Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-09
OUR SPHINX.
What a Circus Man Thinks of
Mayor Loague.


Mayor League, although quiet, un
obtrusive citizen and grave-looking gen
tleman Of a religious cast Of counte
nance, enjoys practical joke as we'll Al
any man born on the bluffs. Like "OlC
Noll," Oliver Cromwell, he branches Of
while conversing into subjects mos
foreign to the objective point of discus
sion, and when his auditor gets lost il
following pthe Mayors train Of thought
expressed in positive and decided Ian
guage, he (the Mayor swoops down sud
denly upon the subject matte: and dis
poses Of it in few words, at least in the
most conclusive, even if not satisfactory
manner Our Ledger Liner, close OBJ
server of men and manners, has on
many occasions enjoyed silently this
peculiarly of the head of the Commune
and has endeayored to study out by a
close process of reasoning the peculiar
mental structure Of our worthy Mayor.
A day or two since Mat Iceland, agent
of Dan Rice's circus, "a sharp man, who
possesses the suariter in mode to a
great degree, and who has met all kinds
of men in his official capacity, had &C.
casion to call upon Mr.. League, and was
compelled to give him up like a conun.
drum, and admit that he was the best
practical jester Of the day. Iceland
walked into the municipal sanctum and
met the Mayor, saying. Mr.. League,
my name is Iceland, the advance agent
of old Dan Rices circus, and in the
name of Mr.. Rice / respectfully solicit
the use of the bluffs for two days per-
formance. Mr.. Mayor looked grave, and
in true banking style replied: You can
have the use Of the bluffs, sir, for $500
day; l must have money to run the
city government, and besides regard
circuses as injurious to the public
morals as well as credit; people
abandon work in order to spend
time and money at these exhibitions
such as you purpose giving" Mat was
nonplussed, and answered vaguely and
recklessly, What FIVE hundred dollars
a day, in addition to the State, county
and city license?" Even so, replied
the Mayor softly; such is my unaltera-
BILE decision" Mat looked at the head
of the municipal government as phre.
nologist would subject; he saw a
round head, heavy forehead, decision Of
character in the lines of the mouth, but
not single twinkle of either softness or
humor in the eyes. Mat was whipped,
and blurted out: Well, Mr.. Mayor, we
have to show in Memphis; our printing
has been ordered, our posters are up"
:" have seen the posters, interrupted
the Mayor sharply. Well, continued
Dan agent, by thunderl we will pay
the license, the FIVE hundred dollars
a day, give you and everybody
connected with either the State, county
or city governments free tickets let you
take possession of the ticket Office and
keep the receipts, pay our own ex-
penses; give big show for two days |
md then slip out o. town, unless we are
busted, and then you will have $50 pau
,ers on your hands" "Paupers remain
ng in Memphis longer than three days
20 on the chain-gang," whispered the
Mayor. IAN right" said Mat, as he
put on his caster and was about to leave
for the purpose of visiting the telegraph |
office and rendering his resignation to
Dan Rice. Hold" softly interrupted |
Mr.. League as a merry twinkle lighted
up his.eyes, sit down, Mr.. Iceland, this
hing can be arranged; you can have the
bluffs free of charge; pay your city
license, but tell Dan Rice that the next
lime he comes to Memphis | will not let
him off so easily" Iceland caved |
Ind offered the Mey or handful of com
mo, sir l have made
t a rule for myself as well as those under
ne, never to accept complimentary |
tickets to any exhibition or any other
hing. am much obliged, but this is
ny rule" Good evening, Mr.. Mayor"
aid Mat, and be walked out scratching
he back of his head, concluding, las he
Ifterward said), that Mayor League was
little the heaviest man he ever tackled /
~ business; but he is all right" added |
)ur reporter refused Indignantly.
ReOPening.