Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-08-22
A Serious Joke.
Arkansaw Traveller.


At a circas performance in Arkan-
saw the conventional drunken man
who goes into the ring and wants to
ride the 'hoss" played his part trifie
finer than he intended. Sitting near
the ring were a couple of men from
"away over the creek" They were
perfectly wrapped up in the entertain
ment. and were very much annoyed
when the drunken fellow interrupted
the performance.
Il want you to go away" the ring
master said. You are lnterruplng
our show"
"Wanter ride that boss"
"You can't ride. You are too
drunk"
"Wanter ride that boss"
"Here," said the clown, assuming
a serious air. 1 want you to leave
here"
"Wanter ride that boss"
'It's as much as you can do to walk,
AID you can't ride that spirited ami
NAL. We paid for the privilege of
showing here, AID intend to give a
good show, but if you keep on inter
rupting us we can't do anything" =,
Hes the blamedest fool eversaw, ]"
said one of the men from over the
creek.
Yes" his companion replied, ''and
if he keeps on pregickin' round here,
I'll show him that | spent my money
to see this show an | don't wan ter
be cheated outen my rights by a
drunken fool We can see drunk fell
lers every day, but shows show,
lemme tell you"
The drunken fellow fell in front of
the horse and came in one of being
run over. The clown seized him and
threw him from the ring. He started
to go back, when one of the creek men
jumped up anu said:
mo, I'll be blamed if you do go
back"
TIE audience thought that it was
part of the trick and roared, and the
creek man thinking his course had re-
ceived the approval of the crowd, was
much encouraged.
Get away" said the joker, in an
undertone; this is part of the
show"
Yes, an it'll be a mighty sorry
part for you if you don't git outen
here"
Look Quit" and the old joker tried
TO shove the creek man aside. This
was more than the other countryman
could endure, and springing up, he
struck the perpetrator of octogenarian
mirth and his companion seized him
and began to drag him out. The
clown and the ringmaster rushed out
and tried to rescue their friend. but
the men from over the creek had al
ready stood too much. The drunken
fellow, who by this time was decided
ly sober, had gone beyond the bounds
of forgiveness and should be punished.
The audience, still regarding the whole
affair as grandfatherly joke, was al
most wild with joy.
"Dinged if you shall perfect SIGH a
fool as this is!' and one of tie crack
men struck the clown in the face and
knocked him down. Fresh fuel for
the fires of fun, and the audience
howled and roared and some of the
seats fell and a mighty shout arose.
The ringmaster was Knocked down
with the heavy emu Oh MS own whip.
and then tie audience saw that the
performance was business like and
practical. A number of the actors
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 fray, and
after awhil the entire circus outfit,
with its tattered canvas and blood
stained men, looked as melancholy as
the shank end of a day when a note
falls due. 1t is not often that an old
and well-seasoned joke causes trouble,
and the circus manager, battered and
torn as he is, is searching the clown
annals of the twilight ages in hope
that he may find trick old enough
for the public.