 Jerry of the circus aren't these wagons could be at my land to be forced to stay in the dark Yeah, I know I sure hated it when I had the measles, but I guess the doctors know what they're doing No, what they're doing now. I've got the finest eyesight in the world. Never miss a thing Do have a nincompoop doctor send me to bed and then to keep me there I was trying to get mr. Annal to send you to the hospital What let the show go on without me or can't be done. I told mr. Annal it Tom and I could take care of you You see we've both had the measles. So it's safe for us. Oh, you did. Well, now I call that real friendly We're only too glad to Tom and I are buddies and we'd be proud to take care of you I hope Mr. Randall put that doctor in his place for suggesting the hospital. Well, you see now now come come my boy out with it Well, he said he'd see how you got along and how well Tom and I managed mr. Randall said he'd be by here later And better if he thinks he can put Colonel Charles Windham Alger in a hospital He's got another thought coming. It's lucky. Mr. Randall's had the measles to or he wouldn't be able to come and see you They say it's lots worse for grown-ups than for children. What is Gary the measles? No, I don't believe him son It's just that grown-ups fuss more than children. Yes, that's what it is kids don't complain Yes, you're a good sport Colonel Might as well be some always say when you're flat on your back you might just as well be cheerful Yeah, nothing else you can't be say Colonel bump says you know more about the old circus days and anybody else in the business Well now my son shouldn't be surprised if I do yes, sir My circus days carry me back to the time when circuses went so popular as they are nowadays Not by a long shot Jerry not by a long How do you mean Colonel didn't folks always like circuses? Well now Jerry I guess the young folks always did but the grown-ups. That's another story. Yes another story I had to run away after the first time I saw a circus the folks thought that I just gone to the dogs for sure No, I don't believe it. Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh, yes You see way before my time circuses weren't run by men like mr. Randolph No, sir and the old days all the scallowags in the world were supposed to be connected with the traveling shows Were they well now son some were some weren't the first circus I joined up with run by an old rough-in We called him old Tom. Yes. He didn't care much how we cheated the public. No, sir The more we cheated the better was his motto But if he cheated the towns folks, I shouldn't think he'd have trouble the next year son You hit the nail right on the head I tell you old Tom never dared visit the same town two years in succession. Well, what did he do then? Well, he kept stopping at different towns across the country and about the third year He'd figure they'd forgotten about the last time and he'd bring in another show. Did it work? Sometimes it did and sometimes it didn't I Remember one town though in the south that didn't forget. Yeah, they were sure laying for old Tom and his show When the circus tent went up all the rubes in town came down Pretty soon the roust about saw there was a fight brewing for sure and up went the cry Hey, rude. Yes, you could hear it all over the lots What did the hey rude mean that was an old circus cry Meaning a fight with the rubes or city folks was on but how could he ever give a show? Well, it didn't always fight Yes, it was quite an experience for me as a boy son quite an experience Then I heard about the sterling brothers outfit You know Jerry those sterling brothers did more for circuses in this country and any other people in the business Why they insisted on running a fair show they never cheated the public They advertised the fact that it was safe for women and children to come to the shows Yes, and if old John sterling or any of his brothers ever caught his ticket sellers short changing the public They were fired on the spot You mean to say they didn't used to give the right change not if they could help it No wonder circuses used to have a bad name. Yes. Yes Respectable folks tried to keep their children away from the excitement and dangers of the old circus tents Did you ever work for mr. Sterling? Did I did I well, I should say I did for most 20 years You did yes, siri happened like this Old Tom had been keeping our salaries back for a long time It was toward the end of the season when our show passed close to the sterling brothers show And I had already heard how they ran things So I did stole Tom for good and for all I decided to throw in my lot with these brothers Providing they would take me of course. He left without your salary. Yes. I sure did I figured the old geezer wouldn't pay me anyhow. What sure thing. I tell you son He not only rocked the public but he took every opportunity he could for holding back on his own people Well at the end of the season it was nothing for him to fire half the outfit then refused to pay I'm sure glad I worked for mr. Randall. He pays every week all the circuses do nowadays Jerry. Oh That must be Tom. Hi Tom. Hi