The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-27
JOINING A CIRCUS.

toned 10. lt was plle or moldy nay
within easy reach Of a mule that haGn
yet got acquainted with Us
About o'clock in the morning We were
told to make hasty toilet and repair TO
the dining tent As matter of course
was not hungry. The sight of that
table made Frank turn pale and be wanted
| to back out, but Chided him for his weak
ness and We took seat. ordered the
waiter to bring up q cup Of coffee II
wasn't served in china cups and saucers
either Everything about q circus dining
tent is made to prevent breakage. and OF
the planest kind OF tinware The bread
was stale. the meat tough and the butter
= That was our fare. but for dinner
we had potatoes cooked in full dress
After breakfast, when We were ready TO
start. we found. to orr dismay. that our
wardrobe had disappeared What were
we to do2 Who could have taken it, /
went to the hostler He told me to keep
still and ne would find it in a day or two
The boss told us how and what TO do
and soon We were ready TO start with the
| rest You see we Travelled by land and
by night and day as well.
Ny lob was to drive the caravan con
tanning the lion. while Frank had cage
Of wax figures When climbed up on
my vehicle and pulled up the rcins !
thought myself the most important per
sonage connected with the whole concern
More than once caught myself build
ing air castles Il have taken the right
step. | said 70 myself. "to become fam
Gus az a great circus man have begun
at the bottom round of the ladder. and an
going TO work my way up by degrees
that the way to attain success. won't
have to drive very long The boss will
| soon recognize my Importance and pro
mote me to better position
Just then heard cry of all up come
down the line Not knowing its meaning
paid no attention and kept on with my
castle building received a shock that
almost threw me from my seat. Awaken
ing from my reverie | found had run
into the cage in front. This made the
driver very indignant and he shouted
back TO me. Here, what's the matter
you gawky son Of gun with hayseed IN
your hair If you run into me again your
pumpkin faced farmer girl won't know
YOU turned around and 20 ms dismay
Frank was getting Il similar lecture. /
saw them all climbing down from their
perches. 1t was a chilly night and they
were making preparations to warm up
little. They took down rail by the
roadside. and for a starter poured gallon
or two of the oil in lamps, OF torches. on
the rails and soon had fire Then each
man was expected 10 tell some story !
told mine, in my own way, but poor Frank
couldn't tell anything 50 they let him off
provided he would pack enough rails to
keep good fire.
Well, everything moved along admira
Div until the next stand or camping
ground was reached, and then | had
trouble 1t was not long until everybody
about the whole concern was calling me
Jack, John. Bob and every other name
they could think OF. This is n custom IN
circus politeness, but | did not know
il, and modestly informed some Of
the smaller ones they would have 10
either whip me or stop their nicknames
One fellow said he could do both. and he
pulled off his coat but before We had
commenced our duel the manager told the
other fellow To 70 about his business.
while he waited me of 10 work. gave
it my undivided attention, az | did not
know but what | might own half inter.
est in the old trap in a week OF two.
1t was u warm day and | took my over
coat off TO eat dinner thought IL was
warm enough 10 do 50. ana politeness
rather demanded it OF me. laid it down
on the seat beside me, and when | was
done my dinner | was surprised to find
my oyercoat gone and no one had seen it
going OFF or knew where it was at all. |
never knew, or found out, for that mat
ter. 1t was then that saw the error Of
carrying any clothing along with circus.
Every circus may not be as belligerent
as ours was. | soon found out what a
general roundup was. Along IN the
evening of the first day the boys sue
ceeded in raising q racket, Of course all
hands had to join the melee, poor Frank
and /. with the rest of them. Clubs and
fists were the main instruments used. and
for while clubs were trumps beyond a
doubt. After the battle looked around
for poor Frank, and found him bleeding
got q comrade and we carried him into
the museum and sent for the veterinary
surgeon. He recuperatod faster than |
expected, and by time TO start that night
he had entirely recovered.
The next day. now that | was mem.
Der of that world famed aggregation.
concluded to go and hear the clowns Il. Z.
Jokes, witness the riding. the vaulting,
the wonderful feats of strength and skill.
Nv associates directed me TO 60 around
and come in from the dressing room. /
did. but want to tell you lcame out that
way. too | have thought since 1t was a
put up Job on me. As soon as reached
the inside was suddenly turned around,
and that all knew for an hour or two
When came to my senses, or rather
when my senses came 20 s1e, saw the
man who set me in locotlot.Oa. As he
had a real nice apology col.ld do nothing
but forgive him. It never occurred
again
By this time we had been out long
enough for them 70 settle on some differ.
ent and definite name lor each OF US.
was called the dude" on account Of my
good clothes. which did not form very
striking contrast with the rest. and Frank
well, they just called him Sleepy.
Everything was moving along nicely as
far as the circus was concerned, and one
day thought to vary the monotony a
littlo by going up town 70 see the country
bows come in with the girls. had not
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