, 1866-07-20

We chanced to be in . small town in Wis
consin once when Dan. Rice's Circus came
there 10 exhibit We always 10 to hear
Dan when convenient, and We did not miss
that opportunity. By odr iide, on the rough
hemiock board-whieh formed one Of the
luxurious seata 30 glowinely described in the
bills-Was . gtay-haired and grlysbearded
old man who bore crutch and cane, w6feh
acrs, appsrsntlt, indispensable companions.
He watched the performance With uncommon
ihtetest, appladding freddshtly. Finally,
NheH the iddiincU was coifIlsed with laugh
ter it one of Dams Ritticisms, the old fellow
turned away his head and burst into tears.
We inquired the cause Of bis emotion.
"Sir," said he, drying bis eyes with ia,
ded pocket handkerchief, bearing the faint
impression Of circus rider doinS the two:
horse act, "you see before you q decayed cir
Gus man. Thirty years ofmy life we're spent
In the fling. began as property bov, and
was adtadced to the responsibility of groom,
then became bareback rider, closing my
career, when unable to perform on horseback
as clown.
Fifteen years ago I LEFT the ring forever,
and tonight is the first time have looked
upon il since. EngrossSd as / have been
with the care of farm up aHiohg the open
ings, 1 thought had forgotten it all, but
the smell Of che sawdust is too much for me.
The canvass, the lights, the music aud the apr
plauding crowd bring the old days back again,
and find myself blubbering like young
kid after his first fall
We Afterwards learned that the old fellow
actually applied to Dan Rice for an opportu-
nifty to go with the show, quito forgetful of
his farm among the oak openings and the
claims of an extensive and growing family
being totally overcome by the old familiar
"smell of the sawdust"
The weakness Of the old clown is q pecu-
liarity of all who have spent any considera-
BILE portion of their time in what may be
termed, the show business. They cannot
get the smell of the sawdust out of their nosl
trils
We were led to to these reflections by OBJ
serving that the Ravels, with the original
and only" Gabriel at the head, are playing
an engagement at the National Theatsr.
Years ago that wonderful troupe of artistes
played series of farewell engagements
through the country, and they have been
playing farewell engagements periodically
ever since. They are continually leaving
the stage forever, and foreVef 6ouiihg back TO
it agaih. 1t may be urged that the thing
pays. 1t undoubtedly does, but the Ratels
have got money enough to smooth theft DEL
cliRing years, enough to permit them to pass
their remaining days in luxurious ease, either
in this country, or in their native land We
believe it is not money but "thes smell of the
ssydnst," tnetaphoricallJ speaking, that
brings them back again to surprise us anew,
with the same old pantomimes and Sapets.
Forrest, "the great tragedian of the age, y
as the posters, which are carefully arranged
under his own eye, invariably say, leaves the
stage for good, occasionally, only to be again
tempted within the magic circle of the foot
lights. 1t is said that extravagant sums OIL
money are the only inducement, but DOM the
"smell Of the sawdust" .linger in his nostris
Don't he long for the flashing lights, the mu
sic and the applauding multitude, even as
the clown Wept for the old days of the ring
1t is long before the war horse forgets the
old familiar notes of the bugle call the old
soldier would fight hts bsttles over again with
something better than bis crutch if be caught
a snuff Of the powder, and it is not strange
that the actor on life's mimic stage Is liable
while life endures, to succumb to the smell
Of the saWdust"