The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-03-01

anu up 10 tnaI Time she was the Onl,
grown person let into the scheme.
The next day each member of th,
company began to approach parents
and other friends with little squar,
pieces Of pasteboard which said:
!
/: GRAND CIRCUS PERFORM
/: ANCE.
At Brent Hail. Come one, come all.
|: May p, at o'clock. Admission,
4: SO cents.
simultaneously there appeared upon
| porch, window silis, trees and fence
| posts other glaring bills calling atten-
! ton to the "Great and World Re.
nowned Wonders" There will be-
the poster went on to relate, IAN un-
surpassed aggregation of freaks"
Come and see the 500 Horses in the
Ring" do not miss the Big Chariot
Race. Also behold the Lady who eats
Nives! And the Gamble feasting on
human food" There was much more
Of this thrilling, but badly spelled ad-
vertising, which, however. accom-
plished the purpose for which 1t was
intended and aroused enough curios-
ity to insure a good attendance on the
Friday night chosen. because there
would be no school the next day.
The children had decorated the big
barn-like hall for the event.
A raised platform had been erected
at one end. and the performers came
up the attic stairs from the dressing
rooms below, each as his turn was an
nounced.
When the placard at the side pro-
claimed the appearance Of the snake
charmer. Madame Marie-Rosa, the
young person dressed in short-sleeved
yellow satin gown appeared. The ma
terial for this costume had once been
used as a stand cover. In her arms
she carried a large box. which she
deposited with great care upon the
table, and from which she drew out,
one at time, long, green, wriggiing
reptiles, made out Of green flannel and
stuffed slightly with cotton. Stripes
marked with black paint made them
seem even more realistic. These were
wound round and round the young
persons waist; arms and heck after
the most approved fashion Of snake
charmers, the young person talking
glibly all the while. telling where
her pets had been captured. and how
they had been tanned and trained.
Madame Marie.Rosa then gave wsy
to the Nan-Eating Savage. For this
act a large cage was brought on. It
had been the home Of several mockihg
birds at one time. but soap and water
and hard rubbing had made 1t look
bright and new. Ranged along inside
were five prisoners to be devoured
by the savage. They were made of
ginger bread, however. so that the
feat was not as difficult as it seemed.
Sally, the sword swallower. next ap-
peared. My! How sharp and shining
those tin swords did look! Only n
very hungry sword swallower, indeed,
could have gotten away with those
dangerous blades. And this is the way
she did it. Her blouse waist was a
big bag with armholes. The neck
was gathered into band which fitted
closely around the threat Of false
face provided with generous mouth.
Into this cavern disappeared the knives
and other sharp things. The audience
was so much pleased with this achieve
ment that the sword swallower was
forced to empty her pouch and respond
to an encore.
The chariot race was great success
with the necessary equipment in the
way Of Roman car, a regular Ben Hur
driver, and other small boys for horses.
There was a clown that cracked Jokes,
tumbled around and did other time
honored acts. The trapeze work was
so daring as to make all the mothers
shiver, and if the clothesline had bro
ken there would have been sad times
for poor Jack.
Next came the tight rope walking.
A pretty little girl dressed to look
just like a Japanese boy or girl per-
formed this feat, and the fact that the
rope was strung very loose and touched
the ground when she walked made it
possible. With all the grace Of a real
tight rope-walker she stopped to bal
ance the rod she carried, swayed her
self to preserve her equilibrium,
opened and closed the fan she carried.
and did many things with her parasol.
Besides this there was a group OF
Japanese tumblers. who appeared to
climb upon each others shoulders. but
who, in reality, simply walked up a
ladder and sat on the steps. and then
walked down again while all the
friends laughed and applauded.
This, then. was the children's en-
and SO rich were they
when it was over that Polly got her
chair and Jimmy got his crutches;
and another thing that I forgot to
tell you was that Polly and Jimmy
were both at the circus, and, besides