Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-05-10

streets. The sight was certa. My very
| brilia affair: the circus was one of cele'
brity. the troupe was numerous, the dresses
ma. nifeeat. and they appeared to make
| great impression ON the beholders. But
/ one thing struck me az abnormal, there was
no clown Toleave the clown out of cir
Gus troupe is TO take the whole romance
out of the thing All its intellect des-
troyed, and nothing but a body of mere
mechanism remains. a m
| was aroused from my speculations by a
| little slipshod girl pulling my coat, and tel
| ling me that my services were Immediately
required at the % Coach and Horses" where
a lady was in want Of my assistance.
| should here mention that the Z" Coach and
! Horses" is large second rate inn, much
patronized by the small farmers and their
/ servants on market days. Having no very
urgent case on hand, | Immediately went
with my littls guide to see my new patient.
| When we arrived at the inn we found the
whole place in state of great hustle and
| confusion. The circus troupe had taken up
their quarters in it, and the place was
strewed with boxes, travelling apparatus,
| children land Of whom there was swarm)
and old men and women; for circus people
have generally great love for the young OF
their profession, and great respect for the
old.
The only able-bodied person I met in the
courtyard was a man about thirty years of
age, 8 quiet, decent, active-looking fellow
enough. @a
30, | am so glad you are come, sir" said
he, "my wifeis sol Ill, am quite frightened
about her; come this way,if you please"
| followed him up a broken staircase into
sort Of garnet, where | found my patient.
She was meek little woman, at that moment
or the point Of becoming mother.
The case was difficult one but at last all
ended successfully, and called the husband
and told him the good news. He appeared
grea ly delighted, and left him in charge
of his wife and baby, promising to call
again in a couple of hours TO see how the
young mother was getting on.
L. was about three O'Clock before | again
visited nay patient. found she was going
on well. and tod her husband my opinion.
" am very glad to hear it, sir. Do you
think l might leave her for an hour in
charge of that little girl? ought to go to
rehearsal, or l shall be fined iii | am not
there"
20 yes; there is no danger whatever;
tonight will send you proper nurse, if
you want one" - q ~
mo, thank you, sir, there is no occasion
for that; our women are very kind to each
other"
He now put On his hat, and we left the
house together.
Il did not know you were one Of the cir
Gus performers" said, as we continued on
our way.
81 am the clown, Sir" he said, Sand I
suspect they would hardly get on without
me. I am sure I am glad affairs have gone
on so well. I never can do anything if
feel at all lcw-spirited."
"Did understand that you are now going
to rehearsal! !"
" Yes, sir but shall soon be back;
have not much to say"
AS he spoke we came in sight Of the cir
Gus, which had arisen the night before as if
by magic. Il was very large. and had the
flags of all nations Unfortunately hoisted
around it. asked my companion if might
see the interior.
" Certainly, sir, if you wish it. Come
with me, and there will be Nc difficulty"
We entered the circus.
responsible looking man, Wi whip in
his hand, was standing in the centre of the
circle, and young lady in q practising
dress was seated on a bare backed horse by
his side.
''Just in time, Tommy" said the man
with the whip, "just in time; if you had
been minute later, you would have been
fined sure as gun"
Tommy made no answer, but walked up
to the young lady's side, and, looking for
moment into her face, said:
"Please, sir, she knows me; she looked
at me-"
The master then smacked his whip, and
the horse started off at hand gallop, he
following her, while Tommy, the clown,
walked in the ring masters wake, his hands
in his pockets, and wearing at the same time
very thoughtful expression. Each time
surdity too stupid to be worth naming.
remained in the circus for half an hour, and
then left it, wondering greatly how the mis-
cradle platitudes heard my friend Tommy
utter could by any possibility raise a laugh
in the evening Probably, thought, the
dress might have something to do with it,
and most of all the wig Yes, the wig of
the circus clown is as peculiar in its consti-
tuition as that of a barrister, and the clowns
wit was doubtless in his wig. However, as
1T was merely a surmse on nv part, re-
solved to attend the performance in the eve-
ming and judge for myself.
In the evening, after seeing my patient
was going on well, | went to the circus to.
witness the performance. The whole place
certainly presented different aspect from
that l had seen in the morning. 1t was
brilliantly lighted and tastefully decorated,
and was well filed with spectators; a cir
cumstance which added much to the lively
impression the sight made on he. The per-
formance shortly after commenced, and at
last Tommy, The clown, made his appear
ance. The scene was that with the young
lady which had seen in the morning But
how different was the result of his jokes
Ia the morning those which appeared fat
and insipid were now pungent and spark
ling. When in the morning he told the
ring-master "that the young lady knew him,
for she looked at him." nothing could be
more melancholy. In the evening the same
remark caused a violent fit of laughter
now examined the clowns wig. It was
absurd, exceedingly absurd, but not more
so than the barrister's. No human head of
hair had ever seen resemb led the clowns,
but neither did ever see one that resembied
the wig of a barrister. now fully came
the conclusion that had not made a tool
of myself at the trial, but that the laughter
and merriment which had been so uproarious
in court was caused By the barrister's wig.
and not BY the stupidity and vacillation Of
my answers.
That night slept little, so much was my
mind occupied with the wig question. Al
last remembered that the principal hair
dresser in tcwn had magnificent barristers
wig in his shop window, which he regularly
dressed with great care the week before the