Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-03-02
CAPRICE OF A CLOWN.

the Cirque Imperial is a smaller
cirque, which though mere booth,
to the great horror Of the managers
of the large and magnificent Cirque
was always crowded and
more especially by the elite Of the
fashionable young men in Paris,
while their side boxes were occupi-
ed only by country pumpkins, rich
bourgeoise and young collegians.
The cause OF this migration from
the Imperial Circus to the circus
ON which the Imperial Circus look
ed down as being mere booth, was
the beauty and attraction, youth
and wild grace Of Mile. MoraDita
and her horse "Diavolo."
Moranito was a wonder, for all
the bills said she was, and a little
more than the bills knew any.
thing about, for she was a girl OF
immaculate conduct, and actually
knew how to read and write.
Moranita was French-a poor lit
tie orphan, whom the clown OF the
establishment had picked up half
starved in a garret from which the
public authorities had just taken
the body of her mother, a beggar,
in coarse deal box.
The clown was an extremely fun
ny fellow, because nature had
twisted his form and given him a
hump, which was of course, exceed
ing funny, and a cause Of great
mirth to the multitude. He had q
fine face, which was pity for it
had efects-one that it gave him
great trouble to paint himself
and because the handsome tace
had inspired him with a bitter
hatred for his distorted person, and
for the mocking world that laughed
at it.
He had never known home OF
family, he had sometimes been
near starvation, and had endured
it with o defiant spirit, He hac
lived among the depraved and tn
dissipated, and had despised theiI
vices even while enjoying with thu
public the reputation of shar
ing them. He had been court
ed by managers and applauded b.
crowds, but as soon as the conyen
tional grin had faded from his fac
the habitual expression of moros
bitterness was suffused over hl
handsome features.
| He was almost ashamed Of tn
feeling of compassion that stirre
his breast when the poor, thin, colo
dark-eyed, frightened creature bel
up its thin arms to him and aske
for its mother, and bread.
The feeling was a strange on
coming like glow over his froze
nature, and he buried his head
= the child's tangled locks and wept-
wept until the unusual e"ao'iH
shook his frame, making him wef
and belnless as the child who c!uI
u to him.
q The sight of those appealir
It black eyes, the clutch Of those litt
n fingers, the helpless cry had rous'
e from the depth of his heart feeIinI
6 which he did not know existed
n new state of existence seemed
: have dawned on him-visions OF cal
It happiness, of devotion, of atfectlo
# Aoated before him; the bitterne
IS Of his life seemed suddenly to pa
r away. Such a sensation was t
e only one of happiness he had e'
a known. He felt as if it had emar
'e ted from the magnetic touch OF t
20 child, and clasping her to him
3. vowed never again to leave her.
of Marie, now Moranita, CARR
r down in his arms into warmth a
1T light, looked on him as a god.
her he was beautiful-he was divi
TO and from that hour he was the IL
70 of her soul.
to He took her to the circus.
le him there was no degradation IN
le profession, and he was as proud
n seeing the little creature dash ror
IN on her pony as any duke might be
ms see his daughter dancing a co
en- minuet. she grew into stre1,I a
n and beauty-bright, loving, full
ed skill and courage-she was the
Ia Of his heart. They lived togetl
Of this young girl and the detorr
ID clown, whose hair was getting g
'as. and in all Paris there was no
De happier pair III,
father, as she called the clown
come to Paris.
MIA She was in the height Of her b
ty, her youth and her talent
ate ate admiration and applause which
,zo rH1 received intoxicated her, and as
w. martial trumpet incites the sol
an lad her to deeds of daring. One
han ening, by strange chance, ou
ad- &C which destinies are made, the "
this Due de Croisy's coachman MAJ
tax mistake, and instead Of stoppinl
Ater horses at the door of the ci
n to stopped at the door Of the booth
oor' which the crowd was going :.
lnu- The Due began by getting IL
MP mp rage, but all at once he betne
$751; himself of q paragraph he had
con- that morning in the paper
ltry, some extraordinary young 9
hip Sa V;Iliars he proposed they s.
mp o Souo a lark and turn into the
teve- instead Of turning into the I
IRON ron Imperial. .,;4,,
,156, .oat Gov a new sensation, and b
acco, ISo' tI,o Drc Nm walked into the bootl
tricts sLo slo ontbus;ostic D and not ovel
prior S,o,ad Sno crowd that was pressing
ID to lu anS
Itso happened that Just ST., a