The times., 1899-08-13
STAGE STORIES.
A slave of the Ring.

broad. open field; a field teeming
with life and motion-the motion of three
hundred men. each seeming to labor sepa-
rately and yet each laboring TO common
end. The cause of this toll, an apparently
interminable train of gaudiIy- painted cars,
all filed with the utensils of twice two
score trades; the result, a huge canvas
tent rapidly rearing its great body into
the air. ike some marvellous monster ris-
ing after long nights sleep. Other such
structures, placed independently about the
grounds. being perfected into still other
semblances and utterly without confusion
or turmoil; without the confusion effected
by the moving of cattle on Western
range; indeed. without the slightest tur-
moil unless the distance-muffied rain Of
a multitude Of picks on as many stakes
pulsations of the yivifed monsters already
described-constitutes turmoil. Plainly,
that most wonderful Of modern caravans,
circus.
The sun had not yet got into the
heavens But five hours before. the IN
enlisted regiment at work had taken down
and packed away, as for forty days jour
ney, the miles OF coarse cloth now being
hoisted into form again. And when the
goods had been slowed in covered vans
arranged for them. those TO whose care
they we're entrusted had slowed them
selves. with less worry than had been
given the dismembered pavilions, in the
three feet OF space that lay between the
tops OF the piles and the tops of the cars,
there to close their eyes in close simula-
tion OF death until the coming morning.
Another regiment; quite a different regi-
meat; d regiment of a different caste, had
put itself 10 bed in carriages specially pre-
pared and was still slumbering while the
world outside advanced For the less
fayored-flap- men, they are called-had
unloaded what had Just been loaded, had
breakfasted of greasy, ill-cooked bacon
and worse bread. had stretched their pow
erful limbs and returned. uncomplaining
and hrutishly silent, TO a task that yielded
absolutely nothing. not even contempt and
stoiidness to its fascination
II TO tender al idea OF these individuals
is 10 iadividualize, one may get himself 10
8 corner Of the lot, where, engaged with
driving into the soil strong. pointed slaves,
was a haif-naked giant: giant 20 evident
IL big that mindless comrades had called
him Big Ben" one OF the number having
beard such a name, and botn Lad been con-
tent. man OF remarkable force-fhis
fellOV-whose sinewy arms lifted the heavy
pick again and again without even swell
ing al the biceps; prodigy who. permitted
the inteilect. might have emala.ed Ber-
thier, OF French Revolution fame, with
more effect, who. had he possessed but half
the faith in self, might have stood Samp-
son-like between two pillars and brought
the temple tumbling about his ears; who.
endowed with strength and strength only,
had given in 20 the unreasonable ineXplica-
bic charm OF his circus life and wandering
duly wjth The lest, enjoyed the passing
time and travel, often withou. knowing
Whist the day Of month migct be or where
he was This laborer. clai IL blue jeans
and heavy, unbending shoes. was preparing
the roof just raised for the reception OF its
side walls and paused occasionally 10 wipe
tie So eat fr3n his brow or throat. He
spoke neither 10 his companions OF the
-'show" nor 70 the idlers who had begun
20 assemble. and. finding him the most in
teresting portion Of those things exhibited
free. had gathered al each OF hs elbows
But with a single stroke he accomplished
what others did with three, and, finishing
his row early. walked away.
Whittier he WAS bound il is not improb-
able that his associates knew. but aap-men
do not gossip or talk; least of all would
they gossip or talk regarding one so mute
and muscular as big Ben" II any OF
their number had noticed that the giant
never laid his tool aside until he had in
vaded the precinct OF another boss" and
there personally examined the rigging of
the rspeze IN the third ring the discov-
cry had not been deemed OF sufficient i'm
portance TO be used in breaking a silence
so raralv disturbed. Flap-m men think. per-
hsps not so much as they speak, but had
they thought of the matter they might
have come 10 the conclusion that big
Ben was merely guarding against a sec
ond such accident as had happened there
year before and IN happening had taken
the troupe's best performer out OF his silk
neshiings forever. relegating him instead
10 rolling chair in a New York hospital.
The casual observer. an observer always
unfamiliar with what he observes could