The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-25

spire increased faith in our people, 10 1ne
great benefit of all our interests.
Tho ladies Of the sawdust are not 80 hand
some as thew used to be, nor the jokes oil MT.
Werr,man 90 funny. Or is it that we are
growing old 7-Petersdurg lnder-Apped'.
We are almost ready to say, "palsied be
the tongue that tells me So" Oh no, 1t can
not be so. So young, yet so old? The Ian
guage of our young contemporary TENDS 10
cow "my better part of mani" What, 10
the sawdust and the queens Of the circus
pall upon him? If SO. we are surpusaee
and supererogation. But no, it cannot De.
He but Jokes, and with q mischievous pur'
pose. That's it. We will not believe nm.
To us the circus has still irresistible charms,
as it had-bow long ago is not pertinent.
The sawdust bas still its precious odor,
and the graceful limbs encased in PINK
hose, the feathers, the spangles, the
smiling faces and bright eyes, have the
same enchanting irtllence that they had
when we beheld the first circus that
ever appeared in Virginia. Indeed, such is
our admiration of the circus that we feel
sort Of love for everybody who adnres it.
There is dear lie between us and venera
Bile Judge who was never known to move
faster than walk except on one occasion,
when, late starting to the circus, he absolutely
ran to be in time to see the "grand entree."
What q glorious man he was to conceal SO
bright mark of true, genial human nature
under the ermine Of justice
The first circus that honored the soil of
Virginia was so kEd as 10 visit the villages.
1t came to that 10 which we lived. 1t ar
rived on Sunday; and such was the sensation
1t produced that not even the most pious per-
sons thought about the outrage on religion of
circus company travelling on Sunday! In
that day the shows did not send their bills
ahead, aud the first people knew OF them
they were "there'' But nobody In the vii
lage could imagine what sort of show it
was. The traps and decorations Numbered
through the streets, and the youth Of the
place sustained an electric excitement Wnpre.
cedented. The houses were emptied of old
and young, and the iuGuiry went from every
mouth, "What is it,"
At last physician, lately finished of by
DR.. RUSH, in Philadelphia, kindly came
along the street, and immediately all ebser:
walton was centred upon him. If anytedy
could tell anything about it, the Doctor, who
had been to Philadelphia and knew all
things, could. All rushed to the Doctor for
7 Of; 1aprpn If S6dE-
importance, he yet had too kind heart to
hide bis light under bushel. Good people,
said he, be patient, and I'LL tell you. Itss
"circus." 4 "eireus." What the devil
,(lor SO they talked-a Yankee would have
said What on airth'D Is tbat2 Well, said
the Doctor, 1t Is a show in which horses gal
lop around ring with persons riding them.
The Doctors information was snapped up y
those who heard him. and told TO others );
and the Doctor, assisted by those that went
of as missionaries, soon spread the news far
and near.
Time wore on; the population vas chock
full Of expectation. The hours We're slow
night bought not It's usual amount Of sleep,
and the whole town was wide-awake by
early dawn on Moudcy. The day was IA
holiday. The houses emptied themselves.
The boys crowded about the hotel where
the wonderful showmen lodged; little
eyes were peeriug through alley.gstes
and key-holes to get a glimpse of what was
going on in the, for the nonce, enchanted
tavern. A hundred little noses were fat
tened against window-panes to get the
faintest sign of the actors, and especl-
ally of the little prodgies--the won.
derful WILLIE and the little angel
CELESTE. The time would 60 sloE whether
or not; but all waiting must be ended, and
at last the gay riders were detected Ia going
to the ssable.yard, and presently the whole
cava!cade Of lady. and gentlemen.riders and
the prodigies fled out of the gate, ahd the
populace were overwhelmed with admira-
ton. The gay colors, the shimmeripg tinsel,
the heroic feathers, and the superb skewball
and spotted horses! But Mr.. MERRxaas
laia't that the right spelling. G. p was the OBJ
served Of all observers. The other riders
looked like princes and Processes; but Mr..
~]A@n"Aa LIZ "oe LUG PopuiAf IafOTue-
be was the democratic tie between the
lords of the ling and the people. lie was
JoVial, good fellow. His name was WELLS
and while we won't confess to the fading of
the charms Of the circus, We must say that
WELLS was the most accomplished and ire.
sistibly comic Dir. MEsRYAAx that We ever
saw. de dispensed bis attentions inpartially
The citizens, saying very humorous
ana very good things to all. He would have
hos1lned no one by sarcasm. Had he done
50 on that day his shaft would have been .
a'a' 10 tbe poor wight who exerted all his i
power 70 see oil that wss possible and min.
a'o 1924 's| .!loss With tie mos. wonderful