The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-06-27
CIRCUS DAY
As Seen by a Contributor.

As Seen by a Contributor.
Circus day, with its white muslin dresses
blue ribbons, best hats. bashful swains
pink lemonade and ''fresh roastedlpeanuts, y
has come and gone. AS usual, a delegation
of small boys, with occasionally a shame.
faced boy of larger growth, awaited with
great impatience the arrival of the circus
train. Many sleepy youngster, (probably
awakened by his boon companion by the
string and toe method familiar of yore in
connection with Fourth of JULY was carri-
ed to the height of joyful anticipation by
the rumor that "she'd whistled," only to be
cast down to the depth of despair on learn
ing that the report was false one. Then
beheld the elephants arrival and had tanta-
lizing glimpses of the gilt bedecked cages
that contained-who knew what?
With intense excitement and bated breath
they watched the last tent poles and rolls of
canvas taken off the cars; then, with a
''come on, fellers," departed in high glee in
rear of the long line of wagons en- route to
the circus grounds, where with staring eyes
and wide-open mouths they watched the
thrilling process of ''raising the tents" and
the preparations for the parade.
Meanwhile all the roads leading to the
city are crowded with teams-grocery wag-
ons, old fashioned chaises and carryalls,
buggies; and even carts are not despised,
while here and there, conspicuous among
these rude vehicles, are the gay turnouts of
the summer vSitors-anxious to s'see the
fun
With the ten O'Clock parade comes the
crowning event of the morning. Everyone
scrambles for some point of vantage, and
the good natured crowd push and pull and
prod to get the best positions. This feature
of the day, always one of its chief attrac-
tions, is never ignored and those who didn't
start from home early enough to see the pro-
cession, and witness the "free-show -on-the-
grounds directly after the parade are
counted indeed unfortunate by their more
far-seeing neghbors. To the small boy who is
allowed to carry banner, or lead a pony,
this event is the greatest in his short life,
and great is the contempt with which he re-
CARDS his former companions. who take re-
fuge from his loftiness in pretended scOrn,
but whose small hearts are eaten with envy
Following this comes the noon hour, when
the street corners, post Office steps and every
available refuge are filled with the waiting
crowd, Willing away the time before the
afternoon performance with lunch thought
full, hrnt,
nearest bakery. Soon the triumphal march
to the grounds is begun, and il is now that
the shell-game men, peanut vendors, and
lemonade men reap their profits. Gray
haired men, closely followed by ma -
specialized and shriveled, plod along be-
tween prosperous young farmers and their
wives, followed by the usual sy-cheeked,
neatly garbed children. and noisy street
urchins. in ragged clothes and tattered caps
You see also the inevitable lovers, hand in
hand. fea>ting on peanuts or candy, and
with vide open eyes, ears and mouths tax
ing in all the circus day sights. sounds and
smells.
Once inside the animal tent the thrilling
anticipations give place to the no less thrill
ing reality, and the joys of poking the mon
keys with stick when the eyes of the Wig
liant keeper are turned away, and the feed
are tasted
The tent itself is rapidly filled with all
sorts and conditions of men, women and
children. Preeminent above the rest is The
Baby, whose age ranges from six months or
under to seven OF eight years; but who is
accompanied by either father, mother, uncle,
aunt or grandparents, and not unfrequent-
ly by them all. The unfortunates not hav-
ing baby in the family either borrow one
for the occasion or else make their en-
trance with sort of depreciating air, as if
apologizing for the lack of visible excuse
for their presence. After the performance
begins one and all settle down to solid en-
Joyment, uninterrupted, save by the vocifer-
GUS cries of the popcorn, peanut, and lemon
ade venders. Every thrilling performance
on horse back, or on the trapeze, every mo-
ton OF the juggler, and every caper of the
always irresistible clowns are watched with
never-failing interest.
In TACT, the eyes of everybody except
the weary infant, tired of being carried
around by indefatigable parents, are CEN
tered on the rings and never leave them un-
til the time at the close of the performance
when the white-shirted and be- diamoned
gentleman, with voice like his own steam
calliope, ascends the platform to announce
that Immediately after the performance, ETC.,
ETC., there will be the usual concert and
minstrel show, only ten cents, ladies and
gentlemen, only ten cents, children free
With the final hair-raising performance of
the cow boys or Indians the circus day to
the majority is concluded, and they flock
out OF the tent, weary, dusty and bedrag-
gled, but supremely happy.
Transfers IN Real Estate.
Tho following IN ro,1 o...4