Tom. Yeah, let him in Jerry. Let him in Hi Tom. I thought it was you. Oh, I thought it was about time the Colonel had something to eat. It is now Well Tom my boy. I was beginning to think the same thing Where should I put the tray Colonel Alger. The tray well now some seems like my lap would be the most convenient place Here I'll put a pillow back of you. There it is that better. Couldn't be better. Couldn't be better. Thank you. Thank you. That certainly smells tempting that time. I hope it's OK Colonel. Got a good appetite. Never been better my boy. Guess nothing but locked York to keep me from enjoying a meal. Now if you boys excuse me I guess I'll pitch right in. You're going in. Say Tom you sure missed it. What. Well the Colonel's been telling me all about the old days in the circus. They sure used to run things different than they do now. Yes. They sure did. Yes they did. I tell you boys the greatest man in the world for crazy stunts was P. T. Barnum. Yes he was the greatest bunker artist in the world. What's bunker artist. A man who's a genius at selling folks a joke on them could play more jokes on the public than any man who's ever lived and what's more Tom he could make them love it really. Yes sir I'll tell you boys it took a smart man to beat Barnum get anyone ever put anything over on him now and then but not often tell us one time and tell you sure that I'm not boring you boys I should say not oh gosh no well the best story I know was about the man who sold Barnum a cherry colored cat cherry color I never heard of a cherry colored cat neither Mr. Barnum so he bought it to the tune of about one hundred and fifty dollars. That's an awful lot of money for a cat. Yes sir I guess that's what Mr. Barnum thought especially after he saw the cat why wasn't it cherry colored. It sure was rusty black but but I thought you just said the cat was red. Oh no I just said the cat was cherry colored and so did the man who sold Barnum the cat. After all there are black cherries. I bet Mr. Barnum was you're mad. I reckon he was a bit surprised but I tell you it was hard to get the best of that man as it certainly was. You know what Barnum did then know what he added it to the side show as the only cherry colored cat in captivity. You mean folks paid to see that black cat. You bet they did and laughed themselves sick when they found they'd fallen for a gag. That's what dad used to say that Barnum put a lot over on the public but they loved it and were always willing to pay for it and then laugh at the joke on themselves. Do you boys know where the phrase white elephant comes from. Well it means having something you don't want doesn't it. It sure does and it comes from the time Barnum got a real white elephant and then didn't know what to do with it after he got it. Someone's coming. What's the story Colonel. Let him in. Mr. Randall. I was the patient. Not so patient Mr. Randall I'm sorry to hear that Colonel say Mr. Randall the Colonel was going to tell us about Barnum's white elephant and I guess I don't have to wait and you boys know it's almost time for the show to go on. We haven't been here that long. Good night and I told you what the mist and I'd only be a jiffy I tell you Randall these boys got me spinning yarns and I guess none of us realize the time. It's a dark in here. I know how the Colonel is once he gets started nothing will stop him. I'm sorry. It's all right boys run along. Oh and Jerry. Yes Mr. Randall is an airmail registered letter in my office waiting for you. There is. I wonder what it can be from. I don't know Jerry I didn't notice postmark. Say I wonder if it's about that safety deposit box of dads he seems like I'll never find out what's in it or it might be from Spike about getting out of jail say we better go. Thanks Mr. Randall I'll get the letter right away. Thank you for the stories and say Colonel remember about that white elephant story we'll be back later OK boys. Two mighty nice boys certainly are not Colonel we've got things to talk over first of all I've sent word on about the Russov trope you're going to let those cossacks ride at the Fordham race. That's a good idea of yours and I think we'll give it a try. Well now Randall I'm glad to hear you say that mighty fine working for a man with your imagination and good judgment. Yes indeed. Well I hope you'll continue to feel that way Colonel because my best judgment says right now that the right place for you right now is the hospital. I think it'd be better for you to get better care there. The circus go on without me. No sir you can't do that. Mr. Randall why in a few days I'll be as fit as a fiddle yes and raring to go. I know that Colonel but measles are contagious and the best thing to do on your life right on your life. I won't stare out of this wagon. I guess I can be quarantined just as snugly here is in a big house. I know Colonel I am and here I stay you can put me right on the flat cars not be just as comfy as well after all if you had the measles you wouldn't leave the show OK Colonel you win I didn't have much hope of getting rid of you anyway but I promised the doctor I'd try but you didn't make it.