American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-30
II Gumorous.
A Rich Scene In a Circus,

Some lime since scene occurred in
u neighboring town, which as they say
about railroad accidents and steamboat
c"llisions. "beggar description Those
of our readers who have attended, tho
circus will recolect having seen an
amusing masquerade enacted, in which
the only characters are the ring M aster
aud Que Of the performers-the latter
making his appearance in ragged aud
uncouth apparel and apparently sever
y affected with ardent spirits, and in
sistlng upon tho privilege of taking
ride. The ring.master demonstrates
(as the piece goes) and insists upon tho
inebriated individual leaving the ring;
but finally compromises with him, an,!
he is allowed TO mount aud slow hls
horse-manship.
After playing the "druuk" awhile,h
suddenly throws off his rags and is meta.
moIphosed into OH Indian padding his
canoe, and then To a king. &c, until he
goes through series of characters.-
This much by way of expana'ion; now
to our tale, which, by the way, is true
in every particular.
| On the occasion referred to, the drunk
On man appeared in the ling, and ex-
pressed desire To ride. Tho ring.
master remonst, ated and theilwo seem.
ed likely To have a.srrious difficulty
, AT this juncture the high sheriff Of tho
c"uniy,ewho vas among the spectators.
feuIiul that the performance, in which
he seemed intensely interested, was
about TO ho inter- opted. and being II
valorous aud efficient officer, ever ready
TO throw himself into the breach when
peace was threatened. appeared in tho
ring, in the discharge of what he con-
ceived TO he his solemn duty He laid
! his Official hands upon the iintrnder.
as he. in his unsopli.,icated Heart, sup.
posed the performer. and in diguified
but hrm language ordered him to wa.
nose the Iunch. To hstnc,actor. of
course, demurred, but the sheriff was
not To be- triiled with. He was discharg-
gng a solemn duty, and that, too. with
the eyes ot thousand or two Of his
constituent fastened upon him. He
was not the man To finch under any
circumstances, much less such Is these,
WIN becoming promptness, therefore,
he laid violent hands upon the disturb
er Of the performance, with the view Of
submitting 10 summary eiectment.
But u"i"ItunatelY The am of the law,
however vaiian'Iy supported, is not
always the str"ngcsi MIR. Sheriff wgs
surpiised that he should fail in hand.
Ing drunken man; but 90 il WAS
! lhe man was too much for him, sud
again and again as he renewed the al.
! q h.,
with saw dost for his his pillow. During
this time the condition Of the large aud.
ence can be better imagined than de-
sorlbed. We were told such cenyul.
Slnns of laughter were never Witnessed
before. The noise and din csuId h,,
hraId nearly as far as powder house ex
! Plosl"n. Bot our f,icnd the Sheriff os
we before said, was discriminating
man, and no resolved t" try the last ex.
pedient. Finding his ragged customer
most too good wrestler, he turned 10
the audience. and,by virtue of his ofi,i-
al fuDctiun he at once commepcsd s,,,.
m"ning aposse to his aid. After he
had enlisted about dozen sble bodied
mon, aud everything was ready for an
attack, The ring master stepped forward
ana explained To him that his services
would not be needed he had enacted
his pau admirably. uhd at any future
time he would not hesitate to Give him
a re-engagemeDt; in shoi, tho, the sun
posed iulrudcr was bona fde ae,o,.
and that the "dluuk" was only put on.
Oar friend the Sheriff was sold lock
stock and barrel. and the sudderDcss
. vii h., 4