The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-06-22
THE CIRCUS.
From the East Texas Herald.

/ courteous nOte IRON the manager VI u Clr
Gus and menagerie, containing compliment
tary ticket, and inviting myself and wife tc
attend his combination. Such courtesy
thought deserved consideration, and I be.
gan to reflect upon the propriety of accept.
ing the profered kindness. But after ma
ture deliberation there appeared to be some
reasons which were sufficient to decide me
to decline the invitation; which did by nd.
dressing note to the said manager. As
+hasa reasons may be of some interest to
your readers, respectfully submit them for
publication hoping that in your kindness
you may find a place for them; in your col
| umns.
1st. I do not wish to take my wife to a
place where she would be compelled to wit
ness the indecent costumes and attitudes of
Circus actors and where she would hear tho
profane and obscene witticisms of vulgar
clowns. And an exhibition which is not
sufficiently chaste for my wife to attend
would not justify my own attendance.
End. If the show consisted only in me-
nagerie, and could be relied on for faithful
exhibition of all the animals promised, 1
would take pleasure in patronizing it, and
would recommend others to attend. But as
the menagerie obviously enters into the
combination merely to Hentice the moral
class to attend the Circus, I must decline at
finding, believing as do that the Circus is
wicked institution, and only evil in its
tendencies. Even if should attend only
the animal exhibition, I would thereby give
aid and comfort to the Circus with which it
is combined,
3rd. The taxes of our country are already
sufficiently heavy, and I for one am not
willing to add to the public burden by coun-
tenanoing an institution which takes from
the people much money, and leaves in re-
turn for it no substantial good and much
evil. Every Circus proposes to levy a tax
upon men, women and children of from one
to three dellars per head according to the
number of exhibitions.) And although
this tax is paid involuntarily it is none the
less burd, nsome. The immense taxation
annually collected by circusses and other
similar shows would, if levied by the State,
be considered yoke too CALLING to bear
especially if the Government should appro.
pirate the money in no better wav than it
is appropriated by the Circus. The money
drained from the country year after year by
these shows would soon, if rightly appropri-
ated, be sufficient to build our much needed
Irailraads; or hnill factories; or buifd our
county bridges and work our almost impas-
sable roads, or paint up our heuscs, and
grade and ornament our streets and side
walks; or relieve the distress of many widows
and orphans; or establish asylums. schools
colleges, and churches; or put the East Tex
as Herald, or some other valuable newspa-
per into the hands of every intelligent citi-
zen or furnish every community with a
public library. Think of it! The amount
of tax collected from the community in ono
year by these shows would furnish our
town with an excellent public library, which
would be of incalchlable benefit to tho citi-
zens for generations to come. These are
some of the ways in which the Circus tax
might be wisely appropriated to enhance the
value Of property, and increase the intelli-
gence, refinement, and happiness of the peo-
pie. But how is this immense Circus tax
appropriated ? 1t goes to encourage idle
ness and vice, and to support class of per-
sons who are notorious for their wicked
ness, Many Of them it is we'll known are
liars, Gas proved by the false representations
of their advertisement, many are thieves Gas
proved by the losses sustained by many COM
munitics through which they have passed;)
they disturb the peace of our Sabbaths by
their Journeys through the country; and
many of them are notorious profane swear
ers, gamblers, drunkards and murderers.
4th. A little reflection is sufficient to con-
vince any reasonable mind that attendance
upon Circuses is likely to corrupt and per-
vent the intellectual taste. There is q
fasination about them which lures the vic
tenn on and on as certainly and often as
fatally, as the charming of the serpent.
9th. The men and women engaged in
these shows have all talents which might be
Of great service to the country if rightly
used, Instead of being consumers, prey.
ing upon society, they might add to the
wealth and prosperity of the country by theil
industry as farmers, mechanics, merchants
lawyers, and statesmen. would be glad
| to see them use their talents TO some n0Dl(
purpose. and do not wish to encourage then
in the abuse of them.
9Th. The worst classes in the country
invariably attend these exhibitions -despera
does and drunkards. Shooting affrays, tc
my own knowledge, are Of frequent occur
encc at these places Something Of the
kind occurred at one of these Circuses, with
in the limits of this county but few days
ago. Therefore the lives of myself anc
family would be endangered if I should at
tend, and I am not justifable in taking thil
risk unless great good is to be gained, o,
some duty, calls.
| 9TH. These institutions are perhaps very
profitable to their owners. But "vhat shal
1t profit man If he shall gain the whoh
srorld and lose his op,o souls" Believing
from the light of the Billie, that these men
if they persevere in this line of business
will inevitably be destroyed, soul and body
in hell, I cannot conscientiously encourage
them to continue their occupation by giving
| IL