Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-11-20
THE CLOWNS STORY.

well, you SEQ, 6lf, IL seems TO be one
of them things as won't wear ont. It's
thing as attracts children and grown
people too-people with young ideas,
you know and as it isn't likely that
children will ever wear out,-I mean
the custom of having children,-why,
it isn't likely as circuses III ever 20
down. Why, how the old country peo-
pie now talk about going up to Lon
don and SEQ tho sights; why, what's
the thing they always recklest best :
Why, isn't it about going to "Hash-
leys2" TO be sure it is; and some of
them will talk to you for long enough
about old Ducrow, and her cream
ponies, and Miss Woodford pitching
off the horse on her head, and then
about the fire, and Batty and the Cook,
and all the rest of it. Aud I don't
care, summer or winter, wet or dry,
whenever we go with our troupe into q
country town, there is always an au.
dience.
Nothing takes like q circus; and
yours takes better than anybody's,
can tell you. I am only an understrap-
per, now, you know; but the guvner
did the right thing by me, and OF
course 1 do the right thing by him.
You see, we always make a good fuss
in the shape of we'll billing the place
we are going to, for it doesn't do to be
stingy in that way, and the guvnor has
some spicy affairs of ralnpagious horses
and wonderful jumping, and all the
colors that catch the eye; while fol
the shop windows there's some litho.
graphs of the performing horse, or the
elephant, or the gutta-percha brothers,
tied in q human knot, while every one
who exhibits has ticket for free ad.
mission.
But it is a queer life, sir, and one
not to be envied; only, you see, you
must live; aud when there's q wife and
some little 'uns, why, OF course, they
must live, too; and having been in
the profession all my life, why, il
doesn't seem as if could do anything
out.
There, now. then, thcm's two OF
mine coming in the ring now. First
ones eleven, aud t'other's nine. "The
Pigmy Twistcrs," we call 'em in the
bill, and they don't do amiss for thei,
size. Pitch summerset easy, eithe,
of them. There they go, you see and
after another year or two's eddication
they'll be great help to the family,
besides having profession of theil
own to make 'em Independent when
they won't stop in the nest any longer;
All they've got to do is to keep clear ol
their father s accident for, get q hip
joint put ont az did, and the countr,
doctor to say it was strain, and neve1
put it up till too late-get in for an &C
cident like that, by treading on al
orange peel and Slipping when running
for q jump, then it's doer up for life
a. with me.
But it is queer life, sir. No rest
no comfort, no peace OF all. Public
house always-and say, now, here's to
day; long distance to come, and hat
to start early in order to get here il
good time; then there was to dres,
) and take part in the procession at on'
o'clock. Two o'clock, you know, wa
the afternoon performance. That wa
over about four, and then, of course
: there was to begin at half past seven
! All and nobody knows but them a
has been to it, what being about in til,
cold vet weather is--dressing and un
dressing in canvas tent, with th
wind cutting through, aud then hop
ping over the mud to get into tn
damp ring, when you're ready to shiy
er as you slip about, if the weathe
has been very mad. Well You &c
! your part through, and then, in min
, cases out of ten, what sort of a plac
: have You to &" intoa Why one there
no rest for you on account of it's bein
a busy night because Of the circus an
the house full. So p'r'aps you get u
hour or two sleep, p'r'aps not, accord
ing to circumstances.
As for me, you know, I'm ono of Il,
tent men, for though ono Icy short,
, nm the other makes me limp goo
|; .leai, Pm strong, you know, and IN
job is to sec tho tent up. You've II,
ticed us strike it "a fast US ever We Gu