The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-09-27
THE PRINCESS OF THE AIR.


July Is, 1870. So hot that the Polar
bear looked like bundle of yellowish
tripe, or an old quilt put to soak for a
washing-day. :, So hot that the little
candy boys wares melted and stuck to-
gether in one copglemeration-
lemon, "sour-balls," gum drops, lozen.
ges and bulls'eyes-andh he was forced
to throw away the mass in disgust, to
the no small ire Of the head of that de-
partment. The singer-cakes retro.
graded to their pristine stage of dough
the peanuts blistered into fresh coat
of brown; the animals .dezed in their
seages, and the men clustered and swore.
- Nademoisele- -Zephyra Delphina Can
talini was in her dressing-room prepar.
ing for the grand entrance. Her crinps
Hattened 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 reaembled a stove polisher's
"crumbs of comfort in state of lique-
faction. They were anything but
"crumbs of comfort to poor Mile.
ZephyIa DeIphina, however, and she
puckered her lips into an unamiable
acidity. sr}t5s's eH s559ss4
On the show-hills 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 sieeds. In reality, she
was a dumpy little woman of thirty
eight, with crows feet under her eyes, a
thick waist, " number FIVE" boots, aud
her name was Maria Towcber. There
had been a Mr.. Towcher; but fatigue
engendered by constant attendance on
the members of Van Bustick's menage-
rie ("and the beasts is very wearin, es.
pecially them that's contenkerous")
aided by injudicious potations of Med.
ford rum, had fastened his demise.
There was child-a little daughter
ten, years old--named Angela. She
j, stood by her mothers side, arrayed in
pink tarletan and gilt psper "a miniature
Columbine-to be initiated this day into
the mysteries of " the ring"-nota "rail
road ring. nor "ring of | oliticians, y
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 anG
gauzy.
Four months she had been in process;
Of drill for this occasion. Morning
noon, and night, her feet bad twinklec
on the back of "Sparker," Jennie,
and "Vio," the three most .amiabl,
ponies in the establishment. She hat
learned to balance with pole, ant
without one--to vault lightly through
hoop covered with tissue paper-t,
stand on the point of one kidded foot
and kiss her hand enchantingly at al
imaginary audie,ce. Outside the ten
were flaming placards setting forth til
unparalleled attractions of "the It'll
Princess OF the Air the mos. graceful
and accomplished of infantiies perform
ersl She had received gold medal
from the crowned heads Iof. Europel |
= As Z" the Princess" had never cross e.
& the Atlantic-nay more, had never yer
tured to set foot on horseback in th
presence of single unprofessional spec
! tator, the above assertion might bav
been called in question by any one VIII
should choose 10 take the trouble-bu
nobody did SO, and lynn was none tn
wiser.
The townspeople focked into th
tent; rascally little boys gave melodior
: eatealls, or, in strident voices, croake
gid eppr' &
The band puffed and blew till the
faces were almost as scarlet rs the
jackets; the horses neighed an
praneed the director, of the menager
drew attention to "the largest deer .
the human familyi" and the perfo
nance was about to begin.
Little Angela grew white as dealt
and ciung to her mothers wrist. "Ol
NANNY, can't indeed can't Don
make me doifr' @
MI. Ms. Iowcher roughly shook off tt
hetie; warm DIST clasp, and turnc
: Grossly to the child. II must have Lee
inc lntoierable heat that ruffled h,
serenity for, In the main, she was kin
to Angela, and proud OF her beauty an
accomplishments. "Just say that agail
II wsi iyoa3 I'd just like to see you bacl
IN out now, when the bills is out, an
van Bust has given me your fir
months salary in advance. TO pay {;
Ine toggery on your backl Can't do
val, van. your Wen see if you can't. A.
you any bette than your mother, that
soiled and slayed for you ever since yt
We oorn-and your pore paw lyin' ST
ana cold in bis grave, all along O. Il
easAi Are You scaift z or Is il lie