The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25
The First Circus.


Reader, Of course yoa have been to a
circus, II not, you have missed a gala
feature in your life, leaving vacuum for
which there is no substitute to supply in
the future. Who Of US do not remember
the first show of this kind that we attend.
ed? 1t is as vivid as though it but hap
pened yesterday. How We went early,
took seat, high one, close up against
the brass band, and where we could occa-
sionally peep into the dressing room. How
we longed, sighed and fairly yearned for
the performance to commence, which
longing deeply increased as our stock Of
peanuts gradually waned from our trowsers
pocket Even the "supes" putting the
centre pole lights in trim, was . beautiful
sight, and the men who occasionally walked
across the ring, were objects of real curiosi.
ty. How each futter in the tapping can
vass, occasioned comment aud speculative
thoughts, accompanied by prodigious
amount Of wondering as to how the great
tabernacle was put up, and who invented
shows, all eliminating in a general wish
that We were the vender of the great huge
sticks of candy across the arena, that we
might travel with the circus, and be q
prominent part of so great portion of the
world of wonders. Then when the band
played very high and fast, and the ring
filed with horses, men and ladies, al
dressed in spangles, brighter than anything
We had ever dreamed of-then il was that
our eyes grew like goose eggs, and oul
hearts jumped and danced merrily to each
and every trot of the horses, and we forgot
our existence and lived in a world celes
tial The men were all giants, with mus
cles of iron, and the ladies, well they wert
angels-.of the prettiest stamp picked ou
of Heaven to ride circus horses. The
clown too, he couldn't move his little fin
ger without provoking laugh, and wher
he jumped himself into the ring and sale
"here we are again" we almost died from
an over pressure of fun, occasioned by tina
very funny remark.
The trapeze, the barrel feat, the mon
strous balls, cannon balls each weighing Al
lbs, tossed up and caught by man, oil
his head, shoulders, back, anywhere-tha
was the most formidable display of strength
and graceful art ever exhibited on earth
We can see that Hercules get-great mas
sive man weighing perhaps half q ton
There wasn't poor acrobatic feat per
formed, and we so much envied that littl,
fellow who stood on his Pap's head on on,
foot, the other leg at right angles, resem
bling weather cock. And how short tn,
performance was too-too short by at leas
three hours Presently around came tn,
man, good, kind, pleasing, winning man
who told us about another show to succeed
the one about to close--in the same RIM
would last one hour-better than tn,
first one, and all for aquarter OF cours,
We staid for circus No. 2, and as green it
our memory as pea pod, were oar sat
reflections 20 minutes later. A man neve
goes to but one first circus, He may g,
on and on until he gets too old and stiff
to climb the treacherous gradatory seat
peculiar to such exhibitions, but he'l neve
awaken to the genuine ripe enthusiasm
which inflated his heart at the beginnin,
of his early career of show going. Their