Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-01-18

Inmates, rumbled along in the evening,
with the last rays of the dying sun
glinting on the gnarled window panes
Brigantina!
OH how distinctly see that dark
gypsy girl with the supple, panther
like form, the attraction of the stroll
ing circus of Belli," who, at the time of
this story was ''doing" the southern
provinces of Holland.
Her equestrian feats were the most
striking. Why she remained with the
small circus proprietor for the paltry
salary she was receiving, when she
might have had splendid remunerative
engagements in the largest and most
renowned circuses, was mystery to
me at first
But then | saw later on that Brigan-
tina cherished desire to become Nine.
Belli.
Belli was young man of not more
than five and twenty years Of age, hav-
ing inherited the circus not long before
this from his parents, who had both
died suddenly one after the other.
The circus was composed OF half a
dozen green caravans and couple of
dozen of tolerably good horses.
The pride of the circus, however, was
a really well-trained elephant, "Moffa, "
which was brought into the ring by
Belli and Brigantina in turns.
The proprietor, with his Roman nose,
etan n1n nd of in
built figure, was prototype OF brut-
al masculine beau of the annual fair
"a highway Apollo, self-conceited and
oyerbearing in his treatment with his
subordinates.
Brigantina always rode in Indian
dress-a short skirt, edged with
feathers and shells, with a string OF
coral beads around her neck, and at
her side a blue silk pouch, containing
small, gilded juggling balls.
With one leap she vaulted on to the
bare back of her gray horse, and with
cat-like agility bent forward, pitching
the balls high up into the air, catching
them as they fell, and once more send
ing them flying into space, the mean
while posing herself gracefully, and
with the utmost adroitness, on her
horses back while he continued to gal
Ion round and round the ring.
After this performance thick board
,yos nlaced in the middle of the ring,
mon which small circle of not more
+ban one foot in diameter had been de-
scribed. and then Brigantina was
banded half dozen small, glistening,
sharp-edged hatchets, which flew from
ber hands like arrows from bow, one
ofter the other, without touching OF
ever failing to enter the circle.
Durinr this exhibition of skill the
o,,dience held its breath and gave a
s;gh of relief as Brigantina dismounted
and the board with the axes sticking
in It was removed.
Tbev then chalked the girls shoe
coles and away she went again to the
w;ld strains of the music. Wilder anc
wilder played the music, and ever more
daring became her postures, more We
bement her urging of the steed' unit
be broke into mad gallop. She flew
nv like the wind.
We held the barriers--on, two, three
Eve barriers-over which she wen
.erched on the smooth back of he
horse. With upraised arms, pressing
With her dainty feet, she melted th'
horse to still greater efforts, shouting
~, the time: ''Heidoncl En- avant
roesarl Amino! Animol"
Her switch whisked through the air
her ewes flashed, her long, blue-blacI
hair touched the tent-poles as she ca
reered past. Swift as an arrow tn
n,addened beast rushed rast with hi
daring rider holding on by the toes o
one foot