The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-09-06
Fhe Advantage Of the CIrcns.

lG ~ puUI queotiou tua9 nos uoe az
least two sides; and the wrong side of
the circus has been 80 often presented
from our pulpits and in our religious
papers, that we are beginning to think
1t only fair that the readers of this paper
should have an opportunity ofseeing some
of the advantages that accompany this
very popular institution. We are promp.
ted to this discussion by the fact that
Barnum's circus has just folded its tents
like the Arabs, and as silently stolen
away from our city; and thus we have
had fresh opportunity of noting the
blessing which is brought to our highly
favored community.
And 6rst : On the score of health, we
have much to be graceful for. A. mum.
Der of excellent women, during the
recent protracted spell of damp weather,
have been martyrs to neualgia, rheuma.
tism and other chronic ailments which
had de6ed the skill of our best physiciens
and had prevented the good sisters from
attending their beloved church. were
suddenly cured of their complaints, and
turned out on The 28th ofJuneNto to see the
circus.
Secondly: The improvement in our
peoples facilities for transportation was
quite notable circumstance. Church
members who had not been to church
for nearly year, because they chad no
conveyance, and it was too far to walk"
found, upon further consideration, that
they could hook up the old roam to the
milk. wagon, or the jersey Heretofore
regarded as unsafe and make perfectly
safe and highly enjoyable trip to New
BEDFORD to see the circus.
Sociologists, and other writer's up on
the progress Of civilization, tell US that a
peoples means of transportation is one
ofthe surest tests Of their civilization, and
ifthis be sound doctrine, who will be bold
enough to deny that the circus is a great
civiliziug agency? We know a pastor
who, on the day of the circus, bired
buggy and drove many miles to visit
some members Of his flock who had not
been able to get to church once in four
or five months, aud he failed to sea them
because they had gone to the circus
What an Admirable commentary upon
the time honored proverb, "Where there
is will there is way!
Thirdly: The circus aroused aud
kindled 80 much hitherto latent interest
in children. a large proportion of the
adult Christians who attended the circus
here seem to have cared little for the
performance on their own account; but
they had children who were "anxious to
see the animals" and the grown folks
went '.iust to crafty the children"
Some unmarried ladies of uncertain
age, who had not shown any special
interest in anybody's children for q good
while back, were suddenly stricken with
a powerful and praise worthy impulse to
be of service to some of their little neph,
ews. or nieces or cousins or neighbors,
and good naturedly volunteered to see
the little ones safe through the menagerie
and the circus.
FourthIy: A manifest improvement
took place in the financial condition OF
the community. Many people who, tol
= long time, had been confessedly anxious
to "psy that little bill' at the bakers or
the grocer's, nay, several church members
who had been earnestly desiroua of pay
ing their church dues we're seen in theil
holiday clothes, paying street car fares
and riding to the circus. Of course it
took money to do this; and as they "hac
no money" last week, when the baker
called for his bill, and as they did have
money on the day of the circus, certainly
their financial status was improved.
Of course an ill natured man who
dislikes circuses, might contrive to say
good deal against them, but our present
purpose is not to enter into any dispute
with the other side, and so we prefer te
rest our argument here.-Meso Bedford
Standard.