The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-06
The Circus.

To dwellers in the cities, where anluse-
ment arc at discount, aAd the trouble
lies in deciding what show to patronize,
the advent of a circus troupe occasions
little comment and no excitement. Peo-
pie grumble at having the dead walls
defaced with the staring bills and posters
emblazoned with representations of the
human form dancing on nothing, and up
side down at that; they smile over the
spectacle, on paper, Of Middle. La
something or other riding six horses all
at the same time, with only two legs and
one body to do it Without they don't
think OF going to see how it is done--that
is, the more respectable portion of them.
In the country it is different.
When community Of people is at such
low ebb in the way Of amuscments as to
find walk to the grave yard, Sunday
afternoon, exhilarating, and funeral in
the meeting house diversion, of course a
circus is something to be talked about.
The village paper prints glowing nd
vertisement, embellished With cngravings
of the wonderful chariot, drawn by ten
white horses; and then there are the
dancing bears, and the elephants and the
monkeys. And everybody has lurking
curiosity to see neutrality-suspicious. be-
cause there is Darwinian streak in them,
and they long to know something of their
illustrious ancestry.
For three weeks before the coming Of
the circus the country boys and girls do
without their sticks of candy when IA
ther goes to the store," and save up their
pennies to paw their fare into the circus.
'.Admitancc fifty cents; children under
twelve years, half price," SO reads the
circular.
About that time all the boys and girls
are under twelve years.. 1t will be arare
thing to find any children Or young peo.
pie over that age. The old folks think
fifty cents "awfui high to see one OF these
kicking up shows" and they talk it owe,
among themselves, snd decide that ''as
Mary Ann is small Of her age, which il
fifteen, and as Thomas amt very stout
built tor boy of eighteen, they gues:
they'll try to- get 'em in for half price
Thomas can scrooch q little, and Mar,
Ann don't look more'n ten, with her hal
braided and hanging down her back"
Good honest souls, who wouldn't b.
seen putting counterfeit nickle on tn
, plate on Sunday, will argue this, an,
teach their children lessons in deception
but it is circus, ana quarter is all
is worth. IT,.
A few people there are who conside
circuses immoral, and such close thci
: blinds on circus days, out can generall
be found peeping out through. the Stats 9
I the procession, though they would stoutl
deny the fact il questioned.
Every girl haste have new dress rfe
t the circus. . She also must have her ht
smartened upa little, for all the :bear
: will be there, and ready to "treat" Ii
e best-looking girls to peanuts an
: lemonade, and perhaps take them in
J gee the side-shows.
~ The circus affords splendid oppo
e tunity for devoted swans to escort the
< lady loves abroad; and you will see the
by the dozen, in their, long tailed coat
II and well-oiled hair, carrying an umbrel
o. q in one hand, and supporting their heart
8 adored on the other arm. And if very d
20 voted and, strictly speaking, ''meanir
n business" the faithful swain will load h
e down with bags Of candy and peanut
" and Japanese fan, and the poor, blus
T. ing, happy young thing will stagg
IS along under these burdens Of atfectio
q. at and it anybody steps on her trail she
-, ~ helpless till her adorer swears at hi
n and wants to know ''if he can't keep the
IT, two school-houses of his of from a lad,
a dress2" il.
III ~ Well, let the circus flourish, and t
to trapeze. find favor--cvcr. thing has
advantages, and circus is the best pl.
a. in the world to pass bogus currency.