rose up and came back at him.—Chicago Post The San Francisco papers, working up enthusiasm over their midwinter fair, say they will have the Midway Plaisance among their attractions. It is interesting to note that this name, i which designated a certain rural driveway in our park system before the fair was dream of, is becoming to indicate a collection of all that is cosmopolitan, gay and irresistibly amusing. Mat “Well, she’s a perfect enigma, anyway.” “What is her latest?” May—- “ Why, she actually has cried for two or three days because her rich uncle died.”— Inter Ocean.