The next act was that of an old man who, on the programme, was called an “Impersonator.”

“What’s that mean?” asked Bunny of Uncle Tad.  “Does he do juggles too?”

“No, he dresses up like some persons you may have seen in pictures.  He pretends he’s General Washington, or the President, or some great soldier.  He tries to look as much like these persons as he can, so they call him an impersonator.  Watch, and you’ll see.”

When the “Impersonator” came out on the stage he did not look like any one but himself.  He made a few remarks, but Bunny and Sue did not pay much attention.  They were more interested in what he was going to do.  The man, who wore a black suit, “like the minister’s,” as Mary Watson whispered to Sue, suddenly stepped over to a little table, on which were two electric lights and a looking glass.

The children could not see exactly what the man did.  They noticed that his hands were working very quickly, but he had his back toward them.  All at once his black hair seemed to turn white, and in a moment he caught up from a chair a coat of blue and gold; he slipped this on.  Then he turned suddenly and faced the audience.

“Oh, it’s George Washington!” cried a boy, and the audience laughed.  And, to tell the truth, the man on the stage did look a great deal like our first president, as you see him in pictures.  The man had put a white wig on over his black hair, and had put on the kind of coat George Washington used to wear.

I wish I had time to tell you all the different persons this actor made up to appear like, but I can mention only a few.  From Washington he turned himself into Lincoln, and then into Roosevelt.  Then he made up like some of the French and English generals, and afterward he made himself look like General Grant, smoking a cigar.

Every one applauded as the man bowed himself off the stage.  There was a thrill of excitement when the next number was announced.  A little girl was shown on the stage.  She did not seem much older than Sue, but of course she was.  She began to sing in a sweet, childish voice, and in the midst of her song a boy dressed in a suit of bright spangles suddenly appeared from the side.  Without a word the boy began turning handsprings and somersaults and doing flipflops in front of the girl.

Suddenly she stopped her song, stamped her little foot, and in pretended anger cried: 

“What do you mean by coming out here and spoiling my singing act?”

“Why, the man back there,” said the boy, pointing behind the scenes, “told me to come out here and amuse the people,” and he seemed, to smile right at Bunny Brown and Sue.

“He told you to come out and amuse the people, did he?  Well, what does he think I’m doing?” demanded the girl.

“I don’t know.  I guess he thinks maybe you’re making ’em cry!” was the boy acrobat’s grinning answer.

“Well, I like that!  The idea!” exclaimed the girl.  “I’m going right back and tell him I won’t sing another song in this show!  The idea!” and she hurried off the stage.