The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-08-25
he would pack enough rails to keep
poOd fire.

good fire.
Well, everv thing moved along ad-
mirably until the next stand or camp
ing ground was reached, and then L
had trouble. 1t was not long until
everybody about the whole concernwas
calling me Jack, John, Bob and every
other name they could think of. This
is a custom in circus politeness, but l
did not know it and modestly informed
some of the smaller ones they would
have to whip me or stop their nick
names. One fellow said he could do
both and he pulled off his coat; but be-
fore we had commenced our duel the
manager told the other fellow to go on
about his business, while he waltzed
me of to work. / gave it my undivided
attention, as did not know but what
/ might own half interest in the old
trap in a week or two.
1t was a warm day and l took my
overcoat of to eat dinner. l thought
it was warm enough to do SO, and po-
likeness rather demanded it of me. l
laid it down on the seat beside me and
when was done my dinner was sur
prised to find my overcoat gone and no
one had seen it going of or knew where
it was at all. l never knew, or found
out, for that matter. 1t was then that
saw the error ofcarrying any clothing
along with circus.
Every circus may not be as belliger-
ent as ours was. soon found out what
general roundup" was. Along in the
evening of the first day the boys sue
ceeded in raisinga 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 awhile clubs were trumps
beyond doubt. After the battle /
looked around for poor Frank, and
found him bleeding. l got a comrade
and we carried him into the museum
and sent for the veterinary surgeon.
He recuperated faster than expected,
and by time to start that night, he had
entirely recovered.
The next day, now thatI was a men,
Der OF the world-famed aggregation, l
concluded to go and hear the clowns B.
C. jokes, witness the riding, the vault
ing, the wonderful feats of strength and
skill. My associates directed me to go
around and come in from the dressing
room. did; but / want to tell you l
came out that way, too. have thought
since it was put up job on me. AS
soon as reached the inside was sud-
denly turned around, and that's all /
knew for an hour or two. When Icame
to my senses, or rather when my senses
came to me, saw the man who set me
in locomotion. AS he had real nice
apology, l could do nothing but forgive
him. 1t never occurred again.
By this time, we had been out long
enough for them to settle on some diff
ferent and definite name for each of us.
was called the ''dude" on account of
my good clothes, which did not form a
very striking contrast with the rest,
and Frank-well, they just called him
Sleepy" Every thing was moving
along nicely as far as the circus was con-
cerned, and one day Thought to vary the
monotony little by going up town to see
the country boys come in with the girls.
had not been up there long, when /
was startled by hand being laid on
my shoulder. Turning around a police
man said: young man, you are my
prisoner" what have done?' l
gasped. Eyes, what have you done?
Haven't been fighting on the streets,
have you?" mo, sir, l have not"
20, come along here and no foolish
ness; you can't monkey this chicken"
And with that he walked me off, de-
spite my protestations of innocence.
As he threw me in and heard the
click of the lock, strong as / was 1 was
completely broken down. 1 was in a
strange place, with no friends. o, how
longed to see pa, the farm and home.
Even Frank did not know where was,
nor any Of the circus people for that
| matter.
Pretty soon a small boy came around
to take a peep through the bars. 1
told him If he would go to the horse
tent ofthe circus and tell Sleepy" that
''Dude" wanted to see him immedi-
ately, would pass him into the circus
If could get out of there. The boy
fulfilled his part and Sleepy" soon put
in his appearance, surprised to view me
as the city's guest. Iexplained as best
could. Frank heaved sigh and
whispered through the bars that he
would try to get me out if l would 60
back to the old farm. 1 hesitated
awhile but finally told him to go ahead
and get me out and l would go any