Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-05-27


trade, and all he had in the world was
invested in his show.
For nearly three months the manager
stood the strain with a bold front, but
the anxiety was telling ON him, and
when he received visit from the prin-
ter, who was importunate for funds, he
felt that the end had come. And it was
near.
The arrival of the printer caused dis
may in the dressing-room, and the mu-
sicians discussed the situation in more
languages than ever heard before since
Babel.
Bernhard talked long and eloquently
to the printer, but he was importunate,
and said:
Bernhard, you have my sympathy,
but self-preservation forces me to pro-
tect myself, l cannot ruin myself to
save you"
Then came to an end Denhard's
Roman Circus, Greek Hippodrome and
Oriental Caravan, and all of the agents
in advance were notified of the disaster
by wire.
Philosophic and Bohemian Forrest
Marsh was shaken when he received
the news, as he was penniless and awl1-
wardly placed. Ten days before he had
arrived at the little Mississippi river
town, when at the hour of his expected
departure he had received telegram
from the general agent in advance in
structing him to wait orders" And
he had waited without hearing further
from his superior.
1t was dull place to be hanging
about in for ten days. The majority of
the inhabitants were Germans, and the
hotel at which he was stopping was
combined with brewery, the proprie
tor of which was gruff old fellow with
the voice of basso profundo, and very
much of tyrant in his way.
The only person about the premises
who seemed to have control or influence
over the brewer and landlord was his
pretty blonde daughter, Lena, and when
he got into one of his cultural tantrums
she would wind her plump arms about
him and lead him captive.
On occasions the ruler of the tavern
and brewery had an interval of good
humor, and at such times he would in
vite his order-stayed guest to join him
in beer, and frequently Lena, too,
would take kliner.
Forrest Marsh was quite skilled az
the piano, and when the old man was
in good humor he would thump out a
German waltz as Lena tripped about the
room.
The writer of circus literature whiled
away the time as best he could trying
to preserve his patience and wondering
what was up. Perhaps they were go,
ing to take up the stands" ahead; but
what was the use of conjec turing? He
was obeying orders and had nothing tc
do but make the best of the situation
Forrest Marsh had another annoyance
besides the delay. On his arrival his
finances were in low state, and when
the telegram from his manager arrived
informing him of the end he was bank
rupt.
No matter how many times he reat
over the telegram, the fact remained
he was stranded but he would return
to the show.
He examined his railroad pass ant
made discovery which quite took hi
breath away. 1t did not call for re
turn trip. 1t should have done so, fol-
it is often necessary that the principa
agents of circus have the privilege O
passing up and down the line.
Marsh's long stay at the hotel haC
been surprise to its proprietor, bu
the show was billed, and other agent,
and the bill posters and programmes
/, had come and gone, else the LANDLORD
would have long before called on tn,
sojourner for an explanation or set
!, Element.
When the press agent did make al
explanation, as he was forced to, tn,
German fairly exploded and filled tn,
air with mixture of oaths rarel,
heard, even in the tavern or tn
brewery in his widest moods, winding
up by denouncing his guest as
"swindler."
|, And when he yelled "swindler!' 20,
could have heard it half over the town
Denhard's misfortune had bequeathe,
as memory good big bill for the en-
tertainment of his advance, and tn
.. fury of the loser was visited upon tn
, head of the unfortunate Forrest Marsh
= In his rage the old man might hav
done the young man violence but TO
the opportune arrival of Lena, who eS
ercised her wits, and, when he ha
. cooled down a bit, said;
y Papa, you are unreasonable. Poo
fellow, you can't blame him; it is nc
his fault"
= "Vell, if it isn't hish fault" returne
i the father, "he had not peter not e
, away from here"
- AS Lena led him away he turned an
: Numbered:
you stay right here! Don't you dar
= to go avay!"
Marsh had expected to be turned OF
, of doors, and the command furnishe
h some satisfaction, even though it wa
n uttered in anger.
i The next day the circus man in di
U tress was put in q small room undo
the roof and became handy ma
r about the premises instead of CUES
!. There was plenty to do about the hot,
a and the brewery, and the way that I'll
!. proprietor kept him hazing was wear,
= ing
l. But the prisoner had place to slee
is and enough to eat, and there was SON
a consolation in that. When the victi
was not too tired he would laugh
ar himself at his dilemma. BY the end
r. week the old man had experienced
To- change in his temper and even deignt
70 to address the captive graciously.
10 As the boss good humor grew, Flo