The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-25
The Uircus Didn't Show.
Texas sinings.

J0nn L. Smith, the theatrical man.
ager. whose recent benefit at the Star
theater was a handsome testimonial
to his popularity in New York, tells
the following story of two circus ad-
vertisers we'll known in their day,
Charley Castle and doctor" Jones.
These two worthless were advertising
circus in Virginia just after the war.
One day they reached Lexington,
Va, where Stonewall jackson is
buried. Their first move was to find
the clerk of the corporation and ar
range for license. Southern officials
did not look kindly on show people
from the north, and they often charg-
ed license that made a Snowman
turn pale. Jones, who was a ready
talker, set out to propitiate the clerk.
"a brave fight you made of it,"
said Jones, after making themselves
known.
ave did the best we could" said
the clerk, who carried the scars Of
numerous battles.
"But the valor of the gods them
Selves" exclaimed Jones, grandi-
loquently, "backed by the purest and
most exalted patriotism, could not
have withstood such overwhelming
odds as were brought against you.
Yet while fearfully scourged by the
demons of war, you have the proud
satisfaction of knowing that you
came out of the sanguinary struggle
with honor still bright and untarn-
ished."
Are you a Southern man, sir ?"
asked the clerk.
"Yes-no-Well. partially. l was
born in the southern portion of Phil.
adelphia. L may say that I SYM
pathized strongly with the Southern
cause"
"That's what allied me-" chimed in
Castle, mentally figuring on the
amount of reduction they were likely
to get on the license.
"By the way" Jones went on,
linear your town, [ am told. repose
the earthly remains of one of the
brayest and most distinguished Gle.
| tenders of the Stars and Bars-noble
StOuaualI TaaIycpp -
"Yes," replied the clerk, she is
buried in the little graveyard up on
the hill yonder."
"The purest man and the greatest
soldier that America has ever pro.
duced," exclaimed Jones, enthusias.
tically. His name engrayen on the
enduring walls Of eternity. His deeds
will be recalled by the historian. the
orator and the poet when the names
of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan are
lost in oblivion. How far is it up to
that cemetery ?"
about three miles,
"Oh. come to business" interrup.
ted Castle, impatiently.
ST can do no business" said Jones
in tone of stern reproof, "until
have first made pilgrimage to the
grave of StOnewall Jackson. Come
Castle, it is pious duty for US BOTH
II was hot day and the roads deer
with dust, so Castle did not relish the
pilgrimage very much, but circus
licenses came high in the South and
he was disposed to try the uses O.
conciIiation. Towards the close O.
the afternoon Castle and Jones nigh
have been seen returning from the
cemetery on the hill, dusty anC
tired, each with buttonhole bouque
formed of material gathered at the
grave of the hero they professed tt
worship. When they again founC
the clerk Jones burst forth
81 have visited the hermitage O
Andrew Jackson, haye wandered
in groves of Monticello. / have stood
by the tomb of the immortal Wash
mutton himself, but | look upon thi
as the greatest and most exalted pill
grimage of my lifev
"Yes, sir, and I want to add"
"Add nothing" broke in Castle
tired of this roundabout way of doin.
business "what 1 want to know is
how much do you charge here for
circus license ?"
"Four hundred and fifty dollars,
f replied the clerk.
From Castle-"WHAT !"
"Four hundred and fifty dollars
"Why blank blank your blanket
blank to blank and blanknation !!
, yelled Castle fairly dancing wit
rage "the war ended too soon. Yo
wasn't licked enough !"
That circus didn't show in Lex
+ ington.