Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-07-20


selves were looking at pictures of
other boys.
Pooh, board floor. Where's
the sawdust we used to kick up?"
asked Paterfamilias No. l, scornfully.
Elephants. What's the fun OF look
ing at elephants if YOU can't give one
| Of them 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 . when they
were seated in comfortable chairs in
the arena of a great rooted oval of tan
bark, in the glare of thousands of
| Pleaides "No canvas swishing, no
kerosene lights, no center pole, no
! trapeze up in the clouds of canvas, no
sod rings, no crowds walking around
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
Dared to a plank where you can let your
! feet dangle over the edgei"
Yes, how soft and comfortable
those planks were after hanging
around for hours waiting for 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 It isn't cir
cumstance to the grand march in the
old tent. Where are the animal
wagons and things2 Why, they used
to bring ont 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 hlm?"
Where's the man who had the APP
ole shot from his head, William Tell
! fashion,"
Such clowns. ! wish | could remem-
Der some Of the things the clowns used
to say and do. I laughed until l
nearly fell off the seat Oh, 1t isn't
the old circus'"
why don't the girl in red tights put
her head in the lions mouth? This is
alb very well. but I'd like to see the old
i things
In the meantime the children were
enjoying il 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
4 them pull up the stakes and take
down the tents and watch the ele-
plants push the heavy wagons ont to
the road?" absently asked Pater-
familias No. 2.
] 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 see2'
Big Teller standin' on white horse
and ridin' roun' without holdin' on to
anything"
Gee, must a been great. How'd ie
git in?'
sneaked. Y'd orter a come"
Did try It an a cop chased ". Wuz
We clost?"
"Betcher life. on. it was outer sight"
Wisht / could a seen 1t: JUS one
4 look. Wuz dere many kinds In dere?"
\ Lots. Must a been a hundred Gee
detes a lot Of rich kids in dis town.
( Cmon. III tell yer all about It.
Sounds Ike old times, remarked
/ Faterfamilias No. l. Best thIng I've
heard tonight New York Herald.