The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-02-26
TIE oANVAsMAN,s STORY.


Nothing takes like a circus; and ours
takes better than aaybody's [ can tell
you. L am only an understrapper now,
you know, but the guvnOr did the right
thing by me, and, of course, l do the
right thing by him. You see, we al
ways make good fuss in the shape of
well billing the places we are going to,
for it doesn't do to be sting7 in that
way, and the gUvnor has some spicy af-
fairs OF rampajOus horses, and wonder
fuI jumping, and all in colors to catch
the eye; while for the shop windo 81 s
there's some Autographs of the per-
forming horse, or the helephant, or the
gutta-percha brothers tied in a human
Knot, while every one who exhibits has
q ticket for free admission.
But it's q queer life, sir, and one not
to be epvied-Only, you see, one must
i've and when there's q wife and some
little uus, why they must live too and
having been in the profession all my
lfe-whY, 1t don't seem as If I could
do anything out.
There, now then, them's two of mine
coming IN the ring now. First ones
II, and tOther's o. "The Pigmy
Twisters, :" we call 'em in the bill, and
they don't do amiss for their size. Pitch
a somerset easy, either one 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 a profession of their own to
make EN- independent when they won't
stop IN the nest any longer. All they've
got to do is to keep clear of their
fathers accident-for get hip Joint put
out, as did, ard then the country doc
tor to say It was a strain, and never try
to put it in until it was too Iate-get in
for an accident like that through tread
ing on piece of orange peel, and slip
ping when running for jump, why it's
doer up for life, as with me.
But 1t IS queer life, sir. No rest, no
comfort, no peace at all. Hotel always,
and say, now here's to-day: Long dis
lance to come and we had to start early
to get here in good time then there
was to dress, and take part in the pro-
cession at one O'Clock. Two O'Clock,
you know, was the first performance.
That was over about four and then,
of course, there was beginning again at
half-past seven. All and nobody
knows but them as has been at it, what
being about in the cold, wet weathe,
1s-dEesslng and undressing in q canvas
tent, with the WING cutting through
ana then hopping over the mud to gel
J
shiYer as you slip about, if the weather
has been very bad. Well, you gel
your part through, and then, nine cases
out of ten, what sort OF a place have
you TO go into? Why, one where there's
no rest fer you on account of its being
busy night because of the circus, and
the house full. So, p'raaps you get al
hour or twO's sleep, p'raps not, accord
ing to circumstances.
AS for ne, you know, I'm one of the
tent men for though one leg shorter
than the other makes me limp a good
deal, I'm strong, you know, and my jOt
is to see the tent up. You've noticed
us strike it as fast as ever we can as
soon as the performance is nearly over
Well, there's deal to do over that, ]
can tell you; for look at the weight OF
the great tent, and it's poles and ropes
besides which 1t is most always wet, and
so ever so much heavier than if it was
dry. 1 think sometimes as we have
least rest of any one, but then we take
1t IN turns, and sleep in the wagon go
ing from town to town, and that's very
refreshing when once you get used fC
it. AT first, you know, it's decidedly
rheumatic, and makes you very queer
but you soon get used to it and 1 can
stand anything now in the shape of wet
and cold. The women feel it worst
poor things but they seldom grumble
and puts up with everything most pa
tient-no matter what it is and they
have some hard times of it when the
weathers bad.
The people come to see and b,
amused. aud we have got to amuse YOU
Fancy, then, being the clown, and com
ing on with bad toothache, or a viOlen
cold In the chest, or racked so Will
rheumatic pains at every moment
agony. Just fancy all that, in a col,
spring time which Is the time when yoI
feel the cold most. But there, yol
can't fancy it, you people who Away
have comfortable homes and fire in 'em
can, though, ali and realize IL, too
for I've been through it all. [ begun
life with my father IN a circus.
Little slip of chap I was then, il
tights, and bit of paint on each chalk
Ell cheek, to make me look like a clown
ana then never knew what it was TO b
AFRAID, while he took me up on one O
the old piebald horses, aud held me o.
his shoulder, or under his arm or sbOO;
me on his head, or out at full Iengt1
upon his hsnd, and me all the tine wit
my little arms folded, and standing 8
still as q rod.
DO anything he would with me-.
never hinched. Used to like it. an
think it fine fun, feeling. all the Will
as old and deep as could be, while
quite looked down GA boys double m
age. Then I was regularly drilled int
life. you know, working hard every da
Mt the rehsaFsals-and very hard Nos
il is. I've done almost everything frol
the house work to the trapeza, "
turned summersets over five b r.e
and gone through the air like ball a
most. 1 gos well on with the tight rop,
and have walked right up a rope to
place a hupdr,d feet high, while Ii
fireworks have been fixing and splu
tering round me, for / always had GOO
nerve, aud never felt afraid Of au,
thing while, though l never got to /
regular crack ct any one thing, / wa
a sure card, ans a useful man TO a maj
ager, for, &c [ warnt a star, 1 nevJ
missed my tip. could always be SUI
OF an engagement. and q pretty gee
salary and what followed Why, VIII,
always follows-wby, I must take
fancy TO one of oEt'lsdy riders at Pa
canals Classical Cirque National, an
get married.
Now, you know most people, wht