The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-05-09


brilliant affair: the circus was one Of cele
bri,y, the troupe was numerous, the dresse
ma. nihccnt. md they appeared to make
great impression ON the beholders. Blu
one thing struck me as abnormal, there va
no clown. To leave the clown out of q cir
Gus troupe is to take the whole romano
out Of the thing. All its intellect i des
troyed, and nothing but body of mer
mechanism remains.
was aroused from my epeculations by
little slipshod girl pulling my coat, and tel
ling me that my services were immediatel,
required at the "Coach and Horses" wher
= iauy was In want of my assistance.
should here mention that the "Coach ant
Horses" is large second rate inn, mucl
patronized by the small farmers and thei
servants on market days. Having no YER,
urgent case on hand, Immediately wen
with my little guide to see my new patient
When we arrived ut the inn we found tn
whole place in state of great hustle an,
confusion. The circus troupe had taken III
their quarters in it, and the place wa
strewed with boxes, travelling apparatus
children land Of whom there wns swarm
and old men and women; for circus peopl
have generally great love for the young o
| their profession, and great respect for III,
| old.
The only able-bodied person met in ih,
| courtyard was man about thirty years o.
age, quiet, decent, active looking fellow
enough.
30, am SO glad you are come. SIR" eait
ne, "my wife is so i'll, am quite frightened
about her; come this way, ii you please"
followed him up q broken staircase into
a sort of garrett. where found my patient
She was meek little woman, at that momen!
on the point OF becoming mother.
The case was difficult one. but at last al
ended successfully, and called the husband
and told him the good news. lie appeared
grca ~ delighted, and left him in charge
of his wife and baby, promising to call
again in q couple Of hours TO see how the
young mother was getting on.
II was about three o'clock before I again
visited my patient. found she was going
on we'll, and tod her husband my opinion.
= am very glad to hear it, sir. Do you
think | might leave her for an hour in
charge Of that little girl? fought to 20 to
rehearsal, or shall be fined iii am not
there"
20 yes; there is no danger whatever:
tonight l will send you proper nurse, if
you want one"
mo, thank you, cir, 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.
II did not know you were ono Of the cir
Gus performers" said, as We continued on
our way.
~ am the clown, SIR" he said, "and
suspect they would hardly get on without
me. am sure am glad affairs have gone
on 50 well. I never can do anything if I
feel at all low-spirited."
IBID understand that you are now going
to rehearsal y
Yes, sir but shall soon be back; I
have not much 10 say"
As he spoke we came in sight Of the cir
Gus, which had arisen the night before as il
BY magic. l, was very large. and had the
flags of all nations Unfortunately hoisted
aroundit asked my companion if might
see the interior.
Certainly, sir, if you wish it. Come
with me, and there win be no difficulty"
We entered the circus.
responsible looking man, with whip in
his hand, was standing in the centre Of the
circle, and q young lady in o practising
dress was seated on 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 a gun"
Tommy made no answer, but walked up
to the young lady's side, and, looking for .
into her face, said:
"Please. sir, she knows me; she looked
at me-"
The master then smackcd his whip, and
the horse started off at hand galiop, he
following her, while Tommy. the clown,
walked in the ring masters wake, his hands
in his pockets, and wearing at the same time
q very thoughtful expression. Each time
the horse stopped, Tommy uttered some alb
surdity too stupid to be worth naming. l
remained in the circus for half an hour, and
then left it, wondering greatly how the mis-
cradle pla,itudes heard my friend Tommy
utter could by any possibility raise laugh
in the evening. Probably, l 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-
wit was doubtless in his wig. However. IS
solved TO attend the performance in the eye-
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
hat had seen in the morning. It was
brilliantly lighted and tas,efully decorated,
and was well filed with spectators; q cir
cumstance which added much to the lively
impression the sight made on me. The per-
lormance 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
In 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 violent fit Of laughter.
now examined the clowns wig. II was
absurd, exceedingly absurd, but not more
80 than the barristcr's. No human head of
hair had ever seen resembled the clowns.
but neither did ever see one that resemblcd
The wig Of barristcr. l now fully came
to the conclusion that had not made fool
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 vaoillation Of
my answers.
That night slept little, so much was my
mind occupied with the wig question. AZ
last remembered that the principal hair
dresser in town had magnificent barrister's
wig in his shop window, which he regularly
dressed O0v hn u,o nh hofo fl,o