Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-10-05
THE PRINCESS OF THE AIR.

1t was very hot in Van Bustick's IS cir
Gus in the town o. Lynn, on F iday,
July Is, 1870. So hot that the Polar
bear looked like bundle of yellowish
tripe, or All old quilt put to soak for a
washing-day. SO hot that the little
candy-boys wares melted and stuck to-
gother in one conglomeration- mint,
lemon, "sour balls gum drops, lozen-
ges and bulls eyes-and he was forced
to throw away the mass in disgust, to
the no small ire of the head Of that de-
partment. The .inger-cakes retro
graded to their pristine stag of dough !;
the pea nuts biistered into fresh coat
of brown; the animals dozed in their
cages, and the men clustered and swore.
Mademoiselle Zephyra Delphina Can
talini was in her dressingroom prepar-
ing for the grand entrance. Her C. ipps
tiattened out, and dropped exasperat
ingly over her temples the rouge ran
in streaks mingled with -four over her
face; and the lampblack on her eye
brows resembled a stove ,polishers
" crumbs of comfort" in state of lique-
faction. They were anything but
"crumbs OF comfort to POOR Mile.
Zephyra Delphina, however, and she
puckered her lips into an unamiable
acidity.
On the show-bills she was depicted as
an airy sylphide, in diaphanous gar
ments, spangled with dew; her hair
unbound, fairy wand in her hand, and
her slippered feet almost spurning the
backs of the steeds. In reality, she
was a dumpy little woman of thirty
eight, with crows feet under her eyes, a
thick waist, " number FIVE" boots. and
her name was Maria Towcber. There
had been Mr.. Towcher: but fatigue
engendered by constant attendance on
the members of Van Bdstick's menage.
rie ("and the beasts is we. wearin', es
pecially them that's cont nkerous'),
aided by injudicious potations of Med,
ford rum, had fastened his demise.
There was child-a little daughter
ten years old-named Angela. She
stood by her mothers side, arrayed in
pink tarletan and gilt paper "a miniature
Columbine-to be initiated this day into
the mysteries of the ring''-not "rail-
road rlng," nor ''ring of oliticians,"
but the magic circle of saw, dust, tramp
ling hoofs, cracking whips, and red
faced ring-masters. Not " fairy circle"
either though Angela was fairy,like and
gauzy.
Four months she had been in process
OF drill for this occasion. MORNING.
noon, and night, hec feet had twinkled
on the back Of "Sparker," "Jepnie."
and "Nio," the three most amiable
ponies ia the establishment. She had
learned to balance with pole, and
without one--to vault lightly through a
hoop covered with tissue paper@to
STAND on the point of one kidded foot.
ana KISS her hand enchantingly at an
imaginary audie zee. Outside the tent
were naming placards setting forth the
unparalleled attractions of "the little
frlncess OF the Air the most graceful
and accomplished of infantiie perform.
ers She had received gold medals
fIom the crowned heads of Euronei,
AS the Princess" had never eros, ed
the Atlantic-nay more, had never Won.
tured to set foot on horseback in tho
presence OF single unprofessional spec
tator, the above assertion might have
oeen called IN question by any one who
should choose 10 take the trouble-but
nobody did so, and Lynn was none the
wiser.
The townspeople focked into the
tent; rascally little boys gave melodious
otat.calls, or, in strident voices, croaked
"gid epp!"
The band puffed and blew till their
faces We're almost as scarlet as their
jackets; the horses neighed and
Pranced; the director of the menagerie
Grew attention to the largest deer of
the human iamily!' and the perfor.
nance was about to begin.
Little Angela grew white as death,
ana chung to her mothers wrist. ooh.
nanny, l can't indeed can't DON'T
make me do itr
Mr.. MRS. Towcher roughly shook off the
neIle; warm, DIST clasp, and turned
Grossly to the child. II must have Leen
tne intoierable heat that rutfied her
serenity for, in the main, she was kind
10 Angela, and proud of her beauty and
accomplishments. "Just say that again,
VIII you? I'd just like to see YOU back,
IN OUT no", when the bills is out. and
van BllhI has nivan 80.