The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-04-20
For the Literary Echo.
HoI the Circus Is Coming! I!

o, what sport at the circus next Mon-
day-in this village-on the Connecticut
side of the river-close to the bridge
Take particular notice, SO as not to mis-
take the place-it's to be ON the Connect
ic~t side of the rirer. The authorities of
Westerl $50 Puritanical, so blue',-
wouldn't allow it to exhibit on the Rhode
Island side; but never mind, it can be
witnessed on the Connecticut side where
they have the " Pawcatuck HOTEL" and
groggeries. and brawls, and fights, and
lawsuits, aud all that catalogue of ac-
compartments which tally SO we'll With a
,oircus--just the place for it! Poor
Rhode Island-unwarily, probably-in
de4ying this grand affair to be exhibited
in your town, you sent it to the very
location where it's operations can be
carried forward with the greatest pros
pect of success.
But seriously, what is a travelling cir
cus' Why, a travelling moral pestilence
nothing less 4! So it has been consid-
cred by the wise and good from time
immemorial. It's proper classification
is with lotteries, theatres, gambling es-
tablishments, sc. .-..-.
What is its influence upon those con-
nccted with it, Most obviously to ruin
them, soul and body, forever. Who ex-
poets any Of them to be converted and
saved? 1t takes them away from the
means of grace-it makes them bold
blasphemers.
What its influence upon those who
patronize it? There are some parents,
and perhaps others, in this village, who
have not forgotten the influence of the
circus which exhibited on the Rhode
Island side of the river, some three
years since. 1t was seen in the thefts
committed-in the low and vulgar
phrases which were learned, and which
became current in the place, and in
other evil things. The authorities of
Westerly have not once and again re-
fused license for circus exhibition in
their town without good and sufficient
reasons They acted as the faithful
conssrvators of the public morals.
Two things are necessary for sue
cessful circus exhibition-intoricating
drinks-amd clown. Without the
former, I am confident there could not
be a circus, and without the latter half
the entrance fees would be missing. And
Is not that an elevating desire which
moves one immortal being to go and see
another act Ike q fool ?
Who will be at the circus? The
profane, the drinking, the rowdy, will
be there. These are always there, as
the eagles are where the carcass is. The
pickpocket will be there, for circus is
that with which he has great sympathy.
And all the grog-shops in the place will
be in full blast on the day when the cir
Gus shall exhibit. 1t will be harvest
day for these establishments, and our
streets will resound with the silly
laugh, and the profano oath of those who
will patronize these places, and We may
possibly have specimen or two of
bruised noses and black eyes.
And now, who of the inhabitants of
this village will be seen at the circus ?
Ye protesting Christians, will you aid
in the work of generalization that will
be done here next Monday Will you
allow your influence directly, or indi-
reetly to help forward their work Shame
on that protesting Christian, of what
ever name, who does not set himself
against the exhibition, and that decided
ly and openly.
Ys Mains Lao msn and aoomen, will
you patronize an establishment which
cannot exist without the Intoxicating
beverage Will you aid in that which
will surely help the groggeries of the
place to pour out, in unwonted abund-
ance, their streams of death ......
Ne friends Of good order, and ye aoho
desire to see the morals Of our youth pro-
moted, and not destroyed, will yOu aid in