The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-08-29
The Circus.

After all, circus has charms for almost
everybody, not only The child, but even
the staid old citizen. From the moment
the posters are up announcing the arrival
of the circus on certain day expectation
begins to get 10 its work. They (circuses)
are sort of scavenger, indirectly, because
the small boy begins to hunt bones, old
rags, iron, newspapers and everything, in
fac', that can be turned into money, and
by the lime the circus comes the locality
is pretty generally put 10 order for the
event.
Who OF the older ones of US does not
remember when in the earlier days OF
such entertainments he used TO get up
bright and early aud travel some four or
five miles to meet the incoming caravan
of elephants, camels, CRATES, band wagon
and gay cages 2 Very little was learned
that day, If, perchance, school was COM
pulsory. The best show ever come to
this city, was the Information the parents
received as a sort of bait for the paltry
sum OF 20 cents. Old counterfeit coins
were hunted up and put in order to pass
off if possible 10 the rush, The funny
clowns of the Dan Rice stripe, and the
thousand and one things that transpired
around the grounds, filled us with envy
aud delight. Who did not want to be a
"circus rider9 The boys of to-day are
just the same and some of the old-timers
have not lost the desire at least to see the
animals. There are lots OF sights to be
seen on circus-day. Everybody from the
rural districts come 10 then aud the pea
nuts suffer. When the man at the side
show gets up on the box and announces
to the wondering crowd that the show is
about TO open and in stentorian tones an
nounces the two-legged bear, the Ave.
legged sheep, the six-legged lion, the
snow. white squirrel from California and
the broken-necked mustang pony, cap
tured by Billy Bowlegs, the Indian chief
of the Rocky Mountains; the largest
bow con strictor ever captured alive, mea.
surfing thirty feet In length, thirty-six
inches 10 circumference and weighs 100
pounds, perfectly harmless and plays like
child; the celebrated infant drummer,
who plays 100 tunes In five minutes and
neither one of them alike-there is dig
ging down into the very bottom Of every
pocket for the extra dime, and into the
arena goes the assembled multitude to
find that the reality was not so much as
the advertisement. And then the circus
lemonade, at five cents glass (schoon-
ers), bright red-oh, how 1t quenches
thirst aud inspires the comfortable re-
served seats, at ten cents extra, TO which
the nice young man, who wants TO Guido
his friend, takes his best girl; the glaring
lights encircliug the tent-polee, and the
enhancing music of the band transports
one from earthly scenes to rome charmed
retreat If the fairies. Then the perform
ance-the acrobats, tumblers, gymnasts
and riders, whose antics set the boys wild
| and after the show often results Ia broken
arms and legs or othe: distressing acct
dens; the funny sayings aud actions OF
the clown, whose every move brings forth
shouts OF laughter that drive away dull
care and makes one forget that earthly
tolls will begin again on the morrow.
Soon, ali too soon, II all stops and the
glare and glamor gives way to darkness
and distrust, and one goes home fully ex-
pectiug TO find that burglars have plum
drred his residence during his absence
Yet, who would vote for no-license to Q
circusS
p.--