Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-24
selves were looking at pictures of

selves were looking at pictures of
other boys.
Pooh! A board floor Where's
the sawdust we used to kick up?"
asked Paterfamilias No. 1, scornfully.
elephants! What's the fun Of look
ing at elephants if you can't give one
of them a chew Of tobacco and start
tremendous excitement, and then fade
away with the rest of the crowd while
the keeper pacifies the old trumpeter!
And where are the men in gold lace
and braided coats who used to sit with
short whips in the animal cage to our
awe and admiration!"
'Tain't like the old tent, is it?"
asked Paterfamilias No. 2 when they
were seated in comfortable chairs in
the arena Of a great rooted oval of tan
bark, in the glare of thousands of
electric lights, as brilliant as the
PIeaides. mo canvas sWishing, no
kerosene lights, no center pole, no
trapeze up in the clouds Of canvas, no
in the sawdust looking for seats of
vantage, no country SWANS with
buxom lasses in pink calico dresses.
Boxes and chairs! What are they COM
pared to plank where you can let your
feet bangle over the edge!"
Eyes, how soft and comfortable
those p1anks were after hanging
around for hours waiting for a chance
to crawl under the side of the tent
Where's the popcorn and lemonade
boys? Where's the noise? There
isn't any racket from those galleries
such as we used to make.
The bugle blew for the grand march,
and the horses and riders began to APP
pear from one end of the arena
where's the canvas entranceway?
Grand march! Pooh! 1t isn't a cir
cumstance to the grand march in the
old tent. Where are the animal
wagons and things? Why, they used
to bring out everything in the whole
show for the grand march. And
look at the band up there in the gal
lery, with no kerosene lamps to see
the music by!"
AS the circus proceeded one or the
other of the fond papas gave vent to
such remarks as these:
Bareback riding! You youngsters
ought to see the bareback riding we
used to see. Where are the hoops Of
fire and the barrels the girls used to
jump through?'
where's the man who stood up and
had knives thrown all around him?"
tho h0 he
pie shot from his head, William Tell
fashion,"
"Such clowns. wish I could remem-
Der some of the things the clowns used
to say and do. I laughed until I
nearly fell off the seat. Oh, it isn't
the old circus!"
"Why don't the girl in red tights put
her head in the lions mouth? This is
ali very well, but I'd like to see the old
things"
In the meantime the children we're
enjoying it hugely, as much as their
fathers in the old days. Finally it was
over and the people began to crowd
towards the street exit
What, isn't there going to be any
grand concert after the performance"
asked Paterfamilias No. 2, ruefully.
Outside, instead of darkness and
guy ropes to stumble over and shout
ing circus men and rumbling wagons
and believing animals were cabs, just
cabs-even automobiles.
aren't we going to stay and see
them pull up the stakes and take
down the tents and watch the ele-
plants push the heavy wagons out to
the road?" absently asked Pater-
familias No. g.
Around the corner stood a group of
small street arabs.
"Je git chased?" the crowd was ask
ing of one of it's number.
"Yep; but seen it,
''Whajjer see?"
big Teller standin' on a white horse
and ridin' roun without holdin' on to
anything"
Gee, must a been great How'd je
git in?"
"Sneaked. Y'd orter a come"
did try it an "a cop chased us. Wuz
We clost?"
Fletcher life. Oh, it was outer sight.
"Wisht I could "a seen it; JUS one
look. Wuz dere many kinds in dere?"
Lots. Must "a been a hundred. Gee
dares a lot of rich kids in dis town.
C'mon, I'll tell yer all about it"
Sounds like old times" remarked
Paterfamilias No. 1. BEST thing I've
heard tonight. New York Herald.