The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-05
POI - MOUTH NJ EWS
'rhe Joke WIS ON tue Grown.

The Joke Was ora the Clown.
1T Is not often that an old-time circus
clown gets setback that throws him
clean OFT his bearings" said u member of
that profession to Cleveland PLAIN
Dealer man not long ago That's lust
what happened to me one da last sum
iner. and l can't help smiling when I re-
call my own confusion.
we were showing at Il little town IN
the western part of the State, and had n
Dig afternoon house | had tried Il new
p.t Oh business some time before. and II
went 50 well that 1 worked it at every
performance. In grave voice / would
inquire IL there was IL doctor I'm the audi
ence or course there was sure to be
one, and the chances were that n ma
Jority of the people present either knew
or mad heard of him. When lie stood ND
IN response 10 my inquiry L would thank
MN Tor his promptness and congratulate
MIN OF having located in II town that at
Iorded him sp8nany advantages Then
would say something about the conven-
fence of the village cemetery, whereat the
audience was pretty sure TO ronr with
laughter, while the bamboozled doctor
hastily resumed his seat. 1t was rather
coarse. and not very funny. but so long
as II took well didn't care for that
On the particular afternoon OF which
speak called for the doctor as usual
and expected. OF course, 70 see him pop
up. But he didn't pop / was trying 10
think OF some humorous remark to make
10 lit the occasion. when l noticed IA
bright-faced young woman standing up
only littip distance from ne
A-a--are you Il doctor?" l stammerel
l am she answered in such Il pretty
ana dignified way. Say, you could have
knocked me- down with a straw. | couldn't
work that coarse old gag on that sweet
young woman. yet for the life ofme for
u hali-m;nuic | was completely done I'D
Then | said: WIN you kindly come this
way Thcn helped her down from tho
| seats. and she followed me across tbs, r!r.
| ara into the dressing tent | saw all the
ring people doing thc!, best to lcsp from
roaring at my prod,cament, but | gAsc
them scrowl that kept them quiet
Jimmy Cumm!ns had fallen and hoiscn
,iiA arm up at Bucyrus. and he was walk
inS ABOUT the dressing tent | called him
over.
" Jimmy I sad, L don't like the WAY
that arm was set, and I've brought Won n
doctor. Jimmy gave me the uueet,,s;
look. but he's quicli-witted, and one OF
the most gcntemanly athletes that eyer
stepped into the ring.
" Glad OF IL, Doc lie said Il d,d,,t
fancy the job myself
Si' down here ana l,t me look at II
sA:d the girl doalcr-as cool as on please
had 10 20 back to the ring. and lei thcrn
there together She was unwranpir,r tho
nahdaEes as swiftly and neatly as am
hospital sharp could do Jimn,y H;,s
looking at her lively fingers Win an cy-
preston h2lr-comical Northumberland
When came back she was putting evcry
thing in place.
Wen. what's the verdict jocuiarly
inquired. y
You were right. Doc answered Jim
my; II WAS bungling job, bu, DR.
brownson has fixed ii all right
Good, suid and now III escort ,bc
doctor back 10 the street again asking
her 10 kindly pardon the way in which her
afternoons enjoyment was interrupt.d
| you nccdn'i mind, Doc said Jimmy:
| ! II escort the doctors myselr'
hen Jimmy came back | said TO him:
> m, OF course, III stand the cost of Thai
niue surgical operation The Joke is ON
me all round No. YOU WON'T said linn
my. i sihl pay my own bills The fuct
, -, DOC We MADE IN my mind TO drop ON
OF the show for II couple of weeks; ana 90,
S'raishtehed up THIS is IL pretty town.
anu can get well here n great deal fns,,.,
then Knocking along with The SHOW.
fcs. s'niiinely added and the medical
st'e'!G'Inc" seems to he very satisfactory
&c ''
80 Jimmy dropped out OF the show. urt,
ms paF'ror Ueit on ard did the dancing
Darrell and the cannon-ball act The SHOW.
.!oN" up S"cn after and haven't seen.
Jimmy since.
pa he marry the doctor? Well. 90 Won
"GnN' ] We often wondered about that nv