The Florida Humane Association
Report of the Proceedings
of the
TWENTY SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
of the
American Humane Association
(Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Children)
Held at Albany, NY
October 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1902
The President then appointed the following committees: Committee On Credentials—Messrs. W. K. Ricksecker, Charles H. Thurber, W. B. Flickinger.
Committee On Nominations—Mr. John G. Shortall, Illinois; Mrs'. Totten, District of Columbia; Mrs. Shaffter, Louisiana; Joseph G. Walter, Pennsylvania; Dr. W. O. Stillman, New York; Mrs. Caroline Earle White, Philadelphia.
Committee On Resolutions—Dr. Albert Leffingwell, Mrs. Huntington Smith, Miss Georgiana Kendall, Mrs. Mary T. Armor, and Miss Sarah J. Eddy.
The President introduced Miss Emma M. Stirling, of Pennsylvania, who had been invited to speak on the subject of children.
Miss Stirling said that for seven years she had been obliged to spend each winter in the far south; and had gone to see traveling shows. She had had an idea that there was wrong going on, and she was not disappointed.
She wished to direct attention to an atrocity practiced in these shows, which consists in interfering with the body, bones, muscles and framework of a child—a reproduction of what was known in England as the "boneless wonder." Before the "Dangerous Performance Act" was passed this horror was not uncommonly exhibited. Think what that is! A well formed, well grown little child is so tortured, under the name of training and manipulating it, as to alter the whole physical structure and turn it into the condition of a snake. The first time she ever saw the thing called a "boneless wonder" was in about the year 1880 at a country circus in Scotland. She was told the child was a boy thirteen years old; he looked eight or nine, and as if he had been made of india rubber. He was attired in green tights and spangles, and did everything he was never intended to do, twisted in and out, tied himself into knots, etc. Hosts of children also were used in the pantomime productions in the Crystal Palace, where they were used to represent toads, lizards, snakes, and so on. Then this "Dangerous Performance Act" was passed, to prevent them from going into lions' dens, to prevent flying trapeze performances, and to prevent the exhibition of the "boneless wonder."
Last winter in Tampa Miss Stirling's attention was attracted to one of these traveling shows, where she saw a little girl of about five years old, who was led out dressed in tights. From her performance it would seem that every joint must have been unjointed, and what she had gone through could only be imagined. Then some dogs and a pony came on for a performance. Something went wrong—the dogs failed to do something—and the trainer took one up and wrenched it. He was evidently losing his temper as fast as he could. Some of the audience were hooting, some hissing, and some encouraging. The speaker had appealed to Judge Harrison, of Tampa, who, when asked, "What protection has that child under the laws of Florida?" answered, "None, whatever." After being told of the "Dangerous Performance Act," he said, "If you will get me a copy of that act I will formulate an act and have it passed at the next session of the legislature."
At a show in a country town near Philadelphia, Miss Stirling had seen more than a dozen girls, the eldest certainly not sixteen years old and the youngest three years, made to ride the bicycle until perfectly prostrated. The faces of these children were dreadful. They were there till midnight.
Miss Stirling closed with an appeal to the Association to help her in rescuing the show children.
of the
TWENTY SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
of the
American Humane Association
(Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Children)
Held at Albany, NY
October 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1902
The President then appointed the following committees: Committee On Credentials—Messrs. W. K. Ricksecker, Charles H. Thurber, W. B. Flickinger.
Committee On Nominations—Mr. John G. Shortall, Illinois; Mrs'. Totten, District of Columbia; Mrs. Shaffter, Louisiana; Joseph G. Walter, Pennsylvania; Dr. W. O. Stillman, New York; Mrs. Caroline Earle White, Philadelphia.
Committee On Resolutions—Dr. Albert Leffingwell, Mrs. Huntington Smith, Miss Georgiana Kendall, Mrs. Mary T. Armor, and Miss Sarah J. Eddy.
The President introduced Miss Emma M. Stirling, of Pennsylvania, who had been invited to speak on the subject of children.
Miss Stirling said that for seven years she had been obliged to spend each winter in the far south; and had gone to see traveling shows. She had had an idea that there was wrong going on, and she was not disappointed.
She wished to direct attention to an atrocity practiced in these shows, which consists in interfering with the body, bones, muscles and framework of a child—a reproduction of what was known in England as the "boneless wonder." Before the "Dangerous Performance Act" was passed this horror was not uncommonly exhibited. Think what that is! A well formed, well grown little child is so tortured, under the name of training and manipulating it, as to alter the whole physical structure and turn it into the condition of a snake. The first time she ever saw the thing called a "boneless wonder" was in about the year 1880 at a country circus in Scotland. She was told the child was a boy thirteen years old; he looked eight or nine, and as if he had been made of india rubber. He was attired in green tights and spangles, and did everything he was never intended to do, twisted in and out, tied himself into knots, etc. Hosts of children also were used in the pantomime productions in the Crystal Palace, where they were used to represent toads, lizards, snakes, and so on. Then this "Dangerous Performance Act" was passed, to prevent them from going into lions' dens, to prevent flying trapeze performances, and to prevent the exhibition of the "boneless wonder."
Last winter in Tampa Miss Stirling's attention was attracted to one of these traveling shows, where she saw a little girl of about five years old, who was led out dressed in tights. From her performance it would seem that every joint must have been unjointed, and what she had gone through could only be imagined. Then some dogs and a pony came on for a performance. Something went wrong—the dogs failed to do something—and the trainer took one up and wrenched it. He was evidently losing his temper as fast as he could. Some of the audience were hooting, some hissing, and some encouraging. The speaker had appealed to Judge Harrison, of Tampa, who, when asked, "What protection has that child under the laws of Florida?" answered, "None, whatever." After being told of the "Dangerous Performance Act," he said, "If you will get me a copy of that act I will formulate an act and have it passed at the next session of the legislature."
At a show in a country town near Philadelphia, Miss Stirling had seen more than a dozen girls, the eldest certainly not sixteen years old and the youngest three years, made to ride the bicycle until perfectly prostrated. The faces of these children were dreadful. They were there till midnight.
Miss Stirling closed with an appeal to the Association to help her in rescuing the show children.
Report of the proceedings ...: Volume 28
No cover image
books.google.ca
American Humane Association - 1904 - Snippet view
Miss Emma M. Stirling, of Tampa, Fla., was then given the floor to tell of the conditions existing there. She stated that the Florida Humane Association was organized February 16, 1904, by charter under the corporation laws of the state, with ...
Religious telescope: Volume 72
books.google.caChurch of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) - 1906 - Snippet view
The attention of President Roosevelt was called to the situation by Miss Emma Stirling, an agent of the Florida Humane Society. Assistant Attorney General Russel, a Democrat and Southerner, has been selected by Mr. Moody to go toFlorida ...
No cover image
books.google.ca
American Humane Association - 1904 - Snippet view
Miss Emma M. Stirling, of Tampa, Fla., was then given the floor to tell of the conditions existing there. She stated that the Florida Humane Association was organized February 16, 1904, by charter under the corporation laws of the state, with ...
Religious telescope: Volume 72
books.google.caChurch of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) - 1906 - Snippet view
The attention of President Roosevelt was called to the situation by Miss Emma Stirling, an agent of the Florida Humane Society. Assistant Attorney General Russel, a Democrat and Southerner, has been selected by Mr. Moody to go toFlorida ...
