The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-05-11


fingers, rewarded Tor good behavior with
choice fruits or extra allowances of beef,
and punished only with switch that our
own children would laugh at as an instru.
ment of torturc-to regard their keepers
with an absorbing affection that enables
them to interpret and anxiously desire to
execute the slightest wish their keepers
may entertain ?'
We are sorry to say that at this point
of the discussion, our friend suddenly ex.
ploded into a paroxysm of powerful-not
to say slightly BLAST sphemous-denunciation
of all things equestrian, acrobatic, or in
any way connected with the circus busi-
ness, declaring that every travelling show
was no better than circulating Pande-
monium, and that the daring horscmcn,
menagerie people, gymnastic professors,
clowns, humorists, and all other persons,
whatsoever, engag therein, were 50
many incarnate devils.
Travelled with a circus once, for over
six months" he went on to say, as he re-
lapsed into his usual cool and dccorous
behavior 81 was internally hard up,
when | happened to have thrown in my
way chance for an engagement to do
part of the agency business of large
concern just starting for the West and
North on the Summer campaign had
considerable power of Imagination, and
enough literary ability to write pufs and
advertisements so l accepted the situa.
tion. We hadn't been three weeks out,
before | wished had tried to get place
as light-porter in a dry goods store, or
something of the kind-anything, indeed
| should have preferred to association
with the people l found myself thrown
amongst. The life was a very hard one,
in the first place, though that 1 didn't
mind. But the horrible cruoltes I saw
daily practiced on animals and children
used 10 rouse me to such pitches of horror
and Indignation, that it was only by pain
ful efforts of self control that l restrained
myself from dashing out the brains of
certain partcs-whose names you are well
acquainted with. through the medium Of
gorgeous posters-with an iron tent.pin,
or anything else that came to hand. There
was Buggins. the excruciating jester, COM
ic equestrian, and subduer of the wild
denizens of the forest Do you know
how Buggins tanned his rninoceros. Hit
ting the wretched beast over the head with
iron bars, till they bent, was one of the
mildest forms of persuasion adopted by
Buggins. Running iron goads, three
inches long, into the soft flesh behind the
car, was regarded by Buggins as little
more than an Impressive IN ode Of tickling
this intelligent monster. But Buggins'
great feat in the torturing line Of business
was a dexterous way he had of flcking
his W ip into his unwieldy victims eye.
That he regarded as a masterpiece of in
genious punishment, and he used to prac-
tice it even at evening performances, in
presence of the public"
But it must have destroyed the sight"
we exclaimed.
"Of course it did," rejoned our friend !;
"but it made the rhinoceroses mind and
that's all Buggins, and toe pious folks who
won't 90 to a theatre, but think there is
no harm in the circus, care about.
But" we venturcd to say, all were
not such miscreants as Buggins."
Buggins was paragon Of kindlinness
and mercy, compared to Bill Jones, one
Of the proprietors," was our friends reply.
81 recollect one morning Jones was try
ing to teach gray mare-such pretty
creature-to keep in the circle. She had
never seen saw1ust before; was o little
skittish-intractable. Over and over
again did Jones lash her with heavy
whip till you could see little streaks Of
blood showing up through the glossy hair
of her coat. Frightened to death at such
treatment, she jumped round just as he
started her off again, and fell out of the
ring. Jones rushed up to her like de,
mon, beat her over the head and neck with
the butt end of his whip, and afterward:
with an iron bar as thick as your two
thumbs, till she got down on her knees
and whinnied for mercy, the blood all tn,
while bursting out OF her ears, eyes ane
nostrils."
Good God" we cried, "did nobody
try to stop the wretch p
"Stop him Why, his fathcr-in-lav
stood by, applauding him; bounding hin
on with, Give it her, Bill give it her =
His father-in.law 2"
"Well, not bis iather-in-law then bu