The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-26
\ Serious Joke.

tCGNtl al UlIllo dEO, Ut ~ CtlCuS pei
formance in Arkansaw, the conven.
tional drunken man who goes into
the ring and wants to ride that
'hoss" played his part a little finer
than he intended. Sitting near the
ring were a couple OF men from
"away over the creek" They were
perfectly prapped up in the enter
tainmeat, and were very much an
moved when the drunken fellow in
terrupted the performance.
IL want you to 90 away" the ring
master said. You are interrupting
our show
"Wanter ride that hoss."
you can't ride. You are toe
drunk"
Here" said the clown, assuming
a serious air, II want you to leave
here"
"Wanter ride that hoss.
"It's as much as you can do ia
walk, and you can't ride that spirit
ed animal. We paved for the privi-
lege Of showing here, and intend to
give good show, but if you keep on
interrupting us we can't do any
thing
Hes the blamedest fool | evel
saw" said one OF the men from away
over the creek.
Yes" his companion replied
''and il he keeps on progickin' round
here, III show him that | spent my
money to see this show, and / don't
wan ter be cheated outen my rights
by drunk fool. We can see drunk
fellers every day, but a shows :
shO y, lemme tell YOU
The drunken fellow fell in front @
the horse and came near being rur
over. The clown seized him anC
threw him from he ring. He start
ed to 90 back, when one of the creek
men jumped up and said
No, III be blamed if you go back.
The audience thought 1t was .
part OF the trick and roared, and the
creek man. thinking that his course
had received the approval Of the
crowd, was much encouraged.
Get away" said the cid joker, IL
an undertOne, this is a part OF the
show
Yes, an it'll be mighty sorry
part for you if you don't git outer
here
Look out" and the old joker
tried to shove the creek man aside
This was more than the other ceun
trvman could endure, and springing
up he struck the psrpetrator OF octo-
genarian mirth, and his companion
seized him, and began to drag him
out. The clown and ring-mastel
rushed out and tried to rescue theil
friend, but the men from over the
creek had alIeady stood too much
The drunken fellow, who was by thi.
time quite sober, had gone beyond
the bonds of forgivness and should
be punished. The audience, still
regarding the whole affair as a grand
fatherIv joke, was almost wild with
joy.
"Dinged if YOU shall protect sich
a fool rs thisl" and one ofthe creek
men struck the clown in the face
and knocked him down. Fresh fuel
for the fires of fun. and soma of the
seats fell and a mighty shout arose
The ring master was knocked down
with the heavy end Of his own whip,
and then the rest way business like
and practical. A number of the ac-
tors rushed to the conflict, and a
party Of cross-road boys reinforced
the men from over the creek The
fifty-six special constables joined the
fry, and after awhile, the entire cir
Gus outfit, with It's tattered canvass
and blood-stained men, looked as
melancholy rs the shank end OF a
day when a note falls due. 1t isnot
often that an oil and well-seasoned
Joke causes trouble, and the circus
manager, tattered and torn as he is,
is searching the clown annals of the
twilight ages, in the hope that he
may find a trick old enough for the
public.