Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-12-10

We passed by him into the tent and
by Dolly's orders scrambled to the
highest pinnacle of this paradise,
whose gayly carpeted gateway was
presided over by the pretty. furtive
eyed. discontinued looking Minna. and
from that vantage point we compla-
Gently surveyed our surroundings.
4 blast of melody announced the
grand entry. and in a minute the six
horses which had formed part of the
procession earlier in the day were can
tering heavily round and round the
ring. nose to tail. while their riders
smiled the fixed. hackneyed smile Of
fatigue and long habit
AS there was no room i'm the ring for
further evolution, the euuestrians trot-
ted out. and during the slight pause
which followed l recognized the boy
who sold peanuts and popcorn as the
very same who had driven the donkey
cart and admonished Minna. He
seemed to be somewhat undressed
about the throat and to be wearing
something light and spangly under his
was TO appear later in more glorious
capacity. Nor was l mistaken. for aft
er Il muscular lady In purple tights had
twisted herself in and out among the
rings and swung head downward
hooked by her white kid boots. after
the ringmaster had held most spirit
ed conversation with n red headed coun-
of almost human intelligence and ex-
traOrdnarily human legs,. beheld the
young gentleman being tossed like a
bag from the feet of one prone pink
acrobat to another. apparently as COM
posed as when he had been Offering
advice to unreasoning womanhood in
the morning.
After this the band played galloping
music to an empty ring. Then the cur
tains parted. and the baby clown came
running in, followed by u man also in
clowns dress. Their costumes were
identical except that while the man
wore only the usual white skullcap the
baby had Il tiny black chimney pot
perched on the side of his head He
came trottng straight to the edge Of
the ring nearest us. and there he blew
shrill blast on q tin trumpet which
he held in his hand This the elder
clown took away. with mock warn
ing to make no more noise Another
was promptly produced from the volu-
minous pocket. and this also was re-
moved. After the child had been de-
prived of six in succession the man
threatened To thrash him and then.
pretending to listen. cried in surprise:
What! You want to fight me:'
Eyes" piped the baby clown. strad-
ding to the right. Come over here"
But the ground did not suit. and
again the little. shrill voice could be
heard inviting his tall opponent to
come over here" But the left. it ap-
peared, was no better.
Hello" says the man. This won't
do. You're making a fool of me.
want to fight. l tell you"
'Then you must run like the dick
ems cries the child and scampers out
Of the ring.
This produced such burst of APP
plause that Master Snow had to be
brought back. and there. held on the
shoulder of the big clown. while the
band played soft. wheezy accompani-
ment. he sang the song l had heard
Minna teaching him on the road
"oh. the badger and the bear and the
monkey and the hare
And the bonny birds a-singing In the
greenwood cree.
And the charming little rabbits so en-
gaging in their habits
And they all have a mate but me. but
me.
And they all have a mate but me-
Against the brown dimness Of the
tent shadows the white figures stood
out with the holiness of n chalk draw
ing. The expression of the mans face
was infinitely amused. but sad and
tender. as he listened to the clear little
voice quavering on the last notes.
When the song was finished and the
clapping had ceased he let the little
creature slip down into the hollow of
his arm. babe him bow to the audience.
bowed twice himself gravely from
right to left and then walked out Of
the ring and disappeared between the
curtains. A murmur went about that
he was the child's father. as indeed
had been sure from the moment | saw
them together. and presently photo
graphs of Mr. James Snow and Mas
ter James Snow, 1.-The youngest living
clown" began to be circulated by the
Industrious popcorn boy. who had
again resumed the outer shell Of re-
spectability. There were some of the
father alone in the acrobatic costume
in which he was to appear later as the
"smartest high fiier on the swinging
bars some OF the child in clowns
dress and some of the father and child
together as had just seen them. Dol
" bought one of the child alone and
Of the two together. and ] would not
part with it now for good deal.
During the next act Cthe flight of
shaggy pony through hoops of fire. we
noticed Master Snow. Invested OF his
motley attire and dressed in a blue jean
blouse. being put coZily to sleep by
Minna i'm little white hammock hang
ing near the entrance of the tent. He