Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-12

j hNIGHT OF THE 1ARDSTICK IN A
SIDE SHow.-Charmed by the bagpipe
during the last week, our fr end Joe
| heard music in the air, and was IN
consciously drawn towards the little
show around the corner. ne was ac-
companied by Dannie, the sU0ar-eured
blonde, (mail) They arrived at the
entrance, paid their twenty-five cents,
dre1D their little pencils and waltzed
in. They gazed at snakes, saw the
monkeys, heard music aud we're in
troduced to the Circassian Qneen, re-
Gently imported from Cairo. The
combined influence of the music and
the dazzling beauty of the Queen,
Overpowered their senses; and they
were at the mercy of the edpper, who
saw his advantage, and immediately
availed himself thereof. They were
introduced to the great phrenologist,
and the capper representing the char
acter of a greeny from Henderson
county, had his head COMMUNICATION
which he arose from the chair. Mr..
Phrenologist asked whether or not
any other gentleman present wished
his head examined. Surprising this
was a part of the show, our quandom
friend, Josie, stepped forward and
took a seat. The scientist Gn horn)
after going through the wool of Josie,
expatiated largely upon his good
qualities, dwelt upon his shrewdness,
said he was not easily deceived, a
good Judge of human nature, and one
not easily ''taken in" etc. Josie
swallowed the bait and arose from his
seat. At this juncture Mr.. Hender-
son county steps up aud says, ''Mr.
Barber here's your two dollars" JOS
eyes protruded, he smells q mice, but
is game to the last. He whips out his
little roll, (which is hght,) and with
great reluctance forks over the two
dollars. As he is retiring, he frantic
ly seizes hold of the sugar cured, and
begs him not to ''give him away"
Not for Jo," exclaims the mail friend,
but the sell vas compelled to leak out,
il could not be hid under a mail bag.
The Fake show struck out for Missis-
sippi early Monday morning, and a
hog driver who met them on the road,
overheard them talking at a hash
house, telling the above story. He
came to Jackson and gave it publicity,
greatly to the annoyance of Joe, who
now says, that side shows are bad
scheme, and cappers and phrenolo-
gists generally are dsad beats. lie
doesn't have a very high opinion of
hog drivers either.
A SNOWMAN IN BAD LUcK.E. Is.
Meigs, who tor some time past has
been plying the vocation of Snowman
in Center Alley, in this city, came to
grief few days ago. He had on ex-
hibition q very fat woman, who pulled
down about $50 avoirdupois; a small
er beauty called the Circassian Queen,
| two or three ''MOdOc Indians" and
the celebrated American Whistler"
Joe. The price of admission was %
/ cents, but owing to the tightness of
the times, the attendance was small,
and at last the tent wa abandoned
/ by the performers. Whistling Joe Is
now earning his Subsistence by per-
forming ia the bar rooms of the city.
/ The fat woman and tn Queen are vet
/ with US, but have laid aside their
robes OF royalty. aud betaken them
selves to other pursuits. The tent is
still pitched IN Center Alley, but it Is
more monumental than useful. The
| life of the travelling Snowman is al
ways hard one, and its pathos has
/ been welded 10 everlasting fame by
/ Chas. Dickens in that saddest of al
stories, The Old Curiosity Shop"
Whistling Joe and his companions
may know nothing of Mrs farley and
her wax. works, but they know of all
the privations and disappointments,
OF all the poor makeshifts and contri-
vances by which the children of the
tenteke out meagre subsistence. We
do not rejoice IN the misfOrtunes of
MIR. Meigs, but they may at least
serve TO point moral. Regular labor
is in the main best for the human
race. In this.way the great majority
of men and women were ordained to
eat their bread, aud the exceptions to
the law are few.