Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-08-01

AND FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK
Won STEMS CIRCUS.
GREATER THAN THE GREATEST
- Show ON EARTH
Do NOT MISS IT.
900. ...............
I had my inspiration. Girls" said
], IS / reached home, "How would you
ikNto go to the circus?"
There was ripple of laughter. As
natives of Ann Arbor. seat of the Mich.
igan University, cradle of all our Mich.
igan learning, the maidens had been
brought up to despise the circus. But
insisted that it was the only amuse-
ment in town, and on the plea that it
was nothing but q frolic," and that
nobody at home would know it," they
agreed to come.
Il want" said the eldest and most
thoughtful of the girls. Ito study the
ways of q real circus clown"
That evening, amid great throng OF
countrymen we found ourselves under
the canvas in big open field. We oc-
coupled what was by courtesy called "a
box" and we're an object of admiration
to the crowd.
I had hardly settled into q seat at the
back of the "box" when q man in the
dress Of o French clown, with school
boys cap on his head and q red patch
on his nose, ran up the tan-covered
slley-way which led from the stable to
the ring, and leaning over the edge of
the "bo1, whispered in hoarse voice
@Say, are you the doctor?"
Il am, friend,a said ], the audience
eagerly watching this hurried colloquy.
What can do for you?"
Johnny Stone, one of the clowns"
said he, lis feelin' bad in the head and
fears he can't 60 on tonight. We
thought you'd kindly step around and
tell him If it was anything serious"
Il will come with pleasure" said I.
And. stepping out of the @box," I let
the French clown guide me to the ex-
temporized dressing rooms, where
there was scene of indescribable con-
fusion. A wizened little girl was pi-
rouetting on her toes like a ballet
dancer.
we call her the Pearl-Pearl of the
Antilles" said my conductor. @She
does the bareback act"
A short, fat man was balancing on
glasses. Monsieur Ariel" said the
clown, introducing him. At which the
short. fat man, lacking the delicacy Of
his Shakesperian prototype, merely
grunted.
A Japanese clown was blowing up 9
ball which he was to toss about the
ring.
Hes the sad1est kind of q clown
You ever saw said my guide. @Hs
never gets . smile; but he juggles frs,
rate I guess they're not strong OF
Jokes in Japan"
Without psusing to observe tina
clowns were not very strong on Jokes
even in America, made my way pas
. clown with toy hat on his head, VIII
had placed . piece of broken looking
glass against the wall, and WAS viewing
with An eye of pride the last touch o
makeup" which he had added to hi
faoa Opposite him was another clown
with far more elaborate mirror, fash
ioned like Q large hook, and open
ing with Q hinge; and while thu
frat clown seemed anxious to impart /,
HOOK OF mot11m0ut " u4S AACos e0Ao 80
ond clown bent al his efforts, rouge
stick in hand, to make himself pic
ture of unutterAble woe.
A little farther along. Ill ready TO-
the fray, vas . clown in fools cap
playing solitaire. He had spread on
the cards on an old travelling trunk
and, holding . i've of hearts. va
studying the board Is though his ift
depended on playing that card correctly
And 90 we came to . little dressing
room where . young man. oomely u
features, which the paint did not dis
guise, sat with one hand to his head =
# in pain. His other hand held . let
ter, and in the corner of his eyes. vher.
the red paint was thickest, there seemed
70 be moisture a Of tears.
He looked mp hastily q We entered
Johnny, this is the doctor. sid tn
clown who led me.
ITS kind Of him to come said thl
young clown. But I gusn ] can puI
hEoueh tonight anyhow