172 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



the donkey to "sing" not a note would he 

 utter ! The trainer thought it was on account 

 of the empty theater or the lack of footlights, 

 and resolved to try the rehearsal in the stable. 

 It would be a good test because the band was 

 not there, so he filled the stable with all the 

 people he could get together and standing in 

 front of "Jack," began: 

 , "Af — ter the Ba— all is o— ver," 

 I And without a moment's hesitation Jack 

 opened his mouth and roared, 

 \ "Hee Haa— aw, Hee Haa — aw, Hee Haa — 

 aw," to the unspeakable relief and joy of the 

 vaudeville manager and his trainer, for this 

 act had been advertised all over the place and 

 every ticket was sold. 



When the opening night arrived, the house 

 was crammed, and so impatient were the 

 audience to hear the "Singing Donkey," that 

 repeated requests came from all parts to 

 "Bring on the Donkey." 



And when Jack was brought on, he was 

 received with applause which would have flat- 

 tered a prima donna. And when silence was 



