Unemployed

An elephant that can bow, flap its ears when requested, dance, lie on its master without crushing him is usually a distinct asset to a vaudeville actor. But when work is difficult to obtain, an elephant, black or white, becomes an imposing handicap. Many a vaudeville actor or circus man must starve himself to keep his animal going.

Last week Arthur J. McHugh, who supplements his Manhattan roofing business by running a stable for animals, revealed the financial difficulties of many an animal-act man. Roofer McHugh has at various times boarded lions, camels, zebras, elephants, kangaroos, snakes, bears, horses, dogs. He charges by the space they occupy. Room for small animals costs 50-c- per day. Elephants take up three times as much space as their total area because keepers must allow for trunk-swinging. An elephant's quarters cost from $1 to $2 per day.

Owners must provide food for their animals. Kangaroos are one of the cheapest animals to feed: they are content with a can of condensed milk, a few pounds of potatoes, a loaf of whole wheat bread daily. Good meat for dogs can be had for 10-c- a pound. But dog acts often require many animals. Last fortnight Bill Blomberg, vaudeville performer, stationed his 32 unemployed Alaskan huskies with Roofer McHugh, fed them about 50 Ib. of meat three times a week. Elephants eat the most. They need at least a $2.50 bale of hay every day. Living in Roofer McHugh's stable last week were an unemployed boxing kangaroo, four elephants, five ponies, one mule, 33 dogs, three monkeys.

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