Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-16
CHRISTOPHER AND THE FAIRY.
TALK oF CIRCUS LIFE.

Ceaterpole Tom professed to know every
thing about all the distinguished PEOPLE Of
the profession in all parts of Christendom,
and likely he did know q great deal; for, in
his humble capacity, he had served many
of them In divers countries, and, though q
boastful man, he had never been detected
in an inability to give trustworthy informa.
tion. So, when it was announced, with q
great show Of large type, that christopher
and the Fairy had just landed ct San
Francisco from an Australian steamer, un.
der contract for the remainder Of the sea-
son, there was much excitement and curios.
ity among the people of the circus, and
Centerpole Tom was at once exploited for
knowledge concerning them.
sHain't you never heard of Christopher
and the Fairy' he asked, pityingly; well
that gifts me. The Fairy's the purtiest lit
tie trick on wheels, an the way she kin do
the flying trapeze is something 'tonishing.
No, hain't never seen her, but know all
about her. A fellow worked for me last
season that seen her at Melbourne. and he
told me whole string of stuff about her.
Every man jack under the canvas went dead
gone on her, but she never took any of 'em,
and didn't seem to care for nobody's socie-
ty but the women's and that ornery, measly
old Christopher
is Christopher her husbunP asked long
legged young groom.
'NoP thundered Tom, with 90 great
vehemence that the young man quailed and
dared not ask any more questions.
sBrother?' inquired one Of the ring su.
pers.
MOP yelled the veteran master of the
centrepole hoist, she amt her husbun, nor
her brother nor her uncle, nor her grsnd-
father, nor her cousin
The head hostler, as much veteran as
Centerpole Tom and more modest and less
theatrical than he, quietly said:-
mo use making fool of yourself and
putting on airs before these here boys,
don't know who Christopher il, an amt
ashamed to say so. Now, who is Christie
pher?'
This was the supreme moment for which
Centerpole Tom had waited. He squared
himself around and, looking steadily at the
head hostler, said impressively and with the
utmost deliberatien:-
christopher is an elephant
1t was a small spseoh, but 1t was some
time after this before the two men became
good friends again.
email army of circus people when Chris.
l
not come to the tents for two or three days
after landing, as it was rumored that Chris.
topher had been seasick on the voyage
across the Pacific and needed little rest.
When they did appear, however, they were
cordially welcomed. The women Of the
circus found the Fairy (who, in private
life, was known as Miss Camilla Armijo) to
be delightful girl, more substantial than q
genuine fairy, to be sure, but hardly more
80; for, although she was full grown, she
was 80 small and fragile that her profes
sional name sat we'll upon her. There was
light touch of sadness in all her conduct
and Centerpole Tom explained this BY saw.
ing that she had recently lost both her
parents. How he discovered this nobody
ever could learn. But lit was clear, at least,
that she was very sweet and gentle little
body. very young and with no friend in
San Francisco except old Christopher.
say old Christopher because it is i'm
possible to associate anything bat great age
with his enormous proportions and over
elephant Of prodigious sizs. A more solemn
and self.satisfied elephant it would have
been impossible to find.
After the Fairy had been introduced to
the people with whom she was to be associ-
ated the remainder of the season and had
ohatted and quietly laughed wish them .
little, she turned to The menagerie man and
said:-
Now we will show Christopher his quar-
ters.' And, by the dignfied Tapping of
his great ears, Christopher seemed to add:-
yes; we are prepared now to see what you
can do for Christopher.
In fact, while they we're about it, and all
feeling certain interest in the little stran.
ger and her big companion, the whole com.
pany-the two clowns, the man who turned
the double back somersault, the strong
man, the woman who wore yellow wig
when she rode bareback, the two men vhc
did the great &C: on the horizontal bar, ond
some others, including Centerpole Tom