The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-29
A CIRCUS PREACHER.
The John Robinson Show Has One
Who Will Preach Tomorrow.

The John Robinson circus, which
comes to Topeka Sunday morning
| has a unique feature. 1t is not any
rare specimen of wild animal life es-
pecially but real live preacher.
A circus that carries a preacher is
certainly entitled to a claim to distinc-
ton. He is not for exhibition purpos-
es and his functions are not purely or
namental as might be surmised. He
has to work as well as the other at
taches. Sunday morning the circus
employees won't be found in the down
town churches but they will be as
sembled under the big tent to hear a
sermon by the Rev. ]. Stanley Well
| ington, the circus preacher.
The circus parade will be given at
10 a. M, Monday and the day per-
Torrance at 2 z. M, and the evening
at Z p. m.
doc" Waddell, story writer of the
show, is also a unique character. He
sounding sentence even better than he
does listening to a sermon by the Rev.
]. Stanley Wellington.
Here is one of his best "pieces,"
which is on the death of one of the
circus performers:
To-day at Wheelersburg, Ohio, in
the windowless palace of rest were
placed the remains of Mrs. M. c. Lyon
whom we knew as Miss Merit McLain.
For the eternal sleep, she is clasped
by the same earth that holds to its
silent bosom father, mother, husband,
brother and sister
-'Merte McLain, the woman, is
dead. Merte McLain, the name,
clustered with sweet and sacred mem
cries lives, and Will continue to live
so long as those to whom she was
dear and treasured exist, and their
hearts and minds can express the
feelings and thoughts thereof. Her
life flickered away under western
skies, at Peoria, where was written
her favorite paragraph of literature:
g Love is the only bow on life'S
dark cloud. 1t is the morning and the
evening star. 1t shines upon the
cradle of the babe, and sheds it's ra-
dance on the quiet tomb. 1t is the
mother of art, inspirer of poet, patri-
OF and philosopher. 1t is the air and
light of every heart, builder of every
home, kinder of every tre on every
hearth. 1t fills the world with melody,
for music is the voice of love. Love
is the magician. the enchanter, that
changes worthless things to joy. and
makes right royal kings and queens of
common clay. 1t is the perfume of
thai wondrous flower, the heart, and
without that sacred passion, that di-
vine swoon, we are less than beasts,
but with it, earth is heaven and we
are gods
s.Ier life from the cradle to the
grave, was filled with love of home,
and for the dear zones that moved I'M
der the rainbow. OF her friendship.
"Mer1e McLain was a peerless wo-
man in many ways, faithful, loyal,
and true Her intellect was an ocean
of knowledge. Surface did not con-
tent her; she investigated the depths.
Sine did nothing piece-meal and never
used a friend for shield. A charac-
teristic of hers that stands out as
T. o-4 p n
ton under all circumstances to those
she believed her friends.
"She met the storms of existence
bravely, like oak and rock. The calm
that followed storm she received
thankfully like vine and flower. Her
race is run and she sleeps at Wheel
ersburg with her mound of clay touch
ed by the dawning of a brighter day"