Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-29


 Can any one explain the charm that a circus possesses for average humanity? We all know that It exists, and that 1t has done so far beyond the limits of our mem- ories, and suppose will continue to do so as long as humanityremains human. Per- haps the fascination consists in it's utter unlikeness to everyday life. Unlike the drama, whether tragic ,or comic, there Is nothing about it to suggest our own sensa- tions or experiences. We are simply di- Verted, the tension of life is relieved and the gold lace and spangles, even by day light, appeal to the childlike love of gilt ter that yet old age does not always de- stroy. And the most remarkable fact connected with this circus craze is the al- most absolute certainty of our being dis appointed in our expectations, and that we shall go wearily home, covered with dust, satiated and fatigued, and declaring it '.lhe poorest circus we ever saw,' and yet the next pie lures of impossible animals and performers renew within us the desire to see it all over again. The discordant steam piano drowns all disagreeable recollections, and its tune- less tunes awake the merrjest memories of childhood's time. And lalmost before we know it we are part of the great process sion that tramps through dust or mud, struggles to avoid the changing street cars and frightened horses, and at last we find ourselves inside the huge tent watching the comical monkeys or wise old elephants with a seething, talking mob all about us. Thus it is with most people, and thus it will continue to be!
 The chief objection to the present style of circus is the prodigality of rings; the num- Der in vogue in the present day circus keeps one exceedingly busy trying to see everything at once. As a dear little girl whom know said, 'The poorest ring is always on my side.'' am afraid the cir GUS gave this child her first glimpse of one of the beliefs of mankind, namely: sThat the worst ring is always on our side." But then the people on the other side-near the other rings whether at the circus or in the broader arena of life, think the same depressing thought. Never mind, if we are only in the mood there is much to be seen in all the rings, and if we shall do in life as at the circus, the best we can to procure as good point of view as possible, see as much as we can in our own and all the other rings, enjoy the riders, horses, clowns, monkeys and even the well-trained dogs, we shall find in the end that our own especial ring had about as satisfactory a show as those on the other sides. Our ap- preciation of the performers is largely &C., cording to our own particular mood, and perhaps our rings-small though they may behold many attractions in life which we overlook, because, like that sweet child at the circus, we are always looking at the rings farthest away from us.
 Mrs. B. L. Wyman entertained the Tuesday Afternoon Whist club at her resi- dence, 813 North Nineteenth street, and the prize, pretty oak table, was won by Mrs. George R. Ward.
 Mrs. B. F. Moore has gone to Knoxville, Tenn, to spend ten days with her family.
 
 Mrs. Louis V. Clark has returned from a visit to Mobile and Selma, and has brought back with her her two charming sisters, the Misses Jones of Selma, who will be her guests for short while.
 Miss Bertha Woodward entertained the Monday Evening Whist club at her home on Highland avenne. The prize was won by Dr. Talley.
 The following invitation has been re- ceived: "You and your lady friends are cordially invited to attend the class exhibi- tion given by the girls gymnasium class, at the Young Mems Christian association gymnasium, Friday, November 30, 2:30 D. m. Instructor, Prof. c. Harry Miles. Ad- mission free.'' This indicates that the athletic class for girls is progressing finely, anu ID iuB ldCb OO dll luleTeSGSQ in the health and physical development of our girls. The gymnastic class should be large one, for it will prove of untold benefit to the members. And, unlike football, one can exercise in this class without being onfronted with the terror of being carried to the hospital wreck for life, or the in- sane asylum raving maniac, or of being a subject for the coroner's 8 consideration.
 
 A few more weeks with records like the last seven days will arouse the whole coun- try to the danger and horror of football playing. Two or three deaths and raving Iunatic, not to speak of small matters like broken collar bones, dislocated noses and shattered limbs, makes sad reading to an intelligent public which believes in proper physical development and exercise, put draws the line at brutal exhibitions which belong to an earlier period, when glada- torial contests delighted the Greeks and Romans.
 Football rightly conducted will always meet with approval from many of the most cultivated men and women, but when it degenerates into savage and barbarious exhibition of brute force the reaction against it will begin. You know that in the German universities at one time @ students claim to distinction was estimated by the number of sabre cuts which scared his face; now our college boys glory in their wounds and bandages as marks of con- sideration, forgetting that in reaching this high pinnacle of fameG) they are sacri- ficing valuable time and the hardly earned money of overworked fathers, who, in all probability, have made tremendous sac- rifice to send them to school. Football is all right played upon the college campus as a recreation, but the danger line is being rapidly reached, when public opinion will denounce it because of the excesses and brutalities which have now become part of the game on many fields. The decision of the authorities at the military academy at West Point is eminently correct, namely, that the cadets can play football, but it law should prevail at every college in the south, where the majority of the students are the sons of men in moderate financial