Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-04-22
BROKE UP THE CIRCUS.
An Episode of Civil Rights
Existence in New Orleans.

now did that happen!
We'll, sir, all of US boys had got leave
to have our circus in the yard. We had
doorkeeper at the alley gate, and
charged two pins ticket, but we didn't
allow no dead-heads; only if nurse
brought baby we didn't charge for the
baby. All Of US was blacked some
sung, some played on the bones, some
were horses, and | was clown"
"You must have made a nice clown"
81 did that all the boys said | was
bully. Then we had a Cog that coald
stand on his hind feet and march like
soldier, aud he jumped through the hoop,
too. Tue house-that is, the yard-was
crowded, and we struck two papers of
pins every time. We got better and
better plenty Of growed up people CAME,
and we was making frst-rate season,
you bet."
"Why did you qnit? Did you quarrel
among yourselves?'
"Oh, no; we was all friends, and d.
yided the pins equal. We didn't have
no stars to take all and leave us to pay
for the candles. No, sir"
"What was the matter, then?"
"Well, sir, I'll tell you. You know
Aunt Marget? But of course you don't.
Veil, she is big, fat, colored woman,
with FIVE or six ragged aud dirty little
children. She lived in a gallery room,
and could look down if she wanted to !;
but she wasn't satisfied with gallery seat
leastwise her children wasn't. They
came around and tried 70 get into the
circus with the white people, through the
old bagging, you know, we had on one
side. Well the doorkeepor asked them
ten pins; but that was cn!y an excuse,
you know, and they didn't have any ten
pins, and 50 they had to 60 away. But
Aunt Marget she heard from the gallery
and she came down in the greatest rage.
She says. "What you mean, you white
trash, by 'fusen to let my chillpu into yo'
show? I'm COED as you, and dey is as
good as you; and de law is made for dem
as well as for you, and you amt so pitched
white yourselves, for Tou has gone and
blacked your face to ekslize yourself with
niger"
ave said we wasn't goin' to let no coll
Orcd persons in unless they paid up ten
pins at the door. Then Aunt Maiget
came down from the gallery and put her
hands on her hips, just 80. She said.
Look here, white boys. is you gwine to
let my chillun in? I'm livin' l pays my
rent an you is on my primmises, an Pm
titled to see all dat comes into dis yard.
I'm on de free liss, am, an desc chillun
is too. Now just want to know if they
can cum in on de free liss or no. | ask
you once We got mad and said we
wouldn't allow no Diggers, without they
went up to the gallery. Then she says,
L ask you twice. One of the riders
cursed her, aud one Of the horses threw
an oyster she'll at her head. She says. L
ask you three times but she didn't wait
for an answer. She Knocked over the
box aud scattered the pins. She stuck
her old woody head through the papered
hoop that was just ready for the dog, and
10 less than three minutes she had broke
up everything and ruined our dressing
room aud all our properties. We pitched
into her, Of course, and her little darkey.
The horses and riders aud the clown, and
the dog barked and rue around, and some
of the people helped us. but she made q
bully fight, though we tore of a heap Of
clothes, and she fell back fighting and
abusing us, and screaming for the police
and the soldiers, ,and her children screamed
too. We didn't mean to hurt them bad
you know, but we were real mad, tel
you that. So she got back on toe gallery
and her children got there too, and wher
we saw her coming out with bucket o
SOP, we fell back into the alley, for W,
didn't want our clothes ruined. So W,
all came away; but if the boys catch hei
or any of her brats around, we'll give
'em 6ts for breaking up our circus.'
"Can't you have it somewhere else?'
"We haven't got anything to have i
with, without its US and the dog. Bu
we'll put up again but there shan't N
niger cume in. not for hundred pins
They would ruin any show.
w To re perfectly confident tha