The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-24
TOLD BY THE WAY.
Recollections of the First Circus in
Henderson.

bear story:
1t was some time in the iOrties Tn
writer was lad Of twelve or fOdrteeI
SUMMERS The coming of the circus wa
| an event looked forward to with mucl
interest by the people of Granville
Franklin and Warren counties. Stone
4 McCullam sent their advance agent
with large posters filled with geOrgeOu
pictures of the monster animals beauti-
ful fowls OF the air, and enormous venO.
nous serpents (real and imaginary rep
resenting both the sea and the lands OF
the different countries OF the world; also
Gaily dressed acrobats, wlIirling vaulters
and Timber iOinted contortiOnists were
represented as performing marvellous
and astonishing f-ats. The country peo-
pie came daily from distant parts of the
surrounding counties to see the show
papers and settle the question for them
selves whether the wonderful reports
they had heard We're true.
Henderson was a small village OF
about three hundred inhabitants with
four stores, IL hotel and two eroggeries.
The latter institutions We're necessary, !
suppose, to furnish the one thing much
needed as IL remedy for those afflicted
with cOld-, pains, rheumatic aches, Ne
The remedy has not lost its popularity
or potency and is much Used at -he pres
ent time With few exceptions the entire
male population patrnnlZed these grOg-
reries. They We're evidently the regua-
tors of the morals OF the community and
played conspicuous part iii laying the
foundation and formulating the future
characters OF the young men
| lived IL lew miles from town GA the
road over which the shpN wagons Were
to come Thr farmers h,oi5 th- 70 II
gave holiday t. their hands that hey
might witness n" passing show wagons
containing the animals, and if d-sira bic
visit town and Sc. tn, circus. Ne IL nv
home WAS II stream OF water where IL
large crowd OF propIe had assembled to
witness tn" watering OF the stock and
animals. The wr;lthrr being warm many
of the cages were kept open, enabling
the PERSONS to see the animals, which was
Il SQUIRE" OF rar" en- oyment.
The watering OF the stock and animals
over, the wagons moved on. The crowd
were enjoying very much what they
had seen when they We're startled by the
yelling and alarm Of an Old darkey who
had climbed IL tall tree almost directly
over the stream to get Il good view of
the imposing procession us it moved
on to town. The monster elephant (CO-
lumbus) had arrived and was gently en-
tering the wa ter, unobserved by the dar-
key up the tree. The big brute had com
menced to refresh himself by throwing
water from his trunk high into the air
over his back. The old man had never
seen an elephant before and the situa-
ton, as it appeared to him, was alarm
ingly critical. He was iearfuly fright
ened and called with loud voice of dis
tress for everybody to get out OF the way
for the devil had come. The crowd en-
JOyed the embarrassing situation of the
old man, but kept at a respectful dis
lance for it was said that Columbus had
killed two men, therefore it WAS prudent
not to venture too near him.
Soon upon my horse rode rapidly to
town to witness the parade. That enjoy
able event over | thought | had seen so
much and my purse not Overlooking
with cash, having only seventy-fve
cents, stlngy, misery feeling came
over me, and | decided not to go
i'll the show. | bought some candy,
apples and peaches and climbed up high
on rail fence near by to witness the do
ngs of the large crowd outside and enjoy
myself generally. 1t was not long, how
ever, before my miserly feelings were par
TALLY dissipated and was in feverish
state OF excitement. | could hear the
noise incident to the grand entrance
Of the performers, then the yell of the old
clown, followed by a wild burst of laugh
ter, which settled the financial question.
jumping from the fence | made my way
ntO the circus tent as quickly as posi-
n find I hr,l
the incident that caused the laugh.
The menagarie and circus were under
he same canvas tent, SO after taking a
ook at the animals | secured a seat high
Up to overlook the entire show and see
Ill things to be seen. The audience was
arge and in frst-class condition for
nerry-making, or otherwise should the
occasion arise, as corn Juice was only fif- |
cen cents a quart and Judging from the
general outlook, sweetened drinks must |
AVE been five cents and no mans credit |
doubted.
1t was not IL long while before we had
| most amusing occurrence An old col |
bred man (Smon Satterwhite) had come |
H. Now Simon was irrepressible and |
'ould laugh equal to the braying of a
irst-class donkey. The clown, a very |
DOOR one, (Iiram Day. cut up some an
les and made an effort at wit, which |
ertrifed old Simon, who kept up such a |
lo"I of laughter that the performance
vas stopped and an effort made to 81
ence him, but it was no go. The ring
master and the clown appealed to him to
,eep quiet but Simon continued to
augh, at the same time addressing the
down: "Boss, can't help it, you is so
unDy, you is the funniest man | ever
eed. Is your nanny and daddy both
tripod and spotted like YOU"
Simon gettlngcOmparatively quiet the
performance was resumed. The act fin
shed, and while waiting for the next,
mother character, rare, noisy and up
Oarous, appeared on the scene. An old
|octor from Franklin county put in his
appearance, fully equipped for the occa-
ION. He soon had quite a number of
I'D friends and admirers collected around
i'm, shaking hands dpassing
latIons. Making himself especially
greeable he took from his vest pocket
Is silver snuff box, as in those days it
las custom for old people to use snuff
p their noses. The snuff box on this
ccaslOn, however, did not contain snuff
ut vlllanOus stuff known as sneeze
'eed. They all took snuff with the doc
or. In few minutes about a dozen
Id men were in the full enjoyment of it's
overs, sneezing, coughing and cutting
p all sorts OF ridiculous antics, much to
he delight of the audience who fully an
reciated the Joke
Order being again restored the ring
laster announced that they would in
-oduce into the ring a monster rhinoc-
'ous, the only one that had ever been !
lbdued and taught to perform in the
ng OF circus. There was standing
ear the ring nice chubby looking
Dung man who was evidently feeling
God, dressed in neat homespun clothes
'tore-clothes were worn by few in those |
ays) feastng on candy, peanuts and
niger cakes, also INDUCING freely in lem
made and sweet cider. The monster
as the clown called him.
as led in by rope fastened to a
ng in his nose, followed by two men
rmed with long rods of iron heated to a
d heat to subdue him should he be-