The Virginia enterprise., 1895-03-08
The Bows Circus.

When we lived in San Francisco the
boys in our neighborhood were very fond
of giving circus and theatrical entertain
ments, and the articles taken for. ad-
mission to: these jolly affairs were old
clothes, tin cans. bottles, sacks, etc.,
etc. -@'' e,
And after each performance the unique
collection was carted down to China
Slough and sold to man, who kept q
junk shop there.
One circus I remember in particular
1t was the last of series of perform
anccs the boys had given. They had
kept all the pieces of junk that they had
collected as entrance fees, piled in Harry
Strands back yard, and with the money
realized from it they were going to buy
Il cap, belt and a sword for Glen Cas-
tie, who was the captain Of their fire
brigade.
Such a grand circus as this one was.
The boys had got the loan Of large tent
somewhere, and had put it up in q vacant
lot owned by Mr.. Castle.
The menagerie was very fine. Each
animal was in lattice-work cage, with
it's name and propensities written on a
First came Harry Strands tame, bear
Ben" masquerading as a fierce griz-
Fly but latel ely captured by the show
man." then, two large tortoise-shell cats,
represented as 'extremely Wild" and the
spectators being cautioned mot to an
ger them;'' next, a fox, given one of the
boys by trapper; after the fox, parrot
a a. sailor had brought to Glen, and finally
all sorts and sizes of dogs, and poor Ser
ry," Ned Fenwick's pony, described as
"A wild mustang, fresh from the plains"
All the boys owned ponies and went
through various performances upon their
backs. Glen Castle was clown, and just
as funny as any boy could be.
Joe Hill stood at the entrance to the
tent, calling out, "Come and see the
greatest show on earth. Admission, four
oyster cans, two pickle bottles, potato
sack, or anything else of value you may
have to Offer" -,
After the circus was over the boys
loaded cart will, all the junk they had
collected and were abont to start to sell it
when Ned Fenwick chad an idea" Ned
always was having ideas.
The idea was that they should get wag-
ons, harness their ponies to them and pa
rade their menagerie through the streets
on their way to the "Slough."
The boys all agreed that this would be
n jolly scheme" and Immediately set to
work to carry it out. ~'...~
After q short delay the procession
started: each boy driving Il wagon freight
ed with frightened animals, little lin
Brown bringing up the rear with the
wagonload of junk. Meyerbauch; the junk
man, haggled over the price of the goods,
but finally paid S. for them.
Five dollars would buy Glen's regalia
and leave something over. But, unfor-
tunately, the regalia never was bought.
Much elatcd, the boys started back
home, each one blowing tin horn which
and been purchased in the. Slough. The
blowing Of the horns started the dogs
barking, that, frightened. the cats and they
began to yowl; the bear growled his best:
the parrot screamed ''fire," and soon snclr
noise rs that circus procession made had
~ At last a policeman stopped it, arrested
The unfortunate proprietors and the judge
before whom they were brought fined
them exactly $5.--Gilberte Holt .ins De-
trOit Free Press. - y :"