Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-13
A MODERN TELL.
Story Of a Daring Performance in
a London Circus.

a LOQQOn OlrCuS.
Of all the successful performers who
stepped into the arena of Gallaxy's IA
nous circus, none obtained such a
degree of popular approval as did Sig
nor Alfredo Bosco and his eight-year-
old son Alfonso Whether it was due
to the cleverness of their feats, the
daring skill displayed in the execution
of them, or to a general attractive de-
meanor, certain it is that from the
day of their first appearance down to
the end of the tour Signor Bosco and
his son were received with genuine
enthusiasm such as to firmly establish
them in the favor of the audience.
When, therefore, 1T became known that
the last night of the season was to be
devoted to the benefit of these popular
performers, it was confidently predict
ed that the house would be a bumper.
The proprietor deeming it advisab BILE
on such an occasion that some special
novelty should be introduced into the
programme, it was with no small de-
gree of interest that the populace that
morning found the walls placarded
with flaming posters, in the reddest of
red ink, announcing that on this, the
last night of the season at Gallaxy's
royal circus and hippodrome, specially
set apart for the benefit of Signor AL
fredo Bosco, that eminent and world
renowned performer would for the first
and only time, attempt novel and
dangerous feat, to-wit: William Tells
historic and never-to- be-forgotten ex-
plot of shooting an apple placed upon
the head of his own son, a pistol on
this occasion being substituted for the
obsolete bow and arrow.
In private life Signor Alfredo Bosco's
name was plain Alfred Green, and he
was as little of Italian extraction as
anyone possessing the name of Green
could well be. Distinguishing himself
as a young man by marked and intrepid
daring, he had found field for his
married an opera singer, son was
born to him, but the act cost the young
mother her life, to Alfredo's ineXpressi
BILE grief. The child soon became the
fathers idol, his whole existence be
coming wrapped up in that of the boy.
1t was for his sake that he worked
doubly hard at his profession, on this
belief that he denied himself most o.
the comforts of life, and for his bene
fit and in order that he might be ever
near him that he reared the lad in hi
own profession, never accepting an en-
gagement unless the boy was included
in it.
When, therefore, the proprietor o
Gallaxy's suggested to him the per
Torrance of the feat alluded to, it MAY
naturally be supposed that SO fond {
father hesitated before committing
himself to it, and when, under strong
representations, he finally consented
it was with no little anxiety and con
Germ. Not that he mistrusted his owl
powers in the least. He was sur,
shot. One of his staple performance
in the ring was to shoot with pistol
while galloping on horseback, at
number of glass balls thrown pfomis
cuously into the air, and so accom-
plished was he at this feat that he sci
dom missed one, and never two, out o
the number. Therefore, it was no
personal considerations that made hir
hesitate, but fear lest the lad, by som
untoward movement, should jeopai
die the action and endanger his ow
precious life. Nor was his anxiety de
creased when, on the eventful day, h
discovered that the boy was far fror
well.
cts only headache, father" tn
lad said, in response to his question
ings. II shall be better tonight
, And when night came the anxiou
father hung round the child's necl
secure from observation, a little media
| lion portrait of his mother, which h
q always wore when any feat of a sp'
$ cially dangerous nature was to be III
dertaken.
1t soon became evident that expect;
H. a 1.