299

ing army or the hosts at the echo of the
trumpet on the last day, the boys flocked to
their feet and made a rush. The blast came
from over by the Wild West show, and the
multitude imagined it was wanted there.
Whooping like hoodlums, they scattered like
a cyclone, filling the entrance to the ground
until it seemed there must be a panic.
Major Burke came out in a wild state, and
only by rapid action saved the crush from
tramping down those next the entrance. It
was two hours before the beginning of the
performance, but nothing else was possible.
The big gates were thrown up and in rushed
the mob. In five minutes as many thousand
had rushed into the grand stands, and in
fifteen minutes the wide-reaching rows of
seats were black with children. They didn't

[Drawing]
THE BIGGEST LITTLE BOY OF YESTERDAY.

care if they were too early, but put in the
moments in an uproarious din. They
stamped and squealed and wrangled and
quarreled and waited.

Pleased With the Performance.

In two hours the show began and then it
was the worst came. Each feature pleased
the multitude better than the one preceding,
and catching the noisy spell of the occasion
the performers added mightily to the din.
In the midst Superintendent Daniels and a
boy on crutches walked to the center of the
ring. The boy carried a red case, and when
Colonel Cody rode up to meet them the boy
handed it to the gallant fighter. The box
contained a handsome gold medal, and as
the recipient lifted it to view the whole
place was filled with an earth-shaking
shout. When the cheer had ended the
colonel said he could only ask the boys to be
good and happy, and then to the grown people
he said he had opened his gates to every
charitable institution in the city, and by
making the poor happy he added to his own
contentment. Presently the show was
ended and into the cars swarmed the youngsters,
homeward bound.

ing army or the hosts at the echo of the trumpet on the last day, the boys flocked to their feet and made a rush. The blast came from over by the Wild West show, and the multitude imagined it was wanted there. Whooping like hoodlums, they scattered like a cyclone, filling the entrance to the ground until it seemed there must be a panic. Major Burke came out in a wild state, and only by rapid action saved the crush from tramping down those next the entrance. It was two hours before the beginning of the performance, but nothing else was possible. The big gates were thrown up and in rushed the mob. In five minutes as many thousand had rushed into the grand stands, and in fifteen minutes the wide-reaching rows of seats were black with children. They didn't

[Drawing]
THE BIGGEST LITTLE BOY OF YESTERDAY.

care if they were too early, but put in the moments in an uproarious din. They stamped and squealed and wrangled and quarreled and waited.

Pleased With the Performance.

In two hours the show began and then it was the worst came. Each feature pleased the multitude better than the one preceding, and catching the noisy spell of the occasion the performers added mightily to the din. In the midst Superintendent Daniels and a boy on crutches walked to the center of the ring. The boy carried a red case, and when Colonel Cody rode up to meet them the boy handed it to the gallant fighter. The box contained a handsome gold medal, and as the recipient lifted it to view the whole place was filled with an earth-shaking shout. When the cheer had ended the colonel said he could only ask the boys to be good and happy, and then to the grown people he said he had opened his gates to every charitable institution in the city, and by making the poor happy he added to his own contentment. Presently the show was ended and into the cars swarmed the youngsters, homeward bound.