Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1885 — Where Monstrosities Come From. [ARTICLE]

Where Monstrosities Come From.

Where do you get these freaks ?" asked a reporter of a dime museum lecturer during a pause in his eloquent and instructive address, describing the odities on exhibition. “Mostly from New York,” said the lecturer. “But you can trace their origin to all parts of the United States. The majority of these strange creatures come from the South and West During the summer season the circuses run across them, engage them, and after the season is over they generally make for New York.” “Why New York ?” inquired the reporter. “Because there are agencies established in that cjty tvhose business it is to get these freaks engagements throughout the country; Altera consultation with the agent, a plan of action is agreed npon. The agent thereupon advertises in the leading dramatic papers. Then he sends circulars to the different managers throughout the country. The manager notices the ‘ad,’ receives the circular, reads it carefully, and if the momstrocity possesses the necessary alluring qualities, engages it.” “Are there many foreign subjects on exhibition ?” ’ “No, they are mostly American products/’-: ■ “How many curiosities are there at present on exhibition ?” “Well, I hardly know. Probably thousands. There are fat women, fat boys, giants, skeletons, liliputians, armless and legless wonders, doubleheaded girls, etc. Besides there are hundreds of curiosities that "belong to the animal species.” “What salaries do these human curiosities command ?” “All the way from sls to $250 per week,” said the museum man, and then he turned away to resume the thread of his discourse to the crowd of gaping wonder-seekers. The origin of the dime museum is not known. Several well-known theadrical men claim to be the first to have projected such resorts. Since the beginning of the ptesent season there has been but one failure reported, and that was in a northern city. Every city of any pretention has its “Dime,” and all, it js stated, are making money. Outside of the curio hall there is the theatorium, where performances, are given twice a day. The class of entertainment includes opera, drama, comedy, vaudeville, etc. In the large cities, such as Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Chicago, the museums are kept open from 10 a. m. to 10 y. pi., and in the smaller cities only two performances are given—after-noon and evening.-- Washington Star